Hikers will need strong walking shoes and perhaps a walking stick on the loose gravel and rock below the crater’s edge.
I drank four litres of water on the hike; conditions in the forest are hot and humid and will drain strength quickly if lost liquids aren’t replenished.
Expect the whole hike to take 4 – 5 hours depending on the hiking companions; this includes 20 minutes at the top.
Recent heavy rains have lead to landslides – look for the these on the slopes of the surrounding hills. They have meant that the trail has been rerouted in one place. This is one reason a guide is needed. Hikers should remember this diversion themselves as the guide may not be around on the return as groups tend to split on the downward journey. One wrong step on a landslide could result in horrible injuries. Beware.
I went with Sailors Tours but couldn’t recommend my guide as he didn’t know any of the trees, birds, or flowers en route.
Julian has written articles on Middle Eastern and European architecture for the US magazine Skipping Stones. He has written travel articles that were published in The Toronto Globe and Mail, Fate Magazine, National Catholic Register, and Northwest Travel. Julian has also written articles for the In The Know Traveler, Go Nomad, InTravelmag, and Go World Travel websites. He has also taken many photographs that have appeared in travel guides by National Geographic, Thomas Cook and The Rough Guides. Examples of his work can be found at http://www.photographersdirect.com/sellers/details.asp?portfolio=13734
