A When in the 19 th century European explorers first reported the sighting of a snow-capped mountain in Eastern Africa, their reports were dismissed as impossible hallucinations by the Royal Geographic Society in London which refused to believe that snow could exist on the Equator, but expeditions sent in 1861 confirmed its existence. Mt Kilimanjaro was first successfully climbed in 1887 by the German Hans Meyer and following in his footsteps is one of countless possibilities to explore the magnificent beauty of this wild continent. Even today it is a curious sensation to stand next to a huge ice face and walk in deep snow right on the equator .

Mount Kilimanjaro is the crown of Tanzania. With an altitude of 5895m, it is the highest peak in Africa, the highest freestanding mountain in the world , and one of the largest volcanoes. The encircling rain forests ensure the fertility of the lush, lower lying countryside, where the Chagga cultivate coffee, maize and bananas. Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed most of the year, although it is inadvisable during the rainy season, which is April and May, and during the short rains in November. The summit of Kilimanjaro is a challenge mainly due to its altitude which poses the risk of altitude sickness, but it can be reached by any reasonably fit person who enjoys hiking, and reaching the summit will be an experience of a lifetime !

The Rwenzori Mountains are located on the Uganda-Congo border just north of the Equator and are often referred to as the Mountains of the Moon due to their legendary beauty . The mountain range has six peaks, the highest of which is Margherita on Mount Stanley, rising to 5,109 metres, making it the third highest in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. The mountains are covered in interesting flora and fauna, and there are many wild flowers and stunning birds as well as giant Lobelia and groundsel which reach up to 10 metres. Hiking and climbing through the central Rwenzoris takes approximately six days and technical knowledge and appropriate mountaineering equipment is advisable for reaching Margherita peak, which is often covered in snow. If you are just looking to enjoy the walking rather than proper climbing a reasonable level of fitness is required. A day's trekking on the foothills of the Rwenzoris can easily be arranged as part of an Eastern African itinerary. The best time to climb the mountain is from June through to August and from December to February.