Kilimanjaro covers an Area 166,100 ha with an altitude of 1,250 to 5,895 meters and is a World Heritage Site. Kilimanjaro is one of the largest isolated mountains in the world and is the highest in Africa, dominating the surrounding central plateau country. Mount Kilimanjaro National Park lies above the 2,700 meters contour, which is virtually the upper altitudinal limit of forest. Montane forest transpires between 1,700 meters and 2,800 meters with a downhill extension to 1,250 meters in the south-west along the Sanya River.

In the north there is an 8 kilometers wide corridor of dry woodland linking the forest with bushland in the Longido Game Controlled Area. In the east and south the lower slopes are densely cultivated, but in the drier west there are large estates and ranches with some remaining natural habitat. Plantations of exotic pines Pinus dominate the northern and northwestern slopes.

The forest on Kilimanjaro holds few of the rarer species linked with the older forests of the Eastern Arc mountains. Cinnyricinclusfemoralis is resident in forest on the southern and western slopes. The western slopes are significant for the passage of Falco naumanni, with hundreds and possibly thousands of birds moving through, and for Circus macrourus, with several hundred birds thought to pass through. In addition, Ardeolaidae is an irregular visitor to swamps and ponds at the foo from the south-western foothills.

Among the montane forest birds Bostrychiaolivacea is notable as it has a limited distribution and is rare wherever it occurs. Alpine species include Cercomelasordida and Nectariniajohnstoni, which are restricted to East Africa, and more extensive species such as Gypaetusbarbatus and Tachymarptismelba. A range of birds more typical of coastal forest are found along the Sanyariver including Telophorusquadricolor, Macrosphenuskretschmeri and Andropadusimportunus. Permanent and seasonal swamps fed by the mountain provide breeding habitat for several uncommon species including Thalassornisleuconotus, Circus ranivorus, Porphyrioporphyrio and Gallinulaangulata.