Trekking and Hiking

Tanzania is a famous trekking and hiking destination, known for being home to Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. Standing at 5,895m, Mount Kilimanjaro attracts trekkers from around the globe who attempt to reach the ‘Roof of Africa’. It’s an amazing trek (and a bucket list achievement) but most tourists don’t know that there are many other awesome hikes in Tanzania. With so many mountain ranges throughout Tanzania, there are plenty of different hikes to explore.

Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the most sought after peaks in the world. While it is a tough hike, and should not be underestimated, it is not a technical climb. 

Trekking to the summit of Kili takes 5 - 12 days, and it's important you choose your route carefully, and understand the limitations and risks of trying to do the hike on a budget. 

There are also multi-day hikes in Western Kilimanjaro on the plains that are inhabited by the Maasai. These treks are much shorter and more suited to smaller budgets. 

Mount Meru - Kilimanjaro’s little brother, Mount Meru, might not come with the same bragging rights, but it's still a fantastic hike.

It’s actually a bit more technical than Kilimanjaro, but still suitable for those without technical climbing knowledge.

It’s smaller than Kilimanjaro, so altitude sickness is not as much of an issue, and it is also much cheaper to climb. Many experienced climbers actually choose to climb Mount Meru in preparation for Kilimanjaro, but it also works great as a standalone adventure.

The slopes of Mount Meru are full of fascinating wildlife. 

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The beautiful Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a fantastic hiking destination. Its main draw is its wildlife and safari experiences, but stay longer, and you'll discover some of the most stunning hiking trails you'll ever see, and the hikes wonderfully blend wildlife viewing with cultural experiences and epic scenery. 

Some of the best trails include the Olmoti Crater or the Empakai Crater, which are about an hour each.

The Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano, the Maasai Mountain of God, is a more strenuous 1-day trek but gives amazing views of Lake Natron in the distance.

Usambara Mountains

The mountain range is located halfway between Kilimanjaro’s starting point - the small town of Moshi - and the coast. It’s sometimes called the ‘Switzerland of Tanzania’, as there are beautiful views over mountain ranges and a number of hikes of varying difficulties.

Treks are usually 2-3 days long, but there are also longer options. The Usambara Mountains are well-known for combining trekking with cultural tourism at a decent price. 

Mahale Mountains

The Mahale Mountains in Tanzania’s far west are still relatively unknown, but are home to fascinating wildlife and nature.

One of the biggest draws of the mountains is the chimpanzee trekking that's possible here, and that pairs wonderfully with some R&R on the pristine beaches of Lake Tanganyika.

Udzungwa Mountains

Possibly the most unknown trekking location in Tanzania is the Udzungwa Mountains in the south, near the Mikumi National Park.

The area is beautiful, verdant, and has stunning waterfalls and 10 different species of primates.

It is a mountain range suitable for intermediate trekkers, but keep in mind you're heading into a remote pocket of the country where the infrastructure is basic. 

Uluguru Mountains

The Uluguru mountains are a mountain range in eastern Tanzania, named after the Luguru tribe.The main portion of the Uluguru mountains is a ridge running roughly north-south and rising to 2,630 metres (8,600 ft) altitude at its highest point.nOn the main Uluguru range, 50 villages touch the forest boundary and over 151,000 people are found within the mountain area, often at increasing densities at higher altitudes up to the forest boundary.