Menu

I’ve spent my career trekking in some pretty far-flung places, from Nepal to Norway. But there’s something different to hiking in Tanzania.

I first visited Tanzania in 1994 and have returned multiple times since as a travel journalist and guidebook author. I’ve hiked in all the country’s top trekking regions, and even took a guide training course in Tarangire National Park.

It’s got the mountains and (rapidly shrinking) glaciers that you’ll find in all the world’s trekking hotspots. But where else do you have to keep an eye peeled for elephants, lions and chimpanzees while you hike?! Scenery, wildlife, fascinating cultural immersion: Tanzania is truly a superb – if expensive – place to trek.

Soaring into the clouds, towering above all else on the entire continent, 5,895m Kilimanjaro is the best known trekking prize, not just in Tanzania but all of Africa. And beyond the highs of Kili, Tanzania boasts many lesser-known treks. Although the personal achievement of standing on the highest summit in Africa is one that will stay with you forever, personally speaking, I think there are more rewards to be found on Tanzania’s lesser-hiked paths. Lace up, it's going to be wild.

Hiking in Tanzania: At a glance

Stuart Butler
By Stuart Butler

Rated: You'd be a grinch to call climbing Africa's highest mountain truly 'overrated' but Kilimanjaro's fame does tend to eclipse Tanzania's numerous other trekking highlights. From the four decades that I’ve been visiting and trekking in Tanzania, my standout piece of advice is this: don’t be dazzled by the allure of Kilimanjaro! Do it for sure, but save time for some of the following treks and hikes as well.

Underrated: Kili deserves its fame but its popularity brings busy trails and corner-cutting operators. If I had to choose a single favourite trek in Tanzania it would be the Mt. Meru trek.

Avoid: If you're set on Kilimanjaro, I’d recommend avoiding the well established hut to hut route of Marangu and go for the camping only trails such as Machame or Lemosho instead.

When to go: You can hike in Tanzania year round, but the dry season months (late December – late March and late June – late October) are the best times to climb Kilimanjaro and Meru.

The best treks in Tanzania

Some popular, and lesser-known, trekking routes

Mt. Meru

Mt Meru trek

Philip Briggs
Philip Briggs
Experience

If mountains had feelings, Meru would most likely go through life with a serious chip on its shoulder. This dormant volcano ranks as Africa’s fifth-highest mountain, and it dominates the skyline of Arusha, a town that serves as the bustling safari capital of northern Tanzania. Yet in touristic terms, Meru is almost entirely neglected, thanks largely to its proximity to iconic and massively popular Mount Kilimanjaro. For keen walkers with some time to spare at the start or end of a safari, however, a hike through the forest of Arusha National Park into Meru’s partially collapsed caldera is highly recommended. On the way you're likely to see plenty of wildlife, including elephant, giraffe, zebra and a variety of forest monkeys and birds. Once inside the caldera, you will also enjoy memorable close-up views of its sheer western wall and tall ash cone. The three to four day trek offers stunning and varied landscapes, ranging from lush forests teeming with wildlife to the dramatic rim of a volcanic crater. With its peak at 4,562 metres, Mt. Meru is steep and challenging, providing an excellent acclimatisation opportunity for those aiming to conquer Kilimanjaro. The route begins at the Momella Gate, ascending through forest and moorland to Miriakamba and Saddle Huts before the early morning summit to Socialist Peak. The journey offers incredible views, including of Kilimanjaro on clear days.Need to know You can climb Meru year-round, but the dry season months (December through to late March and late June to the end of October) are your best bet.

Read more
Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro Lemosho route

Peter Elia
Peter Elia

Start point: Lemosho GladesEnd point: Mweka Gate Mount Kilimanjaro, also known as Kili, stands at a towering height of almost six vertical kilometres (equivalent to four miles) above the plains of northern Tanzania. Not only is it Africa's highest peak, but it also holds the distinction of being the largest standalone mountain in the world. As one of the Seven Summits, which represent the highest mountains on each traditional continent, Kilimanjaro attracts adventurers and avid hikers from around the globe, making it a highly sought-after destination for those looking for the ultimate trekking challenge. Need to know According to Tanzania National Parks, around 50,000 trekkers set out to climb Kilimanjaro each year. This makes Kili one of the worlds most crowded mountain treks. Personally I’d recommend avoiding the well established hut to hut route of Marangu and go for the camping only trails such as Machame or Lemosho instead. Around 15,000 trekkers fail to complete the ascent due to altitude sickness, other illnesses or injury. If you don’t like these odds or fancy a quieter alternative, I’d suggest East Africa’s other major peak, Mount Kenya.

Read more
Ol Doinyo Lengai

Ol Doinyo Lengai ascent

Frazier Msuya
Frazier Msuya
Experience

Most trekkers coming to Tanzania think Kilimanjaro is the big challenge – after all, it’s Africa’s highest mountain and it’s a minimum six day round trip. So they’re surprised when I tell them Kili is nothing compared to climbing Ol Doinyo Lengai, a free-standing active volcano that dominates Lake Natron and the Rift Valley in the country’s far north. On paper this is a simple day hike – up and back down in one go. But failure rates here are higher than on Kilimanjaro, thanks to its fiercely steep slopes, largely on loose scree and volcanic ash. You depart around 11pm in order to climb during the cooler nighttime hours and reach the summit in time for sunrise, then turn around and head back down the same way. It’s a grueling climb but the reward upon reaching the summit is a panoramic view of the Great Rift Valley, the nearby Lake Natron, and even Mt. Kilimanjaro on clear days. Need to know You can climb Ol Doinyo Lengai year-round, but the best hiking conditions are during the dry months of January to February and again in June to October. I’ve done this climb four times and my main piece of advice is to prepare yourself well. You must be fit and ready for a challenge. Good quality hiking boots are essential and a sturdy walking pole would help. Bring a change of clothes because you’ll be drenched in sweat at the top and will feel freezing cold. And of course you need several litres of water and plenty of food. This should be arranged for you if you go with a trekking operator.

Read more
Usambara Mountains

Trekking the Usambara Mountains

HorizonGuides

Hiking in Tanzania isn’t only about conquering towering summits. If you’re less interested in bragging rights and care more for natural and cultural immersion in lesser-visited locations, the Usambara Mountains might be for you. Nestled between Kilimanjaro and the Indian Ocean, the Usambara Mountains are said to be Africa’s second most biodiverse national park. A trek here can last from a few days to over a week, depending on your chosen trail and pace. You’ll see tea plantations and tropical rainforests to mountain ridges with incredible panoramic views. The trails are relatively gentle, making this area accessible to most hikers. Along the way, you’ll immerse yourself in local culture, visiting traditional villages and meeting the local Shambaa people. Accommodation options vary from simple guesthouses to camping.

Read more
Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Udzungwa Mountains four day trek

HorizonGuides

This trek is a remarkable and lesser-trodden trail through Tanzania's biodiverse "Galapagos of Africa." Nestled in the Eastern Arc Range, Udzungwa is a haven for endemic species, with excellent bird-watching and primate-spotting opportunities. Over four days, you’ll traverse rainforest trails to breathtaking destinations like the Sanje Waterfall, where you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the plunge pools overlooking the Kilombero floodplain. The highlight is the ascent to Mwanihana Peak, the park's second-highest point. This challenging hike rewards trekkers with stunning views and possible encounters with endemic primates like the Udzungwa Red Colobus and Sanje Crested Mangabey. Accommodations typically involve a mix of camping and rest houses, with commercial operators providing essential services and gear.

Read more
Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area hikes

Stuart Butler
Stuart Butler

Hiking is not permitted within the crater itself, due to the risk of becoming lunch for a hungry lion. But the surrounding Ngorongoro Conservation Area of rolling grasslands, dotted with Maasai homesteads and lumbering volcanic peaks, makes fabulous walking safari country. There are no specific hiking routes here, but a good walking safari specialist will present you with options of varying distances and durations. Typically you’ll spend a few hours walking to and around the crater rim before arriving at a simple fly camp for your overnight. Your operator will organise your guide – a Maasai guide ideally – plus meals and transport.

Read more
Mt. Kilimanjaro

Hike Kilimanjaro’s Shira Plateau

Philip Briggs
Philip Briggs
Experience

One of Africa’s most iconic sights, Kilimanjaro is the world's tallest freestanding mountain, and its 19,341ft Uhuru Peak Is the highest point anywhere on the continent. It's an alluring goal for hikers, but the full ascent – which takes at least five days, better six or seven – is a serious commitment in terms of time, money and physical endeavor. I recommend as an excellent and little publicized quick-fix alternative the guided Shira Plateau Day Trail, which leads for about 5 miles through a relatively flat tract of moorland perched at 11,000-12,000ft on the mountain’s western slopes. You’re bound to feel the altitude, but in clear weather (most likely if you set off before 9am) you’ll also enjoy magnificent frame-filling views of Kilimanjaro’s distinctive snow-capped peak rising from the Afroalpine moorland.

Read more
Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Descend into Empakaai Crater

Philip Briggs
Philip Briggs
Experience

You don't always need to head far off the beaten track to get away from the crowds. Little-visited Empakaai, only 90 minutes’ drive from the over-touristed Ngorongoro Crater, is a case in point. The second-largest caldera in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Empakaai is a near-perfect circular crater with a 5-mile diameter and a depth of 1,800ft. The road along the rim offers stunning views across the Rift Valley escarpment to the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai. But the highlight of a visit is the short, steep hike down the forested eastern wall (look out for blue monkeys and buffalos) to the crater floor, which is dominated by a green soda lake that usually hosts large flocks of flamingos.

Read more
  • Mt Meru trek

    Mt Meru trek

  • Mount Kilimanjaro Lemosho route

    Mount Kilimanjaro Lemosho route

  • Ol Doinyo Lengai ascent

    Ol Doinyo Lengai ascent

  • Trekking the Usambara Mountains

    Trekking the Usambara Mountains

  • Udzungwa Mountains four day trek

    Udzungwa Mountains four day trek

  • Ngorongoro Conservation Area hikes

    Ngorongoro Conservation Area hikes

  • Hike Kilimanjaro’s Shira Plateau

    Hike Kilimanjaro’s Shira Plateau

  • Descend into Empakaai Crater

    Descend into Empakaai Crater

featured tanzania treks

Where to go trekking in Tanzania

Our author's favourite trekking locations

Stuart Butler
By Stuart Butler

If you're going trekking in Tanzania, you're almost certainly heading to Kilimanjaro. There's nothing wrong with that (just choose your route carefully – see below) but if at all possible, try to save time for Mt Meru which is, in my opinion, by far the better trek in Tanzania.

Mt Meru
Mt. Meru

Mt Meru

Stuart Butler
By Stuart Butler

While the crowds flock to Kilimanjaro, those in the know head to Mt. Meru. At 4,562m it’s Tanzania’s second highest peak and attracts a mere fraction of the numbers of Kilimanjaro. Set in a wonderfully varied national park with diverse scenery and wildlife makes this, I’d argue, the most interesting mountain climb in Tanzania.

Mt Kilimanjaro
Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mt Kilimanjaro

Stuart Butler
By Stuart Butler

At 5,895m Mt. Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak, and the world's highest freestanding mountain. It’s by far the most popular trekking route in Africa with up to a hundred people a day setting out to reach the summit. There are multiple routes which keep the crowds down, but it’s undoubtedly busy. If solitude is your thing, look elsewhere.

Ol Doinyo Lengai
Ol Doinyo Lengai

Ol Doinyo Lengai

Stuart Butler
By Stuart Butler

Making up the northern tip of a mountain triangle that includes Kilimanjaro and Meru, Ol Doinyo Lengai (2,962m) is a live volcanic cone whose distinctive shape and billowing volcanic smoke have made it a holy mountain for the Maasai people. Remote and quiet, this is a superb place to come hiking.

Usambara Mountains
Usambara Mountains

Usambara Mountains

Stuart Butler
By Stuart Butler

The Usambara Mountains are a great buckle of steep sided ridges and intensely farmed or forested hills that rise up behind Tanzania’s northeastern coastal zone. The attraction of hiking here isn’t big summits, but cultural interaction and village life. It’s a delightful area that rewards the inquisitive and those prepared to rough it a bit. For me, it’s one of East Africa’s most rewarding hiking areas.

Udzungwa Mountain National Park
East Africa

Udzungwa Mountain National Park

Stuart Butler
By Stuart Butler

In the central part of the country, Udzungwa Mountain National Park is said to be the second most biodiverse national park in Africa. The only real way to experience the park is on foot with trails ranging from half-day walks to very challenging multi-day expeditions through thick tangled forest and dreamy waterfalls. I love hiking in this park thanks to its sense of seclusion.

Mahale Mountains
Mahale Mountains National Park

Mahale Mountains

Stuart Butler
By Stuart Butler

In the very far west of Tanzania the densely forested Mahale Mountains cascade down to the soft sand beaches and turquoise waters (incredible snorkelling) of divine Lake Tanganyika. This is one of the best places to meet our closest cousins; chimpanzees. The chimps here are habituated to people and seeing them up close in the wild is, in my opinion, the single best wildlife experience on this planet. Yep, it’s even better than seeing mountain gorillas. The chimps cover big distances so keeping up with them means a hefty hike is likely in order.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Stuart Butler
By Stuart Butler

The centrepiece of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the giant, wildlife stuffed Ngorongoro Crater. Hiking is not permitted within the crater itself, due to the risk of becoming lunch for a hungry lion. But the surrounding Ngorongoro Conservation Area of rolling grasslands, dotted with Maasai homesteads and lumbering volcanic peaks, makes fabulous walking country.

Tanzania Kilimanjaro sunset

The Kilimanjaro trek might be popular and sometimes unbearably busy... but you can see why.

Planning a Tanzania trek

Everything you wish you'd known before you booked

Choose your Kilimanjaro route carefully!

Kilimanjaro is a vast mountain and there are seven established routes to the top. The Marangu route is the least interesting but, at six days, is the fastest route which makes it the cheapest, and therefore the most popular. This is a problem for two reasons: firstly it gets very crowded, and secondly six days don’t allow enough time to acclimatise; many people rush up the mountain, succumb to altitude sickness, and turn back before reaching the top.

My biggest piece of advice is to avoid the Marangu route if at all possible! My favourites are the longer, more challenging, more scenically varied and much quieter Lemosho and Northern routes.

Whichever route you take, I strongly advise you don’t just go for the shortest and cheapest itinerary you can find. Rushed itineraries and insufficient acclimatisation are the most common cause of failure to reach the summit. Look for operators who are mindful of this fact and factor at least one acclimatisation day into the itinerary. The cost of an extra day is far less than the cost of wasting your entire trek!

Or look further afield!

In my opinion, an even better solution is to steer clear of Kilimanjaro entirely and head to Meru instead. It’s Tanzania’s second-highest peak but receives a tiny fraction of the numbers flocking to Kilimanjaro. It’s set in a beautiful and varied Meru National Park with incredible scenery and wildlife and is, in my view, a much more rewarding climb. Other personal favourites of mine are the Usambara Mountains and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with their incredible mix of ever fluctuating scenery and the chance to meet local people.

Ostrich meru national park kenya

Dodging ostriches in Meru National Park

Tanzania trekking FAQs

Your questions, our expert answers

Question

When is the best time to go trekking and hiking in Tanzania?

Answer

You can hike in Tanzania year round, but the dry season months are generally considered the best times, especially for the big peaks such as Kilimanjaro and Meru. The dry season for these northern mountains is late December through to late March and late June to the end of October.


Stuart Butler
Answered by Stuart Butler
Question

Is Kilimanjaro realistic for someone in their 60s who is pretty fit and active?

Answer

The main routes up Kilimanjaro involve no technical climbing and really involve nothing more than a long slog. There’s no reason why an older person (or young though, 10 is the legal minimum) of decent fitness cannot climb Kilimanjaro. The big thing to remember is that because of cost most trips are shorter than they really should be and many people get altitude sickness. It’s worth factoring in an extra day or so to allow for proper acclimatisation.

Stuart Butler
Answered by Stuart Butler
Question

Is Kilimanjaro too touristy these days, are there any suitable alternatives?

Answer

As Africa’s biggest mountain and a very achievable “big” summit, Kilimanjaro has always been a popular trek. Is it too touristy? Well, that depends on perspectives and route taken. There are several different trails to the top and some are very quiet indeed. But, if you really want some peace and quiet, then nearby Mt Meru might be the one for you.

Stuart Butler
Answered by Stuart Butler
Question

What are the accommodations on a Kilimanjaro trek?

Answer

The Marangu route is the only route that offers accommodation in very basic mountain huts. On all other routes only camping is allowed and then only in designated camping areas. Trek organisers will supply all camping equipment (the quality of which varies depending on how much your trip costs). On the Marangu route everyone must stay in the mountain huts and the beds are laid out dormitory style.

Stuart Butler
Answered by Stuart Butler
Question

How serious is altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro?

Answer

Altitude related health problems – which can be potentially lethal – are a real risk on Kilimanjaro. This is due as much to the great height of the mountain and because too many people ascend too quickly. This is why it’s very important to allow more days than the quickest tour itineraries suggest. Yes, it costs more but by taking things slower you have a far greater chance of success.

Stuart Butler
Answered by Stuart Butler
Question

Can you trek Kilimanjaro solo or without a guide?

Answer

No. All trips up Kilimanjaro are as part of an organised trek. You don’t necessarily have to be a part of a trekking group but you are obliged to take a guide and porters and the more people you can share these costs with then the cheaper it becomes. In fact, guides are either compulsory or near enough compulsory on all Tanzanian trekking routes.

Stuart Butler
Answered by Stuart Butler
Question

Are there any easier treks or hikes around Mt Kilimanjaro?

Answer

It's perfectly possible to hike around Kilimanjaro but not go for the summit.

My favourite is a two-day Kili hike, where you do the first part of the Marangu route, sleep at the Mandara Huts, hike as high as the Horombo escarpment on day two, and then go back down.

Along the way, you encounter narrow trails through the rainforest, amazing views of for example Mawenzi Peak and open moorlands with giant lobelias and groundsels. The ridged trail is narrow as you wander through the rainforest. It’s lush and misty, with the trees adorned with moss. The canopy overhead is alive with birdsongs and a colobus monkey or two.

The hike to the Mandara Hut takes four to six hours at a good walking pace, and it's possible to add a one-hour walk to the Maundi Crater to that. If you are lucky, you see tree hyraxes on the way and on a clear day, the views to the east over Taveta and to the northwest of Mawenzi Peak are stunning.

On day two you will see the glades of the rainforest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands towards the Horombo escarpment. Views of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo are amazing. Look for giant lobelias and groundsels. This hike up takes you three to four hours, then you go five to six hours back down again. You stop at the Mandara Huts for lunch, then hike back to the Marangu Gate where the walk ends and you drive back to the hotel.

Robbin Meulemans
Answered by Robbin Meulemans
Question

We are looking for a multi-day trek in Tanzania: we are less interested in scaling peaks but very interested in being part of nature and seeing villages. What would you recommend?

R
Asked by Richard
Answer

I think you'll find the Usambara Mountains in northern Tanzania pretty much perfect for the type of hiking you're after (another possibility, all be it one just over the border in Kenya, is the Loita Hills).

There are all kinds of hiking possibilities in the Usambara Mountains from half a day to a week or more. There's nothing technical or difficult about the walking (though make sure you have plenty of wet weather gear!)

The main launch point for treks is the small town of Lushoto. If you're not booking an organised trek and don't mind doing things DIY you should be able to find a guide here, although there's no official registered guiding agency. A good bet can be to ask at guesthouses for help finding a good guide. You wouldn't likely be a part of a set group as the guide would walk with just your party.

You won't need tents as its more village to village trekking with simple guesthouse/homestay style accommodation in each village. You also won't need to carry anything more than snacks as food is always available in guesthouses. It's all quite organised considering the small number of people who hike here.

As for routes your guide will likely have suggestions, but Wikiloc also has a few user recorded routes which could serve as a good starting point. It's a very beautiful area. With big escarpments, drop-offs and varied countryside and people will try hard to help.

Stuart Butler
Answered by Stuart Butler

About the author

Trekking in Tanzania

Stuart Butler

Stuart is an award-winning travel journalist covering safari, trekking and conservation in Kenya and Tanzania for the Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, BBC, Bradt Travel Guides, amongst many others. He is the author of Walking With The Maasai, a journey through some of Kenya's lesser-visited Maasai lands.

Other guides you might like

Why Horizon Guides?

Impartial guidebooks

Impartial travel guides

Our guides are written by the leading experts in their destinations. We never take payment for positive coverage so you can count on us for impartial travel advice.

Expert itineraries

Expert itineraries

Suggested itineraries and routes to help you scratch beneath the surface, avoid the tourist traps, and plan an authentic, responsible and enjoyable journey.

Specialist advice

Specialist advice

Get friendly, expert travel advice and custom itineraries from some of the world's best tour operators, with no spam, pressure or commitment to book.