Mount Meru Climb

Mount Meru Climb

Magnetized by Mt Kilimanjaro, the hikers often overlook Mt Meru, the second highest peak of Tanzania. Towering over Arusha National Park, Mount Meru offers both an excellent warm-up exercise for Kilimanjaro, in addition to being a stunning trekking experience in the wild by its own right.

Mount Meru trekking is a real adventure. The slopes of this dormant (yet active — the last eruption was in 1910) volcano offer fascinating panoramic vistas and bustling wildlife around.

This volcano was “born” around 500,000 years ago, and its very first eruption virtually exploded its eastern side, creating its, peculiar appearance. In addition to that, Mt Meru has one of the deepest craters — over 1,500 meters!

Why Climb Mount Meru

There are several reasons to include Mount Meru into your Tanzania adventures list. Regrettably, this volcano is often outshadowed by Kilimanjaro — located in the immediate vicinity, it attracts more international hikers, thus making it a secondary hiking destination or a warm-up exercise. The majority of hikers, however, ignore it altogether.

We at Altezza firmly believe that Mt Meru hiking is a great adventure by itself because of these reasons:

Reason 1 — Stunning scenery

Mount Meru features incredibly captivating scenic vistas. The trek to Socialist Peak (4566 m/14,980 f), traverses several climatic zones, offering diverse landscapes and unparalleled scenes for wildlife photography.

The views from the summit area of Mt Meru are truly rewarding — valleys, forests and meadows, all buried in lush verdure, and magnetizing view of the Kilimanjaro peak looming on a horizon will surprise even the most seasoned travellers.

Reason 2 — Rich wildlife

Nestled in Arusha National Park, Mount Meru is one of the few mountains of the world still densely inhabited by the wildlife, which freely roam on its slopes. The hikers are likely to experience multiple encounters with different animals, including buffaloes, antelopes, monkeys, giraffes and, with some luck in your pocket, even elephants.

Reason 3 — No crowds

Meru is not yet popular among hikers. During the high season, on the popular routes of Kilimanjaro (Marangu and Machame) there is a chance of “traffic jams”, something that you will never experience on the trails of Meru. For those who are seeking reclusive, tranquil hiking in the wild, Meru is a great choice.

Mount Meru climb is a truly unforgettable one-of-a-kind adventure. To enjoy it to the full, please be prepared for the possibility of the arrangements described above. This applies only to Meru climbs, but not to Kilimanjaro.

EXCELLENT PREPARATION FOR KILIMANJARO Climbing Mount Meru is by far the most proven way to gain acclimatization for your Kilimanjaro adventure. As we explained in our article about the importance of high altitude acclimatization, it is the adaptation of your body to the heights (not your physical strength and stamina) that is critical for the Kilimanjaro success. Practically, the longer you stay at high altitudes, the better your body adapts. Thus, hiking Meru before Kilimanjaro is a good extra acclimatization boost for you, hugely elevating your Uhuru chances! In addition, Mt Meru trekking gives good insights into what it takes to be a member of a true mountain expedition. A minor of version of Kilimanjaro, it gives a glimpse into the “main mount” challenge, showing you what the future adventure will be like.

Reason 4 — Mount Meru hiking tour is affordable

In contrast to other hiking adventures, Mt Meru climb is quite an affordable activity. Because no tents are necessary (overnight stays on Mt Meru are in huts), the number of crew is small, reducing the travel costs. Therefore, for those with shrinking budgets, Meru can become a good and affordable alternative.

Reason 5 — Excellent addition for the safari tour

The wildlife of Tanzania is what attracts most of the visitors to the country. Tanzania has been voted the best destination for wildlife viewing several years in a row.

At the same time, flying over half of the world surely justifies having more diverse experiences. Thus, pairing your safari tour with a Meru climb may be an excellent idea to get the best of Tanzania.

The key features of Mt Meru expedition:

You do not need special alpine skills or experience to take part. Together with Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru is a “hiking”, not climbing “mountain”. Neither ropes, nor ice axes or helmets are necessary — the trekkers reach the Socialist Peak (4,562 m/14,967 f) on foot, and for the majority of them, Mt Meru is the first mountaineering experience.
Ordinary fitness level is ok. Meru hiking does not require anything special — as long as you can comfortably walk up to 10 km/6 miles per day, you can do it. Trekking level there is moderate.

• Hike slowly (recommended pace is two times slower than your ordinary one)
• Drink much water (3-4 liters per day)
• Listen to your guide
• Do not drink alcohol or too much coffee

The combination of these simple principles will make your Meru climb enjoyable, safe and successful.

The crew will take care of everything. Under the TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks Authority), a qualified guide should accompany the hikers. The team of porters and cooks are responsible for carrying your luggage, camp organization, food preparation, etc.

CLIMBING STANDARDS AT ALTEZZA TRAVEL At Altezza we believe that it is the crew that makes your adventure a lifetime experience. All our guides and porters are hand-picked, individually trained professionals. The guides have Wilderness First Responder/Wilderness First Aid certifications. They know how to act in times of emergency and how to make your experience with Altezza a lifetime adventure.

Under the local customs, in order to promote employment, half of the porters crew should be hired from the Meru tribe, which live in the foothills of Mount Meru.

Overnight stays on Mount Meru are in huts only. In contrast to Kilimanjaro, where tented camping options are available on all routes but Marangu, on Mount Meru one should be ready to stay in huts only.

An armed ranger will be accompanying your party up to the summit camp. In order to make your stay in the wild safe and protect the animals from poachers, an armed ranger will be hiking with you up to Saddle Hut Camp (see itinerary below).

Mount Meru Climb — day-by-day itinerary

There is only one route leading to Socialist Peak — “Momella”. Three and four day hiking are available

3-DAY VS. 4-DAY HIKE — HOW TO CHOOSE? If the schedule allows and you have not gained acclimatization on other mountains before (meaning that you have successfully climbed anything above 4,000m/13,123f and did not get affected by altitude sickness), we always recommend choosing a longer option. The more time you spend on Mount Meru — the more effectively your body adapts to the altitude, making the whole experience less stressful for it.

The Momella route approaches Mount Meru from the eastern face, moving up through the northern ridge to the peak.

The total trek distance is 45 km/27 miles.

There is a small furry animal in Africa that prefers a secretive nocturnal lifestyle, hiding among tree branches. Its scientific name is galago, but the locals call this creature bushbaby. What is a galago? Why are they called bushbabies? Why are they so adored, and where can you find them? Can you keep one as a pet? — We will tell you everything about these unusual animals in our article.

Northern greater galago, a nocturnal animal from Africa

Galagos — cute little bush babies

If you stay in the African countryside away from the big cities and take a stroll outside late at night, you can often hear noises remotely resembling intermittent baby cries coming from the nearby bushes and trees. Those who do not know the local animals will guess that it must be monkeys making these sounds. However, these are galagos, nocturnal animals that live in the trees. They will howl all night long, sometimes to assert their territory, sometimes to communicate and warn each other of danger. You will quickly get used to their cries and stop paying much attention.

Galagos are fluffy animals with huge eyes, which makes them look very cute — as if some animators from Japan drew them. Their second common name is bushbaby, which refers both to the sound they make and to their cute appearance. In Afrikaans, they are also called nagapie, which literally means “night monkey”. This is perhaps a compliment for the galago because although they are technically primates, they do not quite reach the level of intellect that many other apes and monkeys are known for.

A Senegal bushbaby. All galagos have big eyes and ears

In addition to their funny name, big eyes, and passion for making cries in the night, bushbabies are distinguished by their large ears and outstanding agility. They are able to jump from branch to branch with ease and feel truly at home on the trees. In addition, galagos are omnivores, which means that they are excellent hunters and foragers. Indeed, these are interesting animals that are very fun to observe. However, it is not easy to do so because during the day they hide among the branches, not giving away their presence and carefree sleeping, and at night it is difficult to see them because stealth is another trait that accurately characterizes these little creatures.

When an inexperienced African traveler can take a better look at this animal, they are likely to confuse it with a lemur. And no wonder — lemurs are much more well-known, not least because of the “Madagascar” animated franchise with the charismatic King Julien and his assistants. Lemurs are indeed related to bushbabies, but they are not the same. Lemurs live only in Madagascar and Comoros, while the habitat of the galagos is spread around continental Africa south of the Sahara desert. Bushbabies also have other close relatives that dwell in tropical forests of Africa: lorises, pottos, and angwantibos. Now let’s understand a little better who the galagos actually are before we start learning the most interesting facts about them.

The ring-tailed lemur is a relative of the galago

Who are the galagos?

Galagos are small nocturnal primates native to continental sub-Saharan Africa. All primates are scientifically classified into dry-nosed and wet-nosed primates, respectively. A wet nose in an animal is a sign of a good sense of smell. It allows one to instantly determine the speed and direction of the wind, pick up various odors at once and break them down. You’ve probably felt the wet noses of cats and noticed that the tip of a dog’s nose is wet, too. But if you touch your own nose, you will once again be convinced that it is dry, and therefore you must be classified as a dry-nosed primate (sub-order Haplorhini), like all other humans.

And we will find the galago in the neighboring suborder, Strepsirrhini (lower primates or “wet-nosed”). Besides the wet nose, we can notice that their thumb does not oppose other fingers so much and they have elongated “grooming” claws to care for their hair. In addition, bushbabies, due to their predominantly nocturnal lifestyle, have a poor ability to distinguish colors. Galagos typically give birth to several babies at once and have a smaller brain volume compared to monkeys and other placental mammals. In general, lower primates are more ancient creatures than apes, so they are more “primitive”.

Bushbabies are primitive creatures compared to any of the apes

Lower primates are divided into lemur-like and loris-like creatures. As we said before, all lemurs are endemics of Madagascar. They swam from continental Africa to that island several tens of millions of years ago and evolved there in isolation. In our time, several species of lemurs were brought by humans to the neighboring Comoro Islands, but are not found anywhere else. Our galagos are hidden in the Lorisoidea superfamily, although they are not loris. As you can see, it is difficult to find these little guys not only in the shrubs of Africa but also in the classification tables.

Two families make up the Lorisoidea superfamily: Lorisidae (lorises, pottos, and angwantibos), and Galagidae (galagos). And there are over 20 recorded species of galagos, with scientists anticipating more new species to be discovered in the future. If you search for photos of the galago on Google, you will see such a variety of appearances that it seems as if the different bushbaby species are completely different animals. They live in different habitats, in landscapes of different types, and have different external characteristics and lifestyles. Sometimes it is even easier for biologists to distinguish the differences between the galago species by the sounds they make. Each species has its own set of cries ranging from squeals to squeaks for all occasions.

Describing every species of galago here would be too lengthy, so we will only say that the largest of them, the Brown greater galago, reaches a maximum length of 47 centimeters (minimum — 26), while the body length of the smallest galago (Prince Demidoff’s bushbaby) varies from 7.3 to 15.5 cm. Among other unusual species, we can mention the Uluguru bushbaby, living in Tanzania and Kenya at an altitude of up to 2000 meters, and the Zanzibar bushbaby, which lives not only in Zanzibar but also in mainland Tanzania. Another rare species that does not even have a popular name — Sciurocheirus makandensis, was seen only a few times in Gabon and is barely studied.

Some bushbaby species are really tiny

The Zanzibar bushbaby can be found not only in Zanzibar

So what do we know about the better-studied species? How do these small and cute creatures lead their secretive lives hiding among tree branches?

How is the life of these nocturnal animals organized?

Virtually every characteristic of the galago’s appearance and behavior corresponds to their way of life. Big eyes are needed to catch maximum light at night and see in the dark, which is characteristic of all nocturnal animals. Large ears, like locators that can rotate independently of each other in all directions, help bushbabies orient in space, detect the enemy in advance, and hear signals from their relatives. During the day, while sleeping, the galagos fold their ears and press them tightly against the body so that extraneous sounds do not disturb their sleep. They do the same while jumping so that the ears don’t touch branches.

The galagos have strong legs and arms, which make them excellent jumpers and climbers. They often grasp tree branches and pull up the small light body, which weight varies from species to species, but does not go out of the range of 50-1500 grams. Their long and flexible tail helps them balance as they move along branches.

The Brown greater galago is a good example of a big-tailed bushbaby

Galagos leap from tree to tree with ease, deftly and firmly clinging to a pre-selected branch or palm leaf. These small animals can easily jump from tree to tree even if the branches are a couple of meters apart. Some species of galago are known to be able to make a five-meter-long jump! The muscles in their legs that are responsible for jumping work 6-9 times better than those of frogs. To quickly cover a long distance with a series of jumps is a usual thing for bushbabies.

In short, these African animals are perfectly adapted to live high up in the trees. It is known that they almost never descend to the ground. At the same time, they satisfy all their needs at night, returning to shelters during the day and resting carefree in nests they have built, in hollow trees, or simply on a convenient tree branch.

Most galago species do not form large groups and prefer to lead solitary lifestyles, this is especially true of male bushbabies. Females, on the other hand, live with their offsprings, and as the infants grow up, male offsprings leave and female offsprings remain, forming a group of relatives. In some galago species, males form bachelor communities. But more often galagos live individually, marking their territory and strictly ensuring that no one crosses its boundaries. To do this, they urinate on their own paws and, moving them, climb trees, leaving traces of their own scent.

Northern greater galago. Most of the time these animals hide in trees

At night, the galagos return to their nests made out of leaves and small twigs. In some cases, they use abandoned bird nests or even beehives. Sometimes, bushbabies while remaining solitary during the active night phase, form a kind of temporary community by sleeping near each other during the daytime. This is safer for them because if a predator gets close, the first galago to detect danger will wake up the others by crying.

What do the galagos eat and who eats them?

• flowers, seeds, leaves, and other vegetation;
• small insects like beetles and moths;
• frogs and lizards;
• small birds and their eggs.

Thanks to their agility and large ears, bushbabies can hunt insects with little effort. They can see well in the dark and are able to track and catch insects that just fly by.

So far it seems like these little guys are pretty comfortable in their natural environment, isn’t it? Insects fly to them on their own, there’s plenty of plant food in the tree crowns that you can pick up just passing by, nutritious sap oozes from the trees, and birds live and nest nearby. Besides, it is safer on tree branches than on the ground. However, the galago still has natural enemies.

A galago enjoys a piece of fruit

Bushbabies are hunted by mongooses, genets, snakes, owls, common dogs and cats, and jackals. Primates such as blue monkeys have also been spotted hunting bushbabies’ infants. There is evidence of chimpanzees preying on the galagos too. As superior primates and closest relatives of humans, these apes even made primitive weapons that were used to kill bushbabies.

The famous chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall was the first to notice in the 1960s that these clever apes were making tools such as sharpened sticks for extracting termites from their high mound dwellings. Chimpanzees have also been known to excitedly and efficiently hunt colobuses. In our days, Chimpanzee attacks on bushbabies have been documented many times: a chimpanzee breaks off a branch, makes a sharp stick out of it, sharpens the end with his teeth, and then gets up to the hollow with the sleeping bushbabies during the day, pokes the pointed stick inside several times and takes out the immobilized body of the galago.

It is amusing that scientists are arguing over whether to call such a weapon a spear or a club. On the one hand, the sharpened stick does resemble human spears, but on the other hand, chimpanzees do not throw them as primitive humans did, but simply thrust them into the victim’s body. In any case, the practice is successful — long, up to 60 centimeters, sharp sticks help chimpanzees hunt lower primates.

Where do the galagos live?

Bushbabies can be found in a variety of places in continental Africa south of the Sahara, which excludes the desert northern part with its barren environment, unsuitable for these tree dwellers. Of the islands, only some small and closest to the continent fall into their range, but not the largest and most distant one, Madagascar.

Most species of the galago prefer to live closer to forests, but it is common to hear and see them in the scrubland near villages and towns and even in some urban territories. Some species live in drier areas, having adapted quite well to the savannah. There are also some species that thrive in grasslands with shrubbery. The African Wildlife Foundation considers the galago the most successful of all lower primates because of this species’ diversity, overall abundance, and vast range.

Sometimes bushbabies get close to homes and hotels

Bushbabies have also learned to get along with humans, getting quite close to their homes. To see them, you often do not need to go deep into the African wilderness. Just choose a hotel located among lush greenery with abundant trees and bushes. A perfect example is Aishi Machame Hotel, owned by Altezza Travel, which is located in a green buffer zone of Kilimanjaro National Park in northern Tanzania, in the heart of East Africa, which is home to several species of galago.

Bushbabies are regulars at Aishi Machame Hotel

It might seem a little odd that we recommend a regular 3-star hotel out of all the locations in Africa for galago watching. But it really is a good place to watch bushbabies. Here they are plentiful, active, easy to hear and even to see if you have a little patience.

Aishi Machame Hotel stands on the bank of the Weruweru river, which carries its waters directly from the great African Mount Kilimanjaro, and takes its source from the volcano’s largest glacier — Furtwängler. The town itself is called Machame — it is located not far from Moshi which is famous among the climbers of Kilimanjaro. The hotel is buried in verdure, so the animals that are accustomed to people often come right to its territory. During the daytime, blue monkeys frolic in the tree branches and on the balconies of the hotel, sometimes even peeking through the windows of the guests, and at night the bushbabies wake up and start their games.

Lost among the trees. Aishi Machame Hotel in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

And judging by the calmness with which wild animals spend time near the pool and on the lawn behind the restaurant, these creatures themselves do not mind the increased attention they receive from the hotel guests. You can often see squirrels leaping on the leaves of banana trees, hornbills flying to the huge ficus, owls howling near the office building, and beautiful little geckos crawling right into the hotel. The luckiest guests can see bushbabies and white-tailed mongooses at night.

You can listen to and even record the various cries of bushbabies in the late evening and at night. You don’t have to go outside, just step up to the window. If you want to see these big-eyed cuties, go to the bamboo bushes and trees between the pond and the restaurant and you’ll have a chance to catch a glimpse of them. This is where the galagos like to eat since the hotel waiters bring fruit for the animals in the evenings. You can expect a quick scurrying beastie to come down from the tree, grab a treat, and disappear back into the thicket. But some lucky guests can see a brave bushbaby, observe it for a little longer, and even take a few pictures.

The place at Aishi Machame Hotel where the galagos come to visit

For photo-hunting, galago safaris are not very suitable. In the daytime, these animals are not active, and they hide perfectly well in the dense trees. But many other African animals can be admired on a trip across the savannahs in an off-road vehicle. We recommend going on a safari tour for as many days as your vacation allows you to, and visit several national parks as well as the most interesting remote areas. This way you will see many different animals and even begin to notice their different behavioral patterns. But nocturnal and secretive animals such as bushbabies are better observed on the hotel grounds.

A bushbaby at Aishi Machame Hotel under the light of a red lamp

Galago and humans

In addition to peaceful forms of interaction, as in the example above, human activity can harm these little primates. In general, their conservation status is of the “least concern”, although for some species a decrease in populations or a decrease in habitat areas is recorded. Here humans affect bushbabies indirectly by expanding farmland or cutting down forests. And this leads not only to the direct expulsion of animals from their native environments but also to a decrease in the food supply for the galago populations.

Taking a galago as a pet is a bad idea

Another issue on the part of humans is trying to domesticate these wild animals and keep them in our homes. This desire is understandable — a small fluffy animal with big cute eyes seems like it could make a good pet. However, it is a really bad idea.

A renowned zoologist, director of the Frankfurt Museum and author of «Serengeti Shall Not Die» Bernhard Grzimek had a pet bushbaby. Here is what he says in his book: “Lest too many people write and ask me to supply them with bushbabies, I had better mention that they have one very distinct drawback — the inelegant habit of urinating on their hands and feet, rubbing them together and then jumping directly at your face with wet palms. All the walls and the furniture which they touch become “perfumed” and, unless a window is kept permanently open, the stench is considerable.”

Galagos are wild animals adapted to their natural environment. In captivity, however, they feel unwell, and pick up various diseases after interacting with other species they don’t encounter in their natural habitat. Galagos are social animals, and so they need their own kind around to feel good and stay healthy.

There is an ethical problem in keeping bushbabies at home: tearing a wild animal out of its natural habitat, and confining it to an apartment or a house with artificial objects is a form of violence against a living creature. For a galago, no amount of human effort and care can replace the freedom and benefits of its natural habitat, for which evolution has been preparing these creatures for tens of millions of years. The desire to have an exotic animal as a pet is often just a selfish desire to stand out among other people, without much consideration of negative consequences for the animal and its owner.

Bushbabies are wild animals whose home is Africa

Want to know more about Tanzania adventures?

Lake Tanganyika is one of the oldest freshwater lakes on the planet, a real miracle of nature. In the waters of Lake Tanganyika one can observe the wonders of evolution with their own eyes; diving in this lake means seeing  endemic species of fish and other animals not found anywhere else in the world. To this day, scientists continue to study the waters of Lake Tanganyika. The maximum depth of the lake is 1,470 m, and only Lake Baikal in Siberia trumps Tanganyika in terms of depth. The shores of the lake are framed with beautiful sandy beaches and tropical forests.

Lake Tanganyika at sunset

Location and geography

The shoreline of Lake Tanganyika touches four African countries: Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Zambia. But Tanzania boasts the best views and the most convenient access to the lake. Tanzania also owns almost half of the waters of Tanganyika, and the shoreline around Tanzania has pleasant beaches with gently sloping sand. The shore on the DR Congo side, by comparison,  is formed by rocky cliffs.

Lake Tanganyika is so huge that when you stand on its shore and look across, it seems like a calm sea in front of you. The average width of Lake Tanganyika is 50 km. But the most impressive part is that the lake is 676 ​​km in length – from the northern to the southern tip. This is more than the distance between Paris and Milan – just imagine all this space filled with water! This makes Lake Tanganyika the longest freshwater lake on the planet.

The lake is rich in fish, and fishing is a popular activity for the local community. Besides regular freshwater fish caught for cooking, aquarium fish are also a common catch here. Dozens of moored boats, with fishing rods are a typical sight in this area.

Fishing boats on Lake Tanganyika

Vast stretches of the shore are surrounded by real tropical forests that provide home for chimpanzees. Chimpanzees like to climb down to the waters of the lake, and you can observe them from the territories of national parks.

The largest settlement near Lake Tanganyika, within Tanzania, is the city of Kigoma. It has  a population of over 200 thousand people and is a relatively poor, but interesting city. Among the attractions are the old buildings of the railway station, port facilities and a shipyard built in the colonial era. There is also a small museum dedicated to the research of the famous traveler David Livingston.

A fruit vendor on a street in Kigoma City

Fresh fish is sold on the streets of Kigoma in the morning

On the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the neighboring country Burundi, there’s the large capital city Bujumbura. To the west, in DR Congo, lies the city of Kalemie – the largest western port of Lake Tanganyika. These, and other small towns, are connected to Tanzanian Kigoma by river transport. The most striking among them is the famous German steamship Liemba (MV Liemba). Within its century-long history, it sank twice! After each instance, it stayed at the bottom of the lake for several years, but was eventually raised and renovated, and is now once again cruising with passengers around Lake Tanganyika. Read this incredible story, at the end of this article.

Things to do

Africa’s deepest lake is sure to surprise you time and again with new discoveries. To find them, you might literally dive in, but you don’t have to — many of the exciting activities available are right on the surface of the water!

Walking and observing chimpanzees in the parks

The most popular type of recreation at Lake Tanganyika is to visit one of the national parks closely adjacent to the lake – Gombe Stream National Park and Mahale Mountains National Park. The dominant vegetation in both parks are beautiful natural rainforests.

The parks are home to hundreds of species of birds and mammals, predators among them. But of greatest interest are the primates living in these forests as families. The most common among them are chimpanzees, the closest relative of humans (more than a 90% genome match). Just imagine how exciting it is to watch our wild brethren in their natural habitat groom one another, play complex social games and interact in a variety of other ways!

Chimpanzee in Mahale Mountains Park

The beaches of Lake Tanganyika

Besides walking with chimpanzees, you can indulge in a traditional beach holiday. There are several beaches in the city of Kigoma, and some of them are ideal spots to relax! Quiet sandy shores with clear and calm water, lodges with an authentic tropical ambience, walks by the lake under a canopy of tropical trees,and, finally, breathtaking sunsets. A paradise near the very center of the African continent.

Sunset on the beach of Lake Tanganyika

Diving in Tanganyika

Tourist infrastructure outside the national parks is still in the first stages of development  but fishing enthusiasts can find plenty of opportunities for motorized or manual boats. There are also diving centers that run underwater excursions to the beautiful colorful fish that abound in the waters of Tanganyika.

Pleasure boat on the shore of Tanganyika

With the waters of the lake being mostly calm, it is an ideal place for beginners to get their first diving lessons. It’s best to start in shallow water. In some places, water transparency reaches 20 meters and higher, so even experienced divers will enjoy a visit to the inhabitants of the lake.

The water in the lake is very warm: the temperature fluctuates at around 24–28 °С, making dives comfortable and safe. Residents even joke that diving in Tanganyika is safer than taking local shuttle buses!

It’s important to keep in mind that the surface of the lake lies as high as 773 meters above sea level, so diving will take place virtually in high mountain conditions. Diving experience, or going with professional guides for your first experience is the best approach.

Lake Tanganyika is called a huge natural aquarium because of the many types of cichlids (a type of fish) that live here and nowhere else. In the waters of Lake Tanganyika, there are many different types of cichlids in an array of colors that brings even scientists from around the world. You can watch the beautiful cichlids up close in shallow water – dive only five meters deep and you will be surrounded with shoals of these colorful nimble fish!

Boating and fishing

You can always take a boat trip from the shore of the lake. Local guides will take you to the best spots accessible only by water. Nature here is untouched by man: :world of tropical vegetation and the richest diversity of the animal kingdom that you really must see for yourself.

Lake Tanganyika is also famous for sport fishing. In March-April, there’s a special fishing championship held on these shores. It is a perfect event to fish for fun. Besides, a great deal of the world’s beautiful aquarium fish are caught here and then dispatched to aquarium enthusiasts.

Shore of Lake Tanganyika, view from Tanzanian side

Among the highly prized “trophies” chased both by the local and visiting fishermen are «elephant» and «tiger». “Water elephant” is a name in the Hausa language for a Nile Perch. It’s about 0.5 meters long (over 1 and a half feet) and weighs 15 kg (33 lbs). The largest Nile Perch ever recorded was a massive 180 cm and 140 kg. “Tiger” is a giant tigerfish, also known as hydrocynus goliath – 1.5 meters in length, weighing 50 kg (110 lbs). The most impressive thing about this fish are the 32 canine teeth. They say that tigerfish are so aggressive they will even attack baby crocodiles.

What is Lake Tanganyika?

Lake Tanganyika is the oldest rift lake in Africa, formed during the movement of the two tectonic plates – the Arabian and the African ones which formed the Great Rift Valley and the huge water reservoir that we now call the African Great Lakes. Besides Tanganyika, among these lakes are: Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa (Malawi), Lake Rudolf (now Turkana), Lake Edward (Rutanzige), Lake Albert and Lake Kivu.

Lake Tanganyika is also the deepest lake in Africa, with a maximum depth of 1471 m. On a global scale, it is the second deepest in the world, after Lake Baikal at 1642 m deep. The average depth of Lake Tanganyika is 570 meters. It is filled with the volume of freshwater that amounts to 18% of the total world’s fresh water supply that humans have access to

What is the origin of the name Tanganyika

In the first version of the name’s origin, it is said that in one of the local languages of the region there is a phrase which sounds like “tanganyika” which basically means  «a reservoir abounding with fish.» According to other explanations of the origin, the word «Tanganyika» can be translated as «a plain-like lake» or «a huge lake stretching out like a plain.» However, there can’t be a definitive version because multiple tribes have been settling by these shores for centuries, each with their own language and their own description of the lake.

It is also important to note that in the past, Tanganyika served as a name for the mainland of present-day Tanzania, when it was not yet an independent state and was ruled by Great Britain. The name “Tanzania” was formed by joining the names Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the two nations that joined to make up the United Republic of Tanzania.

How old is Lake Tanganyika?

By use of the reflected wave method, it was possible to establish when Lake Tanganyika began to form. According to seismic data, it happened 9-12 million years ago. In fact, this process continues to this day as the African Plate is slowly breaking apart just under the lake. In a few more million years, the tectonic plate will finally split, and East Africa will slowly float into the Indian Ocean. In this process, the current lake will get filled with sea salt water.

In general, Tanganyika has three basins of different age: the most ancient central one and younger southern and northern ones, some parts of the latter formed closer to the modern time (2 million years ago). As explorers were probing different areas of the lake, the age of Tanganyika would be determined with wide discrepancies, which caused confusion.

The final conclusion was made by geneticists. They examined the genomes of local fish and established their common ancestor. Judging by the so-called molecular clock, it lived right at the time of the lake formation.

Who «discovered» Tanganyika

Not wishing to propagate a one-sided Eurocentric view of the world, we will not delve into details of the «discovery» of Lake Tanganyika. It is obvious that people have lived here since ancient times – so long ago that this place probably saw the rise of Homo sapiens as species, considering that the Olduvai Gorge lies only 700 kilometers away from here.

Tanganyika tributaries

Lake Tanganyika is formed by rain and several rivers. The largest of them, Ruzizi River, comes from the north, from the territory of Burundi. By the way, it is on the banks of the Ruzizi that the legendary cannibal crocodile Gustav is said to abide. Gustav is credited with killings of 300 people, and he even became the main character of the horror film “Primeval”.

Nile crocodile. Found in abundance in the waters of Tanganyika

The Malagarasi River also carries water to the oldest lake in the region. Malagarasi itself is older than Tanganyika, and before the formation of the lake it used to fall into the Congo River. Local tribes call it «the river of bad spirits.» We do not recommend going there unprepared. It is better to check all details with our managers and choose one of the safe and reliable tours with Altezza Travel.

We will not list all the lesser tributaries of Lake Tanganyika here. Let’s just say that only one river comes out of the lake – Lukuga River. Lukuga flows through the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo through the equatorial jungle and straight into the Congo River. And that one, in turn, fallls into the Atlantic Ocean.

Special features of Tanganyika

As you probably realized by now, Lake Tanganyika is unique and full of surprises. No matter who you are; an experienced traveler, scientist or researcher, everyone will be impressed with the exciting features of this incredible lake.

The layered waters

In the language of science, this phenomenon is called stratification, and stratified reservoirs are called meromictic. This is best translated into human language by the example of the Bloody Mary cocktail. First, we pour thick tomato juice into a glass, and then add some vodka on top. The layers won’t mix up due to the different densities of the liquids.

Panorama of Lake Tanganyika

The same thing happens in Tanganyika. No, diving deeper will not get you to the tomato juice, quite the contrary. The top layer is oxygenated water, which constitutes a great environment for existence of live organisms. But 200 meters deeper and down to the very bottom lies a column of water containing hydrogen sulfide eliminating any possibility of life there. The deep waters of the lake are a natural cemetery, a hydrological monument of nature.

The water in the lake is getting warmer

According to some observations, over the past century, the average water temperature in the surface layers of the lake has increased by 2 °C. It’s a rapid and significant jump. Water warming brings about changes in the life of organics. For example, the number of algae is decreasing, and more and more poisonous water hyacinth, also called a malicious weed, is appearing on the surface instead.

All of this leads to a decrease in fish in Lake Tanganyika. Countries with access to the lake, as well as international conservation organizations, are looking for solutions to protect the unique ecosystem of the ancient lake.

Lake Tanganyika – nature’s lab

Throughout its long history (millions of years), the lake has never dried up. And it’s almost always remained isolated from other water reservoirs. And even now, despite the outflow of water through the Lukuga River, the fish remain in the lake and do not enter the Congo River system.

It was this combination of conditions (isolation, vast volumes of fresh water, stratification, favorable climate) that produced a rare phenomenon within such a relatively small area — a large-scale formation of new species.

The unique fauna of Tanganyika

The fauna of the lake is made up of a great variety of species — more than 2 thousand in total. A large part of them have walked their evolutionary paths and are to be found only here, at the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Lake Tanganyika and its surroundings are a habitat for a great number of endemic species, and for this reason it is highly prized  by both research biologists and rare-fish collectors.

Fish of Tanganyika

The most popular fish sought by anglers are types of sardines, sprat and the four types of perch, and all of them are considered to be endemic to Lake Tanganyika. In addition, catfish and eels inhabit these waters in a number of distinctive species. Even a unique type of poisonous pufferfish is found here.

But most of all, the lake is famous for fish from the cichlid family. At least 250 species of cichlids live here, and almost all of them are unique. Some species still remain unexplored, despite the ongoing scientific research happening within the waters.

Among the most beautiful and popular ones are:

• lobed cyphotilapia zebra («Queen of Tanganyika»);
• several types of tropheus;
• Julidochromis;
• many lamprologus, including the multi-striped lamprologus and Princess Burundi.

Lobed cyphotilapia — «Queen of Tanganyika»

By the way, even more cichlids can be found in the neighboring lakes: Victoria and Nyasa (Malawi). In each of these reservoirs there are many of their own endemics.

Animals of Tanganyika

Dozens of snail species and other classes of mollusks are found in the lake. Many of them, again, are endemic. Besides mollusks, Lake Tanganyika has even bred its own species of jellyfish!

On the shallow bottom and the shore of Lake Tanganyika are literally crawling with crustaceans: there are at least two hundred species of them. These are crabs, shrimp and more thrive here. When it comes to the diversity of crustaceans and freshwater snails, no other African Great Lake can compare to Lake Tanganyika.

In terms of reptiles, there are Nile crocodiles, water cobras and some turtle species. All large animals, as a rule, avoid crowded places and prefer thickets, and the likelihood of meeting even a turtle, let alone a crocodile out in the open is highly unlikely.  But there are monkeys that can sometimes be seen approaching the water.

National parks near Lake Tanganyika

As mentioned earlier, there are two national parks of Tanzania whose tropical forests border with the shore of Lake Tanganyika.

Gombe Stream National Park

The first one is the smaller Gombe Stream National Park nestled on the northeastern shore. Its area is only 71 km2. As a funny saying goes, “the number of chimps in the park is equal to the number of scientists watching them!”

Observing chimpanzees is the most popular activity here, and is over half a century old, making it a tradition now.  It was in this park where the legendary primatologist and anthropologist Dr. Jane Goodall spent her entire professional life and overturned common public preconceptions about chimpanzees.The scientist is still actively advocating for animal rights, even though she is now about 90 years old.

Chimpanzee family in Gombe National Park

Chimpanzees are really inquisitive animals

Besides chimpanzees, you will also find here yellow baboons, red colobuses, vervets, blue and red-tailed monkeys. Hippos, leopards, bush pigs and a great variety of snakes and birds, including flamingos, also live in the park.

The landscapes here are amazing! Exotic eco-lodges of Gombe Stream are waiting for you to come visit.

Mahale Mountains National Park

To the south of Kigoma lies one of the most beautiful parks in Tanzania — Mahale Mountains National Park with an area of ​​1613 km2.

As the name implies, the park stretches along the coastal mountain range called Mahale. Its peak reaches a height of 2462 meters. The rainforest spreads over the mountains like a gentle natural blanket, giving all its inhabitants shelter, shade and an abundance of food. Local chimpanzees live here like real royalty, their life and habitat as it was a thousand years ago. The remoteness of the park makes it difficult to access because of the mountainous terrain, and without human involvement, chimpanzees have bred here in such numbers that no other Tanzanian park can boast.

Chimpanzees in Mahale Mountains Park

It is all the more surprising that chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains get along with lions, also found in these areas. Hundreds of species of birds, porcupines and squirrels live in the park, and in the savannah areas lions, giraffes and zebras can also be seen.. However, visitors will not be able to get to the savannah because the way would lie through the dense vegetation of the forest with no proper roads.

Local residents were relocated from Mahale Mountains in the last century and now the region has almost returned to its primeval state.

The way to this park is unusual – you can get here only by boat! All movement around the coastal territory is possible only on foot, making a visit to Mahale National park a true adventure.

Port City of Kigoma

The main appeal of Kigoma as a city is as an access point to Lake Tanganyika and nearby National Parks. As a city, it is very simple, except for a few unique attractions.

To begin with, the city has a railway station, from where trains cross the country all the way  to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city, located along the coast of the Indian Ocean. For travelers seeking a faster journey, Kigoma also has a domestic airport.

There are many old colonial buildings in Kigoma

If you are a fan of history and geography, it makes sense to drop by the small Livingston Museum and learn about the time when Africa was just in the beginning to be explored by Europeans. Here you can also pay respect to the statue of David Livingston, a brave traveler, missionary and humanist that spent extensive time in Tanzania.

And finally, we recommend dropping by the port.

The legendary ship «Liemba» (MV Liemba)

In the port of Kigoma, you can see a large ship, very old in appearance. Its long white hull, rectangular openings of the lower deck with handrails and  protruding pipes suggest that you are facing a historic steamship.  Actually, the MV Liemba is over 100 years old and is still in operation.

The German cargo-passenger steamer, then called Graf von Goetzen was launched in 1915. At the time, the First World War was raging, and the current mainland of Tanzania was under Germany rule. Germany needed military power on the waters of Lake Tanganyika to resist the combined opposing forces. Belgium, which ruled neighboring Congo, was the most immediate opponent.

That’s how the smooth surface of the ancient African lake was disturbed by a warship with real artillery pieces. Shots rang out and drama escalated as the warring sides fought on the waters of Lake Tanganyika.

After a year and a half, the Germans, being mostly defeated, had to retreat. A strategic decision was made to temporarily sink the Graf von Goetzen near the mouth of the Malagarasi River in order to return later and raise it from the bottom. German troopers lubricated the steamer’s mechanisms with a thick layer of oil and sent it to the bottom. However, they did not return to Tanganyika because Germany lost the war.

In a couple of years, the Belgians raised the ship up, but another two years later, there was a storm that took the poor Graf von Goetzen to the bottom again.

Long peaceful service under the name «Liemba»

When the entire mainland territory of the present-day Tanzania was taken over by the British, the steamer was raised, restored and refitted for civilian needs. In 1927 the former German warship became known as the «Liemba» (MV Liemba), and its mission was proclaimed to be the peaceful transportation of goods and passengers across Lake Tanganyika.

As the years passed, things changed across the world, and in Tanzania, but on Lake Tanganyika, something remained unchanged for almost a century — the passenger ship MV Liemba. This previous warship continues to ply between Kigoma and other ports, and, thankfully, experts say that the ship is in good condition and will last for several more years.

We hope that MV Liemba will soon celebrate another centennial anniversary, as an exclusively peaceful steamship.

If you aren’t ready to take a cruise on the MV Liemba, then at least take a photo of the legendary ship in the port of Kigoma during your visit.

Tanganyika — the great African lake, waiting for a visit

Tanzania features many ancient landmarks, places that speak to where humans originated and how nature has changed over millions of years. Lake Tanganyika is one of these amazing places: where unique fish and marine life continue to evolve in the magical waters of the stratified lake, where chimpanzees teach us about nature, and where we humans can relax and enjoy it all at a slower pace.

Consider visiting amazing Lake Tanganyika during your trip to Tanzania.

Tourist bungalow on the coast of Tanganyika

The western region of Tanzania has great potential for development of ecotourism, and we are sure that it will very soon rise in popularity. But you can already become one of those few to explore this amazing lake with its secrets and all the best that it has.

The western region of Tanzania has great potential for development of ecotourism, and we are sure that it will very soon rise in popularity. Don’t wait for it to become a tourism hotspot, visit Lake Tanganyika and discover how amazing this lake is before everyone else.

У этого термина существуют и другие значения, см. Меру (значения).

ГалереяПравить

• . Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution.
• Федеральная служба геодезии и картографии России. Атлас мира. — М.: Издательский дом ОНИКС, 2001. — С. 199. — 448 с. — ISBN 5-85576-095-2.
• ↑ 1 2 3 Mount Meru overview  (недоступная ссылка — история). Tanzania Mountain Climbing Adventures. Дата обращения: 30 апреля 2010. Архивировано 24 апреля 2012 года.
• . Global Volcanism Program. Дата обращения: 30 апреля 2010. Архивировано 24 апреля 2012 года.
• Arusha National Park  (недоступная ссылка — история). Tanzania National Parks. Дата обращения: 30 апреля 2010. Архивировано 24 апреля 2012 года.
• Arusha National Park  (недоступная ссылка — история). Somali Press. Дата обращения: 30 апреля 2010. Архивировано 24 апреля 2012 года.
• Trekking Mount Meru . Kilimandjaro Climb. Дата обращения: 30 апреля 2010. Архивировано 24 апреля 2012 года.

СсылкиПравить

В 2003 году учёные пришли к выводу, что расплавленная лава находится всего в 400 метрах под кратером главной вершины Кибо. Хотя и не прогнозируется другой активности, кроме происходящих сейчас выбросов газа, существуют опасения, что вулкан может обрушиться, что приведёт к крупному извержению наподобие вулкана Сент-Хеленс. Несколько обвалов и сдвигов грунта уже происходили на Кибо в прошлом. В результате одного из них образовалась так называемая «западная брешь». У Килиманджаро не было документированных извержений.

Высочайшей точкой горы и Африки является пик Ухуру вулкана Кибо, 5895 м, относящийся к «Семи вершинам». Пик был впервые покорён Гансом Мейером и Людвигом Пуртшеллером в 1889 году. Два остальных пика — тоже потухшие вулканы:

• Мавензи (5149 м, третий по высоте пик Африки после Ухуру и горы Кения),
• Шира (3962 м).

ИсторияПравить

Первое упоминание об этих заснеженных горах относится ко II веку н. э. Они обозначены на географической карте Птолемея. Но датой открытия европейцами Килиманджаро считается 11 мая 1848 г., а первооткрывателем — немецкий пастор Иоханес Ребман. В 1861 году достигнута высота 2500 м, в 1862 — 4200 м, в 1883, 1884 и 1887 — отметка 5270 м; все эти восхождения совершены венгерским графом Самуэлем Телеки. 5 октября 1889 г. немецкий путешественник Ганс Мейер вместе с австрийским альпинистом Людвигом Пуртшеллером впервые достигли вершины. В 1996 году в Марангу ещё был жив их товарищ по восхождению из народа чага — Мзее Лауво (Лаво), которому должно было быть более 120 лет. Мавензи была покорена только в 1912 г. Охлером и Клуте.

Происхождение названияПравить

Название горы берёт начало из языка суахили и предположительно означает «гора, которая сверкает».