There are two schools of thought on climbing a mountain with the person you love. One says it is the most romantic thing you will ever do: a shared summit, a sunrise nobody else will ever fully understand, a story you get to keep telling together for the rest of your lives.

Two of the most famous walks on earth, one adventure budget, and a decision that keeps coming up at dinner tables everywhere: the Roof of Africa, or the road to Machu Picchu?

The Shira Route suits the experienced trekker who has been to altitude before and knows how their body responds, and the climber who wants the plateau's vast early wilderness more than anything else on the mountain.

Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb. It does not require mountaineering experience. It does not require exceptional fitness. It requires the ability to walk uphill for six to eight hours per day across eight consecutive days.

How long does Kilimanjaro take? The answer depends on your route and getting it right is the single biggest factor in whether you reach the summit.