Return to main articleHikes of a Lifetime
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Early European explorers who claimed to have seen a snow-capped mountain in Equatorial Africa were dismissed as delusional. Kilimanjaro is, in fact, the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain on the planet. Several routes lead to the summit, and thousands of hikers attempt the five- to six-day trek every year (though a number are forced to turn back due to altitude sickness). None of the trails requires mountaineering skills, but it may well be the most demanding climb you've ever done. The sheer variety is staggering: you hike for more than 55 miles as you ascend 13,000 feet to Shira Peak, traversing moors, desert, rainforest, snow, and ice. The culmination: a heart-stopping view from "the Roof of Africa." For More Info: Hoopoe Safaris is one of the Kilimanjaro region's most recommended outfitters.
