Earlier quoted context omitted.
Looks like a few hours walk and $250 for a guide: https://www.mountainproject.com/route/110735330/standard-rou...
From the description I see on net this is indeed true, with big IF - you already have prior acclimatization to 5000m+. Without it, its almost impossible to make it to the top and back at that altitude, unless you have some super genes. And descriptions mention still 10 hours of hiking and altitude difference of some 1300m. Even though the air around equator is thicker, you would most probably already feel very bad at…
I'm in shape, and there's a 4,000+ meter mountain less than 30 miles away (as the crows flies) to acclimatize with, so I'd feel pretty good about it. I'm faster than most when hiking mountains. Doable :)