Kilimanjaro & Arusha, Tanzania

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and, at 5895 metres, the highest walkable summit, in the world. Tantalising glimpses of the magnificent snow-capped summit of Kilimanjaro from the plains below belie the unique combination of eco-climatic zones which hikers attempting the summit will experience; rainforest, montane forest, heath and moorland, alpine desert and then, finally, snow and ice.

The one-way Machame Route climbs up the southwest of Mount Kilimanjaro. This is a more challenging, but less frequented, trail than the busier Marangu Route and offers more of a wilderness experience. Kilimanjaro climbers should be fit and well exercised. The best months for the climb are July to September (cold but dry) and January to mid-March (clearer and warmer).

Those who want to prefer to gaze up at the icy dome of Kilimanjaro from afar can admire the mountain across the plains of Western Kilimanjaro, an exclusive game concession of floodplains, hills and acacia woodland. There are plenty of elephant and interesting antelope such as lesser kudu. This is just across the border from Amboseli in Kenya but is a much less commercially sophisticated region and so the interaction with local people is rather more authentic an experience. Being outside national park restrictions, you can take guided walks and enjoy night game drives which might even yield sightings such as striped hyena.

Arusha is a bustling town in the foothills of Mount Meru. Arusha is the starting point for many Tanzanian safaris being home to Kilimanjaro International Airport about 40km to the north-east. Depending on your flight connections you may need to stay overnight near Arusha.

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