Research in anonymous routing for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) focuses on protecting the identity, location, and communication patterns of participating nodes while maintaining secure and efficient data delivery. Recent approaches integrate lightweight cryptographic primitives, pseudonym schemes, and onion or layered encryption techniques to conceal node identities and routing paths from potential attackers. Trust-based and game-theoretic mechanisms are employed to enhance cooperation among anonymous nodes and defend against traffic analysis or timing attacks. Blockchain-assisted and machine learning–driven frameworks are also emerging to strengthen anonymity while optimizing routing performance. These advancements collectively improve privacy preservation, resilience, and reliability in decentralized MANET environments.