Tanzania is a country steeped in history, rich in cultural diversity, and of immense natural beauty. And it is here, in the heart of Africa, home to some of the most popular safari destinations in the world, that visitors can witness Mother Nature at her most spectacular. And still…as extraordinary as tourists expect to find Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, Lake Manyara, or Zanzibar—these exotic destinations still possess magical qualities invisible to the eye of the casual observer.
Each year, millions of visitors make a beeline to these famous places and call it a day after only scratching the surface of all that is on offer. But hiking is the next best thing to do in Tanzania after wildlife safaris.
It’s on the hiking trails, one step at a time, where visitors can truly comprehend Tanzania’s natural, unspoiled magnificence. Home to pristine national parks, coffee plantations rolling across hillsides, and mountain paths offering breathtaking views of vast open spaces, this mystical landscape is best explored on foot.
Whether you’re an experienced hiker in tip-top condition or looking for more leisurely, meandering strolls through the woods, there’s a hike in Tanzania to suit your preferences. This brief guide will cover Tanzania’s most popular hiking trails, offering fitness recommendations and useful tips to help you discover Tanzania at your own pace.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro needs no introduction. It is on almost every trekker’s bucket list. Seven official routes lead to Uhuru Peak at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, an impressive 19,341 feet above sea level and the highest peak in Africa. Most of these trails can be physically taxing, especially for beginners, but some are more challenging than others.
Even on the first day out, hikers have a good chance of spotting the black-and-white colobus monkey. And as the remoter routes continue to move onward and upward, hikers often see larger wildlife like elephants, antelope, and buffalo. The trails wind through fields of corn and potatoes, then through forest areas, and then the high alpine forests before the peak, offering some of the clearest views of the mountain rising up ahead.
It is just you and Mother Nature, with fewer distractions and the time and space to soak up the quiet, natural beauty of the mountainside in all its pristine glory.
It’s best for travelers with the time to spend a few extra days acclimatizing to the height, which will dramatically improve their chances of reaching the summit. Read our blog on Mt Kilimanjaro trekking for more information.
Mount Meru
Kilimanjaro isn’t the only hiking destination in Tanzania. There are other equally spectacular places to hike. Case in point: Mount Meru.
As the second-highest mountain peak in Tanzania (5th highest in Africa), Mount Meru stands tall at 14,980 feet. Situated 43 miles west of Kilimanjaro, it’s visible from practically anywhere in Arusha.
Mount Meru has only one trail up. At its base, the lush vegetation and abundant wildlife of the Arusha National Park start hikers off on a much more accessible trail than Kilimanjaro’s, which will take 3-5 days to cover. Completing this hike helps acclimate trekkers to higher altitudes, so many people will use Meru as a training ground for Kilimanjaro.
The trailhead is at the Momella gate within the park, roughly an hour’s drive from Arusha. First stop, get your trekking permits. Then, you’re free to cross the open grasslands; see the mighty beasts, maybe buffaloes and warthogs, grazing in their natural habitat.
Once you come upon and cross the Ngara Nanyuki River, you’ll hit a patch of forest—home to colorful, rare birds and colobus monkeys. You’re through the first day’s hike as soon as you reach the Miriakamba hut, where you will stay overnight and hopefully get a good night’s rest.
The second day’s destination is Saddle Hut. It is a shorter stretch of trail, and you probably know what that means. You’re in for a challenging climb. As you ascend, you’ll move into more forest on the mountain face, traversing steep slopes and finally arriving at Elephant Ridge. After only another few hours of hiking, you’ll make it to Saddle Hut. Our advice is: start early in the morning and reach Saddle Hut by noon. Afterward, have lunch at Saddle Hut and visit nearby Little Meru before sunset to catch a glimpse of Mount Meru’s beauty rising before you.
On the third day, the best advice is to start early in the morning, before dawn, and hike up to Rhino point. From there, you can reach the peak by crossing a narrow ridge. Please note: if it’s freezing or very windy, wait to cross the ridge. And be sure to consult your local guide beforehand; they’ll know best.
Wait until you see the view! Simply spectacular. And from where you’re standing at the top, you’ll spot the gigantic Kilimanjaro looming like a majestic beast across the valley.
Once you can tear yourself away from this heady experience, you can start back down.
Ol Doinyo Lengai
Ol Doinyo Lengai is every adventurer’s dream come true. Situated in the middle of Maasailand and considered sacred (the Maasai call it the “Mountain of God”), this active volcano can be unpredictable, despite its somewhat regular eruption pattern of once every seven years.
Surrounded by Mount Kilimanjaro, the Great Rift Valley, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti ecosystem, its peak rises 3188 meters above sea level. Its last eruption sent plumes of ash and smoke high into the air and blew 11 miles downwind of the blast. Uniquely, its silvery lava flows are composed of pure natro-carbonatite, containing almost no silicon, making the lava much cooler than normal (only up to 1000 degrees °F / 540 °C!)
The climb to the summit can be quite challenging. Be mentally and physically ready for a two-day hike in extreme heat and on steep slopes with loose rocks. But to the avid hiker, the spectacular view from the summit will make it all worthwhile. You’ll see the volcanic crater at the center, the vast scenic Serengeti plains before you, and Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance. And if you still have some energy and adventure left in you, take a walk across the crater floor before descending to the plains.
The Great Rift Valley Trek
The Great Rift Valley is another one of Tanzania’s wonders that is meant to be experienced on foot. Over the years, it has become a favorite among adventure-seeking travelers, for it offers rare sights and scenes that are unmatched by any other place in the world.
The Valley’s boundary stretches from Lebanon to Mozambique and is home to unexplored secrets ready to be unearthed by adventurous travelers. You will get to see breathtaking views of volcanoes which spewed white lava, serene soda lakes with a red hue, and appreciate the quiet of gigantic craters.
This trail is located in Northern Tanzania, starting at the Empakai crater situated in the Ngorongoro highlands. The trail then continues through the Great Rift Valley northward towards Lake Natron. Your first stop is going to be Empakai camp where you will get to enjoy the views of the crater. After staying overnight, continue on the trail to the Leonotis camp. On your way, you will come across several beautiful Maasai villages while passing through Maasai land. Leonotis camp is located on the edge of the rift, where you will get a crystal clear view of the night sky full of twinkling stars without any light pollution.
The trail takes approximately 2 days to complete with fairly good success rates.
Walking in the Footsteps of Man
This trail will take you on a journey through time. You will witness how modern human beings evolved into what we are now from ancient hominids through millennia of evolution. First, you will get to see relatively recent hominid footprints near Lake Natron. Then, you will stop at Olduvai gorge and look at fossil records that point to how our ancient ancestors evolved millions of years ago. This path will take you to places of interest spanning 250 million years in history.
On your trip, you will visit the Gregorian Rift valley, Sanjan gorge, and end the hiking at Olduvai Gorge. The trail and camps in between are located such that you will get a completely unique experience out of the journey. Be prepared to take pictures of stunning almost uninhabited places, completely untouched by modern life. This trekking trip will take around 4-5 days depending on your planned stops.
Rift Valley Day Hike
This is a great option if you don’t have the time to go on a weeklong adventure trail, but nevertheless want to enjoy amazing views and scenery. Usually, this particular hiking will start before dawn near the rift valley wall. You then have to climb the rift valley wall on foot until you reach the Ngare Sero Gorge, just in time to watch the awe inspiring view of the horizon during the break of dawn. We advise you to pack for a picnic, since this is one of the best places in the world to have breakfast, overlooking vast plains.
Ngare Sero Waterfalls Trek
This trail goes up the Ngare Sero gorge and ends at the spectacular waterfalls. It is an all-time favorite for many tourists. Lush palm trees and rare volcanic rocks will greet you on the way.
It is a good idea to pack lunch and have it when you reach the destination. You can swim in the waterfall and the nearby pool, for a blissful experience.
Udzungwa Mountains National Park Trails
As a wildlife sanctuary known more for biodiversity and a habitat for rare and unusual wildlife than its captivating series of wooded and mountainous hiking trails, the Udzungwa Mountains National Park is a national treasure. Beautifully lush forests surround a group of large mountains in south-central Tanzania, far remote from any of the safari circuits, providing the ideal setting for a series of paths and waterfalls hidden and winding deep through the woods. Visitors are welcome to hike picturesque paths, mountain climb, and camp in the forest. Completely off the road, the wooded trails and mountain paths are accessible only by foot. It is almost as if the mountains seek protection for their wilderness yet still welcome the respectful curiosity of adventurous travelers.
A few miles along the trails, you will enjoy the cool shade of the forest canopy, a shared space with elephants, monkeys, duikers, rare birds, and elephant shrews.
Once inside the park, you’ll be spoiled for choice, for each trail is a delight. You can let time and distance choose for you; enjoy the shorter 30-minute walk to Prince Bernhard Falls or take a few hours and try another trail. Or you may have planned for a 5-day adventure in the jungle. But the most popular destination is the Sanje waterfalls. It will take a day to reach it, so pack a lunch and prepare for a hot afternoon. But the beauty of the falls is striking, and its own little paradise awaits you.
You can’t go wrong with Udzungwa. There is no right way to experience the place, as each destination is its own reward. But you’ll want to walk as many trails as your time permits. This is your chance to see rare animals in their habitat.
Hiking Safety - Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s:
Get in good physical and mental shape before going on any hiking adventure.
Carry emergency maps, medications, and snacks (chocolate, energy bars, and drinks).
Educate yourself about high altitude sickness (HAS), acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE).
Cancel the trip if you experience AMS /HAS/ HAPE/ HACE symptoms. Mild symptoms of altitude sickness are OK, but only if manageable.
Regularly exercise for at least 2 months before the hike. We recommend cardio, long walks, swimming, and deep breathing. And if you can get to some higher altitude trails nearby, even better.
Properly equip yourself with suitable hiking gear.
Loss of appetite is common at high altitudes. So, drink and eat regularly even if you don’t feel like it.
Don’ts:
Don’t ignore symptoms of AMS/ HAS/HAPE/ HACE.
Don’t hesitate to seek help or medical attention.
Don’t overexert.
Don’t forget to enjoy yourself.
Hike for a New Perspective
Hiking is one of the rare adventure sports which offers a new perspective and understanding of yourself and the world around you. And why not go big and hike some of the tallest mountains on the African continent? Become more than a casual observer and get up close and personal with beautiful Tanzania.
We at Sababu Safaris are committed to helping make your time in Tanzania everything you hoped for and more. Contact us and let us show you how to make the most out of your Tanzanian adventure