Many of us dream about conquering a mountain – and there’s no greater challenge than Mount Kilimanjaro. Why do so many of us flock here? That’s simple – it’s unbelievably rewarding and, if you reach the summit, you’ll have climbed to the ‘roof of Africa’.

Kilimanjaro – vital statistics

So, what do you need to know about Kilimanjaro? First things first, this is the world’s tallest freestanding mountain and the highest peak in Africa, rising to a whopping 19,341 ft above sea level.

You’ll find it in Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania – an African reserve unique in that it attracts more visitors keen to conquer mountains than spot wildlife. Though you can always do a bit of both!

The summit of Kilimanjaro is known as Uhuru Peak – and this is the ultimate destination for most trekkers, but not everyone makes it that far. It also has three volcanic cones – Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira – but don’t worry, the mountain is classified as dormant.

Which route to trek?

So, you’ve decided to tackle Kilimanjaro. What next? While you’re probably best off hitting the gym pretty hard to get yourself in shape – it’s no easy trek, after all – you also need to give some thought to the route you want to take, because there are plenty of options.

Among the most popular are the Machame and the Maranga routes. Now, while these are great, their popularity means they’re more crowded than the rest. Since this is a once in a lifetime experience, it’s worth picking a quieter trail so you can really make the most of it.

The Shira and Rongai routes are among your other options. If you fancy a longer route, have a bash at the Shira – one that also has a real feeling of wilderness that’s bound to appeal to your adventurous side.

If you want to get to the summit a little quicker, opt for the Rongai. This involves just six days on the mountain – but they’ll be an amazing six days. In fact, plenty of people reckon this is the most beautiful of all the trails, so this could be one of those times when less really is more.

What to expect

Your experiences walking up Kilimanjaro are going to be different depending on which route you take – but there are some things that’ll affect you no matter which trail you pick. acclimatization is the top one.

As you get higher and higher up the mountain, the amount of oxygen in the air declines, making it harder to keep going. The longer you have to acclimatize, the more likely you are to conquer Kilimanjaro by reaching the summit – it’s worth bearing this in mind when making your final choice on itinerary.

You should also be ready for erratic weather. As a general rule, the dry season is the best time to go (so between the end of June and October and from December to February). That said, at any time the weather can become pretty harsh, dropping to very cold temperatures and becoming wet and snowy. Packing warm wet weather gear is a must – no exceptions.

So, what can you expect in terms of scenery? Of course, this depends on the route you’re taking, but let’s say you’re following the Rongai. This’ll start out in equatorial forest (great for spotting wildlife!) before you get a bit higher and have some great views of the Amboseli plains.

You’ll take a detour to Mawenzi Tarn – a really beautiful section of the trek – and then crack on through a lunar desert landscape, before ascending the summit amid incredible glaciers and ice cliffs.