Top Hikes of Tanzania

Tanzania offers some of the most spectacular scenery in Africa. Hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro is on every outdoor adventurer’s bucket list, but there are plenty of alternative hikes here that are just as great.

Mt. Meru is the second0highest peak in Tanzania, and stands at a whopping 4,566 meters high. Its location in Arusha National Park offers breathtaking views and some great opportunities to mingle with local wildlife. If you can hack the steep climb to the top, you’ll be rewarded with views of Colobus monkeys, giraffes and elephants.

The Ngorongoro Crater Highlands offer an easier hike for those seeking to avoid the mountain treks. The rip up the side of the volcano is made of wide-open spaces, so it’s not particularly steep. It takes roughly 40 minutes to reach the crater, and along the way you’ll pass the Munge waterfalls, gazelles, lions, leopards and buffalo.

Udzungwa Mountains National Park is another great option that isn’t too overwhelming, but still requires some athletic ability. The park houses some unique wildlife you won’t find elsewhere, including the Udzungwa Partridge, the red Colobus monkey and the Kipunji ape. The Sanje waterfalls are worth the effort alone.

The Pugu Hills near Dar es Salaam are a walk in the park compared to most hikes in Tanzania, yet equally as picturesque. Hiking from end to end takes roughly four hours, but along the way you’ll experience the majestic Msimbazi River and thousands of migratory birds endemic to the region.