Mount Hanang

Hanang stands alone above the plain south of Babati, an extinct volcano reaching about three thousand four hundred metres, which makes it one of the higher peaks in the country and one that can be climbed in a single long day without technical equipment. The route from Katesh climbs through farmland and then heath to a crater rim with a view over the Rift, Lake Balangida and the plains. Barabaig herders live around the mountain and their land is crossed on the way up.

Background

Hanang rises to 3,420 m in Hanang District of Manyara Region. Counting the three peaks of Kilimanjaro as one mountain, it ranks fourth in Tanzania after Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru and Mount Loolmalasin. The main path starts in Katesh, and the climb fits into one day of about 10 hours, though many climbers spend a night in a tented camp and reach the top on day two. The Mount Hanang Nature Forest Reserve covers 58.66 km² of the higher slopes. Between 2000 and 2700 meters, evergreen montane forest grows on the wetter east and south, with drier forest, bushland and grassland to the west and north. Higher up come ericaceous heathland and high-altitude grassland.

Source: Wikipedia, "Mount Hanang"

What's there

• The summit crater - the rim at about three thousand four hundred metres.
• The single-day climb - a non-technical ascent and descent within one long day.
• The Barabaig country - herding land crossed on the lower slopes.
• Lake Balangida - the soda lake below the mountain's western side.

When to go

June to October is the dry season and the climbing window. Starts are before dawn to reach the top before cloud. The rains make the upper slopes slippery and dangerous.

What to expect

The climb is long and steep, around twelve hours up and down, and altitude affects some people. Guides are compulsory and arranged informally in Katesh. There is no infrastructure on the mountain at all.

Nearby

Babati is north, and Dodoma is southeast.

Key facts