Tanzania’s Mount Longido, standing at an elevation of 2,637 meters above sea level is found in Longido District, in Arusha Region just near the Namanga border that separates Kenya and Tanzania.

Longido is the starting point for the main trail to the peak. The climb may be completed in one day, however, it is more customary for climbers to spend one night on the mountain in a tented camp before reaching the summit the next day.

Mount Longido, acclimatization for Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Longido, just adjacent to Mount Meru is sometimes climbed as an acclimatization effort for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Longido provides a nice introduction to Maasai life, including a visit to various bomas and the Wednesday cattle market, in addition to the climb itself (eight to ten hours back). By dalla-dalla, the hamlet is easily accessible.

The mountain and settlement are located 80 kilometers north of Arusha, just east of the main route between Arusha and Namanga (on the Tanzania–Kenya border).

Hiking Mount Longido

Mount Longido is a rocky summit (2,629m) located around 1.5 hours from Arusha in the Mount Longido Forest Reserve. The hike is strenuous and steep, requiring more than 1300 meters of ascent through the forest to reach the peak.

Hiking Longido can be a challenging excursion, with a lot of sun exposure and no drinking water along the way but breathtaking nevertheless offering incredibly spectacular views of Tanzania on one side and Kenya on the other.

Hike duration varies greatly depending on your speed and the amount of stuff you’re carrying. The ascent will take around 5 hours, while the descent will take approximately 3 hours. This, of course, is contingent on your ability to climb uphill while carrying stuff.

You can begin trekking at 1 p.m. and arrive at the peak shortly after 5 p.m. in time for sunset. The following morning, you could take about 2-3 hours to descend carefully, stopping at leopard rock for a good large break.

Hike Difficulty: Due to the steep gradient, this hike is fairly demanding. You will gain an altitude of more than 1300 meters in 6.5 kilometers, and this will be done at elevation. Expect to be out of breath by the time you reach the peak, as the walk will take you to a height of 2,629 meters. It’s a rocky, dusty, and overgrown environment. There are some spots where you’ll need to be on your toes, but no major drops or exposed areas.

Basically, if you can take the elevation, heat, and being in the midst of shrubs, you’re good to go.

Hike elevation gain: 1380 meters.

Where is the Mount Longido Located?

The Mount Longido Forest Reserve is home to Mount Longido. It’s really on the Kenyan-Tanzanian border, near the town of Namanga. The roadway from Arusha to Longido is a straight drive with grasslands on each side. For the majority of the route, you can see Mount Longido as you drive towards it. Longido settlement is a 1.5-hour trip from Arusha.

Getting there

There are various ways to get to Mount Longido and the good thing is that since Longido is located in between Namanga and Arusha, there are many public options to choose from.

Public Transport

There are various ways to get to Mount Longido from Arusha. First and foremost, there is a public transportation minibus (Shuttle) that runs from Arusha to Namanga, and you may get out at Longido and walk the short distance to the tourism office, or you could simply take one of the buses that go to Nairobi from Arusha town.

Private Transport

We can arrange for a private van from Tranquil Kilimanjaro which will make the trip much more pleasant in a van with air conditioning, wifi, and a driver who will assist you with everything when you arrive at Longido.

It’s clearly more expensive than taking public transportation, but it’s worth it if you’re traveling with a group of people and it makes the journey much more comfortable.