To the Roof of Africa: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Think a climb up Kilimanjaro is too tough to handle? Think again.

Considering that this is the world's tallest freestanding mountain, at 5,985 meters, Kili can be fairly daunting, especially for the uninitiated. However, while it takes between nine and 10 days to reach the summit, there are a number of routes snaking their way to the top, all thanks to the mountain's isolation in the National Park. These range from the easier Rongai route, gradually approaching from the northeastern side, to the challenging Machame Route, which, despite its difficulty, offers some spectacular views. This comes with a price however, as this route tends to be considerably more popular with other climbers.

Our resident travel designer and Africa expert, Jonny, recently took to the rocky slopes in search of "the roof of Africa" to see what all the fuss was about. Hiking along the Grand Traverse Route toward Shira Plateau and via the Northern Circuit Wilderness, he opted for one of the more off-beat and therefore less frequented routes. With views out of the Shira Cathedral and the oldest of Kilimanjaro's three volcanoes, this proved to be a great choice.

Eventually reaching the summit more than a little out of breath, he has since returned to share some of his amazing pictures of the expedition, a selection of which are available in the slideshow below.

Should these inspire you to head to Tanzania in the near future, please get in contact with a member of the Jacada team today and we'll help make it a reality.

Check out Jonny's journey as an example itinerary on our website too here.