MOUNT KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA THE USUAL: THE ALTERNATIVES: ALSO TRY:

Six established routes ascend the lower slopes of Africa’s tallest peak, converging onto a trail circuiting the mountain at around 4,000m, then joining one of three summit paths; in total, the ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) takes five to eight days. Of the 50,000 climbers tackling Kili each year, perhaps two-thirds choose to climb the Machame or Marangu trails from the south; on the latter, dubbed the ‘Coca-cola Route’, trekkers can stay in huts rather than camping.

The Umbwe route is the shortest by distance, but involves steep sections with tough scrambling, with less time for acclimatisation; that’s a problem shared by the Shira route, which starts at a higher altitude. A good alternative is the Lemosho route (7–8 days) climbing from the west which, being longer, is both more expensive and allows more time for acclimatisation, improving your chances of summiting. On this route you’ll spend more time in the lower rainforest, where there are opportunities to spot game and birdlife. Guides are able to stagger camps on this trail to avoid overcrowding, and it’s possible to follow the lesstrodden northern circuit to reach the summit trail, rather than the busy southern circuit used by most of the other routes.

The Rongai route is the only one climbing from Kenya, to the peak’s north, rather than Tanzania; the start of the trek is a long drive from the usual bases of Moshi and Arusha, so it’s more expensive, but also less busy, with great views of savannah, Mawenzi Peak and Kilimanjaro itself.

Many argue that the ascent of Mount Kenya (5,199m) is superior. Hikers first traverse forest rich in elephants and monkeys; higher, you’ll spot rock hyrax and malachite sunbirds. The highest peak accessible by non-technical climbers is Point Lenana – at 4,985m, still a breathlessly lofty challenge, with astonishing sunrise views.

( Prepare for a midnight start and a long dark slog to summit Kili for sunrise; ( trek amid lobelias and senecios on the ascent of Mount Kenya wanderlust.co.uk March 2019

( The early bird catches the warm glow without the crowds at Moraine Lake, Alberta; ( head to the Bugaboo Mountains in BC for mountains and meres 78 wanderlust.co.uk March 2019

wanderlust.co.uk March 2019