Trekking in Tanzania

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Answered by Stuart Butler