Kili, as Africa's largest mountain is affectionately known, can be seen for many miles, rising like a giant pudding from the plains, when she deigns to unwrap herself from her shawl of clouds.
She may only be a short way south of the Equator, but she can get chilly, with a permanent cap of snow and ice, although this is shrinking rapidly and experts are saying that it may well disappear completely within the next 10-15 years.
This is one of the only great mountains where people can hike up to the summit without any actual climbing. Don't take it lightly - it still takes days, you need to be fit and people can die here but you don't need ropes and crampons to reach the summit and ordinary people do so in their thousands. An area of 75,575 ha has been protected by a National Park and the mountain has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The trek is astonishingly beautiful, with opportunities to meet local villagers and see wildlife from buffalo and elephant to forest-dwelling monkeys, hundreds of species of birds and butterflies, giant groundsel and alpine flowers - and of course, those breathtaking panoramic views.
Where is it?
Near the town of Arusha in northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border and the great Serengeti plains.
What is it?
A dormant volcano, the largest free standing volcanic mass in the world, and the highest mountain in Africa, the highest of its three peaks, Kibo, reaching 5895m (19,341 ft) above sea level.
Best time to visit?
The temperature is relatively stable all year but it's best to avoid the rainy seasons. January, February and September are the best months for climbing but also the busiest. Late December and October may be windows with fewer people and good visibility.
Must see?
The views and endemic plants that are found virtually nowhere else on earth. But this is really all about the achievement of having made the trek.
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