Mountain climbing & Hiking

Mountain climbingMountain climbing and hiking are some of the famous adventures to attend in Tanzania. A mountain or hiking is the best way to be close to nature because this is a different and unique experience.

The term mountaineering describes the sport of mountain climbing. While some scholars identify mountaineering-related activities as climbing (rock and ice) and trekking up mountains, others add backpacking, hiking, skiing via Ferrata, and wilderness activities. Still, others state that mountaineering also includes indoor climbing, sport climbing, and bouldering.
Source: Wikipedia

Click on one of the parks to see all the information!

Arusha National Park

 Moutain hikingArusha national park is often off of many tourists because the park is terrific; of its diversity of habitats, you will find swamps, open plains, mountain forests, and volcanoes all compressed within a distance of 35 km from Arusha city. Arusha national park is the only place on the northern safari circuit where the acrobatic black-and-white colobus monkey to seen. Amid the forest stands the spectacular Ngurdoto Crater, whose steep, rocky cliffs enclose a wide marshy floor dotted with herds of buffalo and warthog.

The distance from central Arusha to Tanzania’s Northern circuit park is only 45 minutes. At just over 212 square miles (542 sq. km), its located between the peaks of Kilimanjaro and Meru mountain.

Within the park, there are three broad areas to be found:
Firstly, Ngurdoto Crater (surrounded by forest)
Secondly, The Momela Lakes (alkaline)
Thirdly, Mount Meru (lush forest and bare rock)
In conclusion, these are all at varying altitudes and, as a result, have very different vegetation – it is all this helps to make this such a diverse park to visit.

Despite its small size, Arusha National Park has a wide variety of wildlife. Within the park’s three vegetation zones, with the different animals. Near water, reedbuck, and waterbuck are covered in small, while shy bushbuck and duiker keep to the forested parts of the park. The Mount Meru ecosystem is incredibly diverse and home to more elusive larger mammals, such as leopard and hyena.

Almost 400 species are available in the park, along with wide butterflies and other wildlife. Some of them are migratory and only present between October and April. Others are permanent residents. Especially the Momela lakes are an excellent place for bird watching, which host a large concentration of waterbirds, including flamingos. There is also a variety of raptors, which hide in the forested areas of Mount Meru.

Map Arusha National ParkThe park is only 137km² but includes a diverse range of habitats. At the Arusha National Park, you can find mountains, a rainforest, open savannah, alkaline lakes, and even a volcanic crater.

Mount Meru stands at 4 566 ( 14,980ft), the fifth-highest mountain in Africa.
You get great views of Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth highest mountain, and within the park’s boundary on clear days. You can also see across Kilimanjaro – which is 50km away.

Best time to visit:

Mount Meru: It is climbing: June to February, although it may rain in November. Best views of Kilimanjaro: December to February.

Best activity in the park:

There are different kinds of activities such as Horse riding, bird-viewing, game driving, canoeing in the big Mommella Lake.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today!

Telephone number +31 36 737 05 99
Email: info@endless-safaris.nl

Kilimanjaro National Park

Kilimanjaro national park

Mountain climbingKilimanjaro National Park is a Tanzania national park located 300 kilometers (190 mi) south of the equator and in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro region. The park is located near the city of Moshi. The park includes the whole of Mount Kilimanjaro above the tree line and the surrounding montane forest belt above 1,820 meters (5,970 ft). It covers an area of 1,688 square kilometers (652 sq mi), 2°50’–3°10’S latitude, 37°10’–37°40’E longitude.

Source: Wikipedia

Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa and is the world’s highest freestanding mountain, located only 330 km south of the Equator with snow caps throughout the years. Kilimanjaro is a powerful visual symbol and a quintessential African image with its distinctive silhouette and snow-capped peak. Often referred to as the “Roof of Africa,” Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak on the African continent. It is also the tallest freestanding mountain globally, rising in breathtaking isolation from the surrounding coastal scrubland to the commanding summit at 19,340 feet (5,895 m). Three volcanic cones make up Kilimanjaro: Kibo is the summit; Mawenzi at 16,893 feet (5,149 m); and Shira at 13,000 feet (3,962 m). Uhuru Peak, the goal of most climbers, is the highest summit on Kibo’s crater rim.

KilimanjaroIt is the highest mountain anywhere in the world that can be ascended without specialized mountaineering equipment or experience. Standing proudly on the African plains, just over 200 miles (330 km) from the equator, the mountain is large enough to have its own weather systems and five separate vegetation zones: the cultivated lower slopes, the rain forest zone, the semi-alpine heath, and moorland zone, the alpine desert zone, and the arctic zone. Average temperatures may range from a high of 90 degrees to a low of -20 degrees Fahrenheit (-40F and -40C, with wind chill).

Which route?

Kilimanjaro has six ascent routes to the summit, such us Marangu, Mweka, Umbwe, Machame, Shira, and Rongai. Both the Shira and Lemosho routes approach the mountain from the west and use variations of the same trail, merging just above the forest of the Shira Plateau. Both routes ascend to the summit via the Western Breach or the Southern Ice fields via the Barafu Route.
First, the most common route is the Marangu Route (Coca Cola route), which ascends the mountain from the southeast. It is the only route where overnight accommodation is in specially built huts. The summit bid is via the Marangu Route, with descent made by retracing your steps.

Secondly, after the Marangu, the Machame Route (Whisky route) is the second most popular and scenic. The Machame route is a six-hour walk up a well-worn path, crossing tangled tree routes, through the rainforest to Machame Hut. It’s tarts from the southwest base of the mountain and approaches the summit via either the Western Breach or the Barafu Route.

Thirdly, the Umbwe Route is the most direct and strenuous, as it gains height rapidly and allows less time to acclimatize. The summit bid is at the Western Breach.
However, the less frequently used Rongai Route is the only route approaching the mountain’s northeast side. The path crosses the Mawenzi, with the final summit bid made via the Marangu Route.

Each of the six ascent routes connects with a path that circles the Kibo cone, known as either the Northern Circuit or the Southern Circuit, depending on which side of the mountain you approach the summit. Also, it is possible to walk around the entire Kibo cone, but this needs to be arranged in advance.

Last but not least, three trails then lead up from this circular path to Kibo’s crater rim: the Western Breach Route (also known as the Arrow Glacier Route), Barafu Route, and a way which runs up from Kibo Huts to Gillman’s Point, best known as the Kibo Huts Route. Which of these you will take to the summit depends on the six paths you took to get this far.

Useful equipment while peak

  • Gloves
  • A water pouch with a tube, carrying in daypack
  • Hiking boots
  • Gaiters
  • Treaking socks, shirts and trousers
  • Rain gear
  • Head lamp- torch
  • Strong sunglasses, hat and suncream
  • Neck over

Mountain climbing & hiking, Best time to go

Due to Mount Kilimanjaro’s proximity to the equator, this region does not experience the extremes of winter and summer weather but relatively dry and wet seasons. Therefore, the best time to climb Kilimanjaro tends to be the warmest and driest months. January, February, and September are considered the best months in weather and the busiest months. January through mid-March are the warmest months, with clear skies in the mornings and evenings. During the day, clouds may appear, along with brief showers. From the end of March to early June is the long rainy season. Visibility may be low due to heavy clouds, but the crowds are gone. June, July, and August are good colder months. Following September and October, the short rainy season lasts from November through the beginning of December, when afternoon rains are normal, but skies are apparent in the mornings and evenings.

Lit by a full moon, the view of the peak of Kilimanjaro and its magnificent glaciers is undeniably spectacular. For this reason, some climbers prefer to schedule their trek to coincide with the full moon. Additionally, there is a practical reason for climbing during the full moon: along with a clear sky, a bright moon will increase your visibility throughout your climb, and most importantly, during the summit attempt. A 7-day climb should start five days before the full moon to summit during a full moon.

Minimum recommended trip lengths

Machame Route: 6-7 days
Marangu Route: 5-6 days
Rongai Route: 5-6 days
Shira and Lemosho Routes: 6 to 9 days
Umbwe Route: 5-6 days

Mountain climbing & hiking, best activity:

Mountain climbing and Cultural tourism

Please, contact us today!

Telephone number +31 36 737 05 99
Email: info@endless-safaris.nl

Udzugwa national park

Udzugwa national parkUdzugwa Mountains National Park is a national park in Tanzania with 1,990 km2 (770 miles). The habitats contained within the national park include tropical rainforest, mountain forest, miombo woodland, grassland, and steppe. A vertical height range of 250-2,576 meters ( the peak of Lohomero) incorporates the Udzugwa Mountain part of the Eastern Arc Mountain. There are more than 400 birds species, 2500 plant species (25% of which are endemics), and six primate species. It has the second largest biodiversity of a national park in Africa.

Tourism in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park revolves around hiking and trekking, as the park has no roads and is accessible only on foot. The hiking trails range in difficulty from the short one-hour Sonjo trek to the highly challenging 6-day camping trek on the Lumemo Trail. The most common walk is the Sanje Waterfalls trail which takes approximately four hours to complete and allows the visitor access to the stunning 170 m waterfall and includes swimming in the waterfall plunge pools as part of the activity.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udzungwa_Mountains_National_Park

With 1,990 km2, the park is also an important water catchment for major rivers, namely the Great Ruaha and Kilombero. The series of waterfalls along its river and dense tropical forest give the park its Serena experience.

Best time to visit:

June to October

Activity

Game drives and waterfall hikes.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today!

Telephone number +31 36 737 05 99
Email: info@endless-safaris.nl

Ground hornbill