Mount Kenya is the country's highest mountain and Africa's second highest peak. Its icy summit rises to a height of 17,000 feet. All of the land above 10,500 feet forms the Mount Kenya National Park. Due to the high altitude, weather in the National Park is notoriously unpredictable. The mountain consists of three principal zones; the rocky peak area, with its expanse of glaciers and snowfields; the alpine zone with its distinctive giant vegetation; and the vast gentle slopes drenched in mountain forest and bamboo jungle. Visitors have many options when it comes to climbing the mountain. There are four main routes, all ranging in degree of difficulty. Naro Moru is the easiest, followed by Burguret and Sirimon trails, and the Chogoria Route is the longest and hardest path. Gameviewing is a bonus for hikers, as elephant, buffalo, and black panthers (at higher elevation) can be spotted, as well as a wealth of creatures living at lower elevations in the dense forest.