Explore the Tanzania Mountains and explore their heights, activities, and locations
However, in Tanzania, some mountains don’t enjoy anywhere near as much notoriety. That doesn’t mean that they’re not noteworthy or don’t have anything to offer the intrepid hiker
- Highest: Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895 meters (19,340 feet)
- Second Highest: Mawenzi Peak at 5,148 meters (16,890 feet)
- Third Highest: Mount Meru at 4,566 meters (14,980 feet)
- Fourth Highest: Klute Peak at 3,953 meters (12,970 feet)
- Fifth Highest: Mount Hanang at 3,420 meters (11,220 feet)
- Sixth Highest: Mount Luhombero at 2,576 meters (8,450 feet)
- Seventh Highest: Mount Sisaba at 2,462 meters (8,080 feet)
- Eighth Highest: Mount Selegu at 2,456 meters (8,060 feet)
- Ninth Highest: Mount Sibindi at 2,371 meters (7,780 feet)
While not all of these peaks may offer the same challenge to mountain climbers and mountaineers, that doesn’t mean that each peak doesn’t have something unique to offer. Let’s have a closer look at some of what these mountains have to offer.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is the most famous mountain in Tanzania, by far. Not only is it the highest mountain in Tanzania, it’s also the highest mountain in Africa. At 5,895 meters (19,340 feet), Mount Kilimanjaro is also the world’s highest freestanding mountain above sea level.
For all of these reasons, Mount Kilimanjaro is a popular tourist destination, and people climb it regularly. However, there’s more to this mountain than the chance to climb to the top. Some other activities you can experience on and around this majestic peak include the following:
- The Rundugai Hotsprings – If you just want to take a breather and relax, the Rundugai Hotsprings are ideal. Explore the crystal clear waters while the natural heat draws all the tension from your muscles.
- Hiking to the Kilimanjaro Waterfall – The Kilimanjaro waterfall is a lovely cascade of water, and hiking to it and back is an excellent day trip. The trail is less steeply inclined than the one to Mount Meru’s waterfall, and even beginners can take the trip with ease.
- Hiking on Kilimanjaro – If you’d like to experience the beauty and splendor of the peak but don’t necessarily want to climb to the summit, why not try hiking on the mountain instead? You can go for a one-day hike or choose a two-day hike and sleep on the mountain and experience the beauty and serenity without the strain of a full climb.
Other mountains
Mount Mawenzi
Mount Mawenzi, is a peak of the Kilimanjaro, the second-highest peak in Tanzania after Uhuru Peak. There are plenty of things you can do around this peak. There are three different hiking routes on this mountain, with varying levels of difficulty:
- The Marangu Route
- The Rongai Route
All in all, hiking this mountain is relatively easy, and you should reach the summit on the same day that you start the hike. This gives you a fantastic opportunity to take photos and enjoy the view before heading back.
Mount Meru
As the third-highest mountain in Tanzania, Mount Meru enjoys some popularity among tourists. Hiking or climbing it is much less demanding than taking on Kilimanjaro itself and still allows you to enjoy stunning vistas and a wonderful hike.
Another great aspect of Mount Meru is that it has its very own waterfall. If you take the trek to the Mount Meru Waterfall, you’ll discover stunning views after a comparatively short hike. Enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the waterfall without the strain involved in visiting some other falls.
Klute Peak
Klute Peak is one of the peaks belonging to Shira Mountain and, thus, to Mount Kilimanjaro. Generally, it is not used as a stand-alone hike or climb. Instead, it forms part of some routes leading to Kilimanjaro’s summit.
Mount Hanang
Mount Hanang is the fifth-highest of Tanzania’s mountain peaks. It may not be the most recognizable among the mountains of Tanzania, but it’s still beautiful. As with Mount Mawenzi, there are three main established hiking trails to get to the summit.
You can choose between the Giting Route, the Ngendabi Route, and the Katesh Route.
The Katesh Route has an ascension time of around six hours and a decent time of around five. The Giting and Ngendabi Routes should take similar amounts of time. However, the details of each route may vary significantly.
Mount Luhombero
You can hike Luhombero Peak from the park’s outskirts and turn it into a full expedition. Walking safaris are an option and will allow you to experience more of the scenery and local wildlife. However, this will also turn a one or two-day hike into a five or six-day hike.
You can choose between several routes that have drastically different travel times. For instance, you can decide to take a circular route that will have you hiking around the mountain. You can also pick a more direct route and shorten the time spent significantly.
Whichever route you decide to take, this mountain is well worth the effort and will reward you with a range of intriguing experiences and stunning vistas.
Other Notable Mountains in Tanzania
Tanzania has a total of 2,395 notable peaks and hills that have been named. That’s not to say that there are only that many peaks. Many smaller or less noteworthy peaks simply haven’t been named. As you might expect, many other Tanzanian mountains are well worth mentioning. Let’s have a closer look at a few of them.
Mount Ol Doinyo Lengai
Mount Ol Doinyo Lengai is known to the local Tanzanian people—the Maasai—as ‘The Mountain of God.’ They believe that the god Engai made his home there after a hunter successfully hit him with an arrow.
The mountain is an active volcano that last had an explosive eruption in 1993. It has two craters, one of which is typically active, while the other is filled with water.
If you’re fit and looking for a challenge, then this mountain in Tanzania is well worth considering. It’s often considered one of the most challenging nighttime mountain hikes. Located in the Ngorongoro Conservation area, it’s quite a journey to get there because it’s far from basically everything, but it’s an amazing hike you would want to go for.
Which mountain in Tanzania are you going to climb?
Tanzania is a beautiful country with many natural wonders, beautiful sites, and lovely hiking trails. It also has an array of mountains and hills.
The mountains of Tanzania are wondrous, majestic, and full of hidden jewels. From climbing to the summit of Kilimanjaro to trekking the lower slopes of Mount Sisaba, there’s always something new to find and do.
You can book your Kilimanjaro climbing expedition right here with us. Or you can plan a trip to the Mount Meru Waterfall. If you’d like to plan a custom trip that allows you to hike on Mount Kilimanjaro, see chimpanzees, and see waterfalls, we can do that, too.