Several high-profile Australians are on their way to climb Africa's highest peak.

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey will attempt to ascend Tanzania's Mt Kilimanjaro to raise money for medical equipment for sick children.

He'll be accompanied by Sunrise host David Koch on the trip, which will leave at the end of this month.

"The hill up Mosman (in Sydney's lower north shore) is a big hill to run up, but we need something bigger," Mr Hockey told Fairfax Radio Network today.

Meanwhile, on a separate trip, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's wife Therese Rein is attempting the climb along with her son Nicholas.

Mt Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano, is almost 6000m high.

AAP