Mount Kilimanjaro

At 5,895 metres, Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and often called the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. Its snow-capped summit, rising alone above farmland and savannah, is one of the great sights of East Africa, visible on clear days from Moshi, Arusha and across the border in Amboseli.

Most travellers enjoy it without climbing: a day trip from Moshi can include a short walk on its lower forested slopes, a visit to a waterfall and a village coffee tour on the foothills. For the fit and determined, a guided climb to the summit takes six to eight days on routes that need no technical skills, only stamina and time to acclimatise.

Clouds often cover the peak by late morning, so look out early. Kilimanjaro International Airport is the usual arrival point for northern Tanzania safaris, so the mountain often greets you as you land.