Kilimanjaro

Standing at 5,895 m/19,341 ft, Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa, and it typically takes 5-9 days to climb, depending on both the route and time allotted for proper acclimatization.  (Since the body needs time to adjust to the high altitude, the more days spent in climbing the mountain, the lower the risk of altitude sickness.)

We climbed via the Lemosho Route, which is widely regarded as the most beautiful.  Throughout the ascent, the trail indeed offers a striking variety of vegetation and wildlife, and one can often see various species of monkeys and many tropical birds, among other notable flora and fauna.  Moreover, the views from the summit are spectacular—not to mention the sense of accomplishment.