Kilimanjaro — The Lemosho Route in Eight Days

Drive round to the western side and walk three or four hours through rainforest to the first camp. Colobus overhead, and almost nobody else on the trail.

Out of the forest and up onto the moorland, with the first proper view of the summit. Six hours or so, and the day the mountain stops being an idea.

A gentler day across the plateau to Shira 2, with an afternoon walk higher and back down to sleep. This is the first proper climb-high-sleep-low day.

Up to 4,600 metres at the Lava Tower for lunch, then down 600 metres to Barranco. You will feel the altitude at the top and better by the evening — which is exactly the point.

The wall looks impossible from the camp and turns out to be a scramble with your hands in. A short day to Karanga, deliberately, to bank another night at altitude.

Three or four hours across alpine desert to base camp. An early dinner and bed by seven, because you are getting up at eleven.

Leave around midnight for Stella Point and then Uhuru Peak at sunrise. Back down to Barafu for a rest and a meal, then on to Mweka for the last night on the mountain.

Fit enough to walk five to seven hours a day on consecutive days. Long hill walks at home are the best preparation. Marathon fitness is not required and does not protect you from altitude.

Higher on eight days than seven, and much higher than on five. We will not quote you a percentage, because every operator quotes one and none of them are audited.

Yes, and the order matters — mountain first, safari afterwards. You want the safari as the reward, not the warm-up, and you do not want a summit attempt on legs that have already done one.

Paid at or above the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project guidelines, with weighed loads and proper sleeping tents. Ask us for the numbers and we will send them.