Top 5 mountains to climb in Tanzania
Top 5 mountains to climb in Tanzania
Top 5 mountains to climb in Tanzania: Tanzania is a safari destination which is located in East Africa and the country is known for amazing wildlife viewing as well as its beautiful islands and white sand beaches, breathtaking views and unique cultures.
The top 5 mountains of Tanzania which are destinations for climbing or hiking include the following;
Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa at 5895 meters and is located in the northern part of Tanzania.
The mountain is snowcapped and to get to the top of the mountain, climbers use 6 different routes to get to the summit and descend from the mountain and these include the Marangu route, Machame route, Rongai route, Lemosho route, Umbwe route and the Shira route.
Mount Kilimanjaro is a strato volcano and is therefore made up of ash and ash as well as rock. There are three cones on Mount Kilimanjaro and they include Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira with the tallest of the 3 being Kibo which is also dormant while Shira and Mawenzi are extinct.
It takes about 5 days and above to get to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and also descend from the mountain depending on the route which is used by the climbers during their hiking experiences on the mountain.
The mountain is made up of 5 climatic zones which include the bushland zone, the rainforest zone, the moorland zone, the alpine desert zone and the arctic zone. Climbing on the mountain can take place all through the year.
Mount Meru
Mount Meru is the second highest mountain in Tanzania which is located in Arusha national park.
It can take about 4 days to climb to the summit of Mount Meru and descend. The mountain consists of rugged slopes, savannah and lush forest. Wildlife species can also be spotted during a hiking experience on the lower slopes of the mountain and they include giraffes, elephants, colobus monkeys, baboons, buffalos among others.
There are also over 400 bird species which can be spotted around Mount Meru which is 4,566 meters high and is located south west of Mount Kilimanjaro. This mountain can also be a challenging hike.
The hiking trails on the mountain go through rainforest, open bush as well as rocky terrain near the top of the mountain. Trekking on the mountain takes place at different times of the year although the dry season is recommended for climbing on Mount Meru.
Ol donyo lengai
Ol donyo lengai is an active strato volcano which is located in the East African rift and is found in Arusha region of Tanzania.
This mountain which is at an altitude of 2962 meters is also referred to as the “mountain of God” in the Maasai language. Ol donyo lengai is also the highest active volcano of Tanzania and climbing on this mountain can take about 3 days.
The dry season is recommended for hiking on the Ol donyo lengai since the roads leading to the mountain are not favorable during the wet season. The slopes of the mountain consist of ash as well as oak and birch along the steep slopes of the mountain.
Usambara mountain
The Usambara mountain is located in the north eastern part of Tanzania and is part of the eastern arc mountains.
A variety of flora and fauna is found around the Usambara mountain as well as attractions such as the Magamba forest as well as the Mkuzu waterfall. There are about 600 tree species at this destination as well as about 3000 plant species.
Among the activities which are carried out on Usambara mountain include hiking, bird watching, walking as well as cultural interactions. There are beautiful views around the mountain such as of the hills and valleys, farmland and plantations.
Udzungwa mountain
Udzungwa mountain is part of ranges in the southern part of Tanzania and is a hiking spot and is also a habitat for various bird species.
There are 400 bird species and 6 primate species which can be seen around the Udzungwa mountain national park and these include Iringa red colobus, sanje crested mangabey and many others. The mountain is also part of the ranges of the eastern arc.
Different trails are used during hiking experiences which take place around Udzungwa mountain which include hikes to the Sanje waterfall which is a popular hiking route.
The mountain is located south of Mikumi national park and can also be accessed by driving from Dar es salaam which is the capital city of Tanzania.
