Mount Meru lies 70 km west of Kilimanjaro. Therefore, when climbing it you will see great views of Mount Kilimanjaro at the background. This is the fifth highest mountain in Africa (4,562.13 m) and the second highest in Tanzania. Its slopes dominate Arusha National Park. To reach the peak you will hike in the green scenery of Arusha national park.
To reach the peak you will hike in the green scenery of Arusha national park. While trekking, you may be greeted by giraffes, buffalos, monkeys and other animals and birds. Don’t worry, you will have a park ranger to accompany you and ensure your safety.
Most of our clients climbing Mount Kilimanjaro climbs Mount Meru as a warm-up acclimatization climb. To summit Mount Meru it is not just a piece of cake, after all, it is over 4500m high.
3 Days Mount Meru Trekking:
Day 1: Arusha/Moshi – Momella Gate (1500 m) – Miriakamba Hut (2,500 m)
In the morning, your guide will pick you up from your accommodation in Arusha or Moshi and drive you to Momella gate. From here you will start your trekking, accompanied by an armed park ranger as on your way you are more likely to meet animals such as buffaloes, baboons, and others.
After two hours of hiking in this beautiful green park, you will reach Maio Water Falls, where you will stop for a picnic lunch. After lunch, you will continue trekking for about another two hours to Mariakamba Hut, where you will spend a night in the mountain huts. Your cook will prepare for you a warm dinner and have a good night’s sleep.
Day 2: Miriakamba Hut (2500 m) – Saddle Hut (3 550 m)
After breakfast, you will start hiking. For this day take a bit warmer clothes as the weather might get chilly due to the increased altitude. The vegetation will start to change from the rainforest to the moorland. At about 3200 m you will reach a place called ‘Mgongo wa Tembo’ (an elephant’s back).
Depending on the pace, you shall reach the Saddle Hut during the afternoon. You will have a short relax, then as an option, you can hike to Little Meru (3 820 m). Here you will see great views of Momella lakes just below you, the plains of Arusha National park and Mount Kilimanjaro. Then you will return to Saddle Hut for dinner and a few hours of sleeping before you get up in the midnight ready to hike to the Meru summit.
Day 3: Saddle Hut (3 500m) – Meru Summit (4 562 m) – Momella Gate (1 500 m)
At the midnight your guide will wake you up, ready for a night hike. Please make sure you have your headlight ready with batteries. You will start the hike in the dark to Rhino Point (3 821 m). The vegetation will change into volcanic (moon-like) and you will be walking along the crater rim on ashes and volcanic gravels. As the path gets more demanding, the hiking also becomes slower. At about 4 or 5 am you will reach the summit (4 562 m) and enjoy the wonderful sunrise. After taking pictures and enjoying your achievement, you will start to descend.
Back at the Saddle Hut, you will have breakfast, change your clothes (if you prefer) to less warm clothes and continue to descend. You will have lunch at the Momella Gate, where you will be met by your driver to drive you back to Arusha or Moshi.
Price: xxx USD/pp
Price includes: All park fees, professional guide, park ranger, porters, cook, and accommodation in the huts, transport from and back to your hotel from Momella gate, all meals and drinking water during the trip, all taxes and government charges.
Price excludes: airport transfers, flights (domestic and international), visas, insurance, gratuity for guides and other staff, alcoholic drinks and other meals not described in the itinerary, hotel accommodation, personal items such as laundry, hygiene kit. For hygiene purposes, we recommend bringing your own sleeping bag.