Mount Hanang

TOUR

Hiking Mount Hanang is really fun. We offer a 2 day or a 3 day trip on the Katesh Route with overnight camping or hotel accomodation. Both options include visiting Lake Balangida after your hike.

Hanang is the fourth-highest mountain of Tanzania (after Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru and Mount Loolmalasin). It is an extinct vulcano like the others and its peak has an elevation of 3,423 m / 11,230 ft above sea level. The mountain is part of the Mount Hanang nature forest located close to Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangine National Park, two major tourist destinations for wildlife safari in northern Tanzania. Mount Hanang Nature Forest is a great water source with several rivers and beautiful lakes.

If you are lucky, you can see some wildlife around the mountain and its evergreen montane forest like velvet monkeys, baboons, bushbucks, duikers, klipspringer, and some even spot hyenas.

The difficulty of this trail comes from the extreme incline on its steep slopes. In 8.5 km / 5,3 miles you will ascend more than 1,600 m / 5,250 ft - and this is done at a high elevation. The terrain is rocky and there are sections where you will need to be sure-footed, but no big drop-offs or moments of exposure. Basically, if you feel fit enough for a steep ascent and are not afraid of cold camping conditions (on the 2 day trip) you are all set for this brilliant adventure.

Itinerary:

2 Day Trip:

DAY 1:

Early morning we will pick you up from your hotel in Arusha or Moshi and drive about 4-5 hours to Katesh (if you stay at more nearby places like Karatu or Katesh it will be shorter). There we will get your permit and you will have lunch. Once we are ready, we start hiking, our porters will carry your food and tents. The trail first leads through a small forest, as you ascent the trees get shorter, you will walk through bush and grass land with beautiful butterflies, as well as heath and moorland. Typical vegetation will be Protea tree and Erica tree. Once we reach the camp you will have dinner and your well deserved rest. The camp has an elevation of 3,100 m /10,170 ft and stunning views.

- hiking distance: 8,5 km / 5,3 miles
- hiking time: 5-6 hours
- altitude gained: 1,300 m / 4,265 ft
- meals included: hot lunch, hot dinner

DAY 2:

We will wake you up early morning around 3:30 am and walk through the dark so you will need a headtorch and warm clothes. After 2.5 hours you will be at the summit and enjoy the beautiful sunrise and stunning panoramic views to all sides. You will see the rivers, the lakes and the wide land. After enjoying the summit we will descent back to the camp where breakfast will be already prepared for you. We are going back down to the gate and have a hot lunch there. From here we will drive 30min-1 hour to the Lake Balangida. It is one of the salt or soda lakes (like the more famous Lake Natron), that are knows for its high concentration of sodium carbonate and beeing the most productice ecosystems on earth. The salt lake has spectacular views.

You can also add another day to your trip, stay at the lake and visit the village.

- hiking distance: 3 km / 1,9 miles

- hiking time: ascent 2-3 hours / descent 3-4 hours

- altitude gained: 320 m / 1,050 ft

- meals included: breakfast, hot lunch

3 Day Trip:

DAY 1:

We will pick you up from your hotel in Arusha or Moshi after lunch and drive about 4-5 hours to Katesh (if you stay at more nearby places like Karatu or Katesh it will be shorter). There we will get your permit and drop you at your hotel or campsite for dinner.

- meals included: hot dinner

DAY 2:

After breakfast we start hiking. The trail first leads through a small forest, as you ascent the trees get shorter, you will walk through bush and grass land with beautiful butterflies, as well as heath and moorland. Typical vegetation will be Protea tree and Erica tree. After having our lunch boxes on the mountain while enjoying the beautiful scenery, we continue climbing. At the summit you will have stunning panoramic views to all sides, you will see the rivers, the lakes and the wide land. After the descent back down to the gate we will drive you back to the campsite or your hotel for dinner and a well deserved rest.

- hiking distance: 8,5 km / 5,3 miles + 3 km / 1,9 miles

- hiking time: 6-7 hours ascent / descent 3-4 hours

- altitude gained: 1,300 m / 4,265 ft +320 m / 1,050 ft

- meals included: breakfast, lunch box, hot dinner

DAY 3:

After breakfast we will drive 30min - 1 hour to Lake Balangida. It is one of the salt or soda lakes (like the more famous Lake Natron), that are knows for its high concentration of sodium carbonate and beeing the most productice ecosystems on earth. The salt lake has spectacular views. After lunch we will take you back to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha.

- meals included: breakfast, hot lunch or lunch box