There are many summits to attempt in Tanzania, and African MANIA will arrange any or a combination of these adventures for you. It is recommended that you attempt another summit before your Kilimanjaro adventure, as this will help you acclimatise to Tanzania's conditions.
Kilimanjaro (a Maasai word meaning "Large Rock") is symbolic of the compelling beauty of East Africa. It's the highest free-standing mountain in the world, at 5895 m/19336 ft. Kilimanjaro is formed by three volcanoes: Shira, Mawenzi and Kibo, with Kibo being the highest of the three.
Kilimanjaro is not only Africa's highest mountain, but also one of the world's most accessible high summits. Hans Meyer accomplished the first ascent of Kilimanjaro in 1891. Reaching Uhuru peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro, is definitely a life-changing experience and a huge achievement.
There are six routes up the mountain and African MANIA can arrange all routes.
- Machame route (7 days/6 nights or 6 days/5 nights - aka Whiskey
route)
This is the second most popular route, 26 km long, and is considered the most beautiful route up Kilimanjaro. With a gradual ascent through the forest, you emerge to see wide views of the moorland on Shira plateau, Kibo and Western Breach. The different kinds of vegetation found along the route make it the most scenic route.
- Marangu route (aka Coca Cola route)
- Londorosi (Shira) route
Mount Meru (the fifth highest mountain in Africa), 4565 m/14990 ft, is the second highest peak in Tanzania after Mount Kilimanjaro. It is an active volcano (its most recent minor eruption was about a century ago) and the centrepiece of Arusha National Park.
The mountain's fertile slopes rise above the surrounding savannah and support a forest that hosts diverse wildlife, including nearly 400 bird species as well as some monkeys and leopards.
Mount Meru is a great preparation climb for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or a spectacular trek for those not compelled to do Kilimanjaro. You will hike past wildlife over a spectacular landscape, and sunrise on the summit has Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop.
Nights on the mountain will be spent in so-called "Swiss" huts, which many people are surprised to see in Africa.
- Mount Meru summit attempt (3 days/2 nights or 4 days/3 nights)
Starting from Nainokanoka in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where we will be getting our donkeys, our Maasai guide and our armed park ranger, we will set off our journey through beautiful landscapes to Bulati. Maasai villages surround the area and we will be able to explore the Maasai lifestyle. After over-nighting in Bulati, it's off to Empakaai where we will be going down to the Empakaai crater floor, seeing millions of flamingos before we overnight at Empakaai. The next day we will walk to Acacia Valley Camp where we will stay in a school with Maasai after spending some time on cultural activities with the locals. The last day we take off from Acacia Valley Camp to Ol Doinyo Lengai. If there are no eruptions, we will start our ascent of the mountain at midnight. Our truck will collect us at Ol Doinyo Lengai to take us to Engarasero camp where we will overnight. There is a beautiful waterfall to explore at the camp and flamingos can be viewed at the waterside.
Ol Doinyo Lengai is an active volcano located in the eastern Rift valley. Ol Doinyo Lengai means "Mountain of God" in the language of the native Maasai people. Although the Maasai do not climb the mountain themselves, they will allow tourists to do so. Volcanic activity has caused tremors in Kenya and Tanzania since the beginning of July 2007, with the volcano finally erupting on the 4 September 2007. As the lava is rich in rare sodium and potassium carbonates, the lava erupts at relatively low temperatures and does not have the red glow which is common to most lavas.
Accommodation will be arranged at a campsite nearby the mountain. For the climb up the mountain you need to be physically fit in order to complete it. Climbs will only be arranged when there is no volcanic activity.
Mount Hanang is less well-known than some of the other summits in Tanzania, but is also less frequently climbed by tourists and therefore a less crowded mountain. The mountain stands in the Manyara region surrounded by grassy plains and is close to Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park. It is 3418 m tall and it's the third highest peak in Tanzania. The mountain can be climbed in 1 or 2 days. It may be worth knowing that the 1-day hike will be a very long day - fit hikers normally need a minimum of 12 hours to summit. It is therefore more realistic to overnight in tents or one of the caves on the mountain.
As the mountain is located outside the national parks system, it's slightly less expensive to summit.