Tarakia Waterfalls, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Dubbed as 'The Tropics To The Arctic,' your path to summit Kilimanjaro begins in a dense rainforest, thick with moss-blanketed trees and rushing waterfalls. Shy Blue Monkeys spy on you through the dense vegetation.

Higher and higher you trek, leaving behind the shelter of the trees, entering the Mooreland zone, speckled with tough heathers and giant lobelia. On Day 3 you should be entering an eerie alpine desert and then it's up into a winter wonderland of ice and snow.

Claim bragging rights when you reach Gillman's Point, elevation 18,635 feet on the lip of the crater. Trudge on to Uhuru Point, the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Here you’ll be standing on the Roof of Africa, on top of the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

And, you can do it all in a pair of sturdy hiking boots with layers of warm clothes. Hemingway created a false impression of this imposing giant. It kindly allows you to reach the summit without technical know-how or climbing gear. You just need a stout heart, a little perseverance and a guide.

Once your feet are firmly planted at a lower altitude, celebrate with a Pombe, the local's favorite banana beer.