Mount Kilimanjaro

At 19,341 feet, Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest, and one of Earth’s most massive mountains. But its loftiness and immensity are only a hint of the great peak’s importance. As John Gunther once wrote, “the mountain gives life….It plucks purple clouds out of the monsoon from the Indian Ocean, makes rain, carries forests on its back…it is one of the most useful mountains in the world, as well as most romantic.”

We see still-glaciated, often snow-dusted Kilimanjaro from many places on Micato safaris, perhaps most dramatically from Amboseli National Park and most unusually from the Chyulu Hills, Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa, where we gaze through the Hills’ lush cloud forest at the mountain, and remember Peter Matthiessen’s words in The Tree Where Man was Born: “A snow peak in the tropics draws the heart to a fine shimmering painful point of joy.”

A unique and unforgettable adventure

Mount Kilimanjaro's snow-capped peak is usually veiled by clouds but on clear days the sight of the summit is one of the most arresting on the continent. Kilimanjaro is not only the highest mountain in Africa but it's also the largest free-standing mountain in the world - rising nearly six vertical kilometres from the surrounding plains - making a Mount Kilimanjaro safari a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Made up of three cones - Shira, Mawenzi and Kibo (the summit of the mountain and the tallest of the three volcanic formations) - Mount Kilimanjaro, or Kili as it is affectionately known, is a relatively young mountain and was formed by volcanic activity about a million years ago. It's an iconic, evocative destination and from an altitude of 2,700 metres (8,850 feet) the entire mountain falls under the protection of the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park.

Conquer One of the World’s Seven Summits

It is the chance to climb Kilimanjaro that has made this 5,895metres (19,340 feet) mountain such a popular destination. Indeed, some 20,000 people a year make their way up Kili; the climb requires no special training or technical equipment though time must be taken to acclimatise in order to prevent altitude sickness.

That said, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is no stroll; it's a seriously tough hike and usually takes five days or more - for a Mount Kilimanjaro safari tour you should be both fit and mentally prepared, and proper high altitude clothing and camping gear need to be taken. There are many routes to the top, varying in terms of difficulty, climbing time and natural beauty. The best time to climb Kilimanjaro is always said to be during the drier months of January, February and September. July and August are also fine, but somewhat colder.

Highlights: 

• Ascend through the magical, indigenous Afromontane forest
• Up-to-date expert, qualified first responder guides
• Climb through arid and rocky deserts into ancient glacial valleys
• Revel in the views of impenetrable Mount Mawenzi