Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in the world that you can simply walk up! None of the routes require mountaineering skills, specialized equipment, or even previous climbing experience. Still, hiking to the Roof of Africa is physically and mentally demanding and should not be underestimated. Altitude sickness can set in above 3,000 metres and there's no prior indication as to who might suffer from it. It's important to work closely with your guide and to listen to his advice. Porters carry gear and supplies up and down the mountain and cook all meals.

Moun Kilimanjaro can be climbed at any time of the year, but the rainy seasons, April-June and November-December, make the forest more slippery and the summit might be blocked by snow. Be prepared for climatic extremes, from rain in the forest, intense sun in the alpine desert and freezing temperatures at the summit. It's essential to have warm clothes and a good sleeping bag.

At the summit, exhaustion fades away. As the sun rises above Kilimanjaro's crater rim you know you have finally met this exhilarating African challenge.

There are five main routes to the top -- Marangu, Shira, Mweka, Umbwe and Machame. The most popular route is the Marangu Route which starts at the Marangu Gate at 6000 ft. and has huts and facilities along the way. The other routes are more scenic with stunning views of the glaciers.

They are also more challenging for the advanced trekker, requiring special permission and the use of tents. Regardless of the route taken, the vistas are magnificent and the flora and fauna of the different life zones are fascinating

There are five main routes to the top -- Marangu, Shira, Mweka, Umbwe and Machame. The most popular route is the Marangu Route which starts at the Marangu Gate at 6000 ft. and has huts and facilities along the way. The other routes are more scenic with stunning views of the glaciers.

They are also more challenging for the advanced trekker, requiring special permission and the use of tents. Regardless of the route taken, the vistas are magnificent and the flora and fauna of the different life zones are fascinating.

Rain forests give way to moorlands and alpine meadows until these, too, give way to an alpine desert where lichens cling tenuously to rocks. The landscape, though desolate, is hauntingly beautiful as you walk among the clouds.

The mountain consists of three volcanoes: Shira, Mawenzi and Kibo. Shira became extinct and collapsed leaving a series of rocky ridges on the Shira plateau. Mawenzi is dormant and its jagged peaks require a technical climb just like Mt Kenya.

Uhuru Peak, (19,340 ft.) is Kibo's highest peak but one is considered to have "conquered" the mountain by reaching Gillman's Point at 18,635 ft.