6 Days Mount Meru Climbing

Highlight

Mt. Meru is located in the heart of Arusha National Park and it is 50 miles west of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Mount Meru is a massive volcano reaching 14,980 feet (4,565 meters). This trek serves as an ideal warm up for Mt. Kilimanjaro due to its altitude acclimatization and hiking distances. This trek is also geared towards hikers that prefer less crowds and a challenging ascent.

Because Mount Meru is located in Arusha National Park, hikers must climb with an armed ranger due to the wide range of wildlife living on the mountain. On the lower slopes of the mountain, hikers are more likely to see elephants, giraffes, and buffalo! As hikers continue their ascents, the trail follows the north rim of the volcano’s crater along a dramatic ridge line. Throughout the climb, hikers sleep in designated huts along the trail. Hikers reach the summit as the sun is rising and they will have spectacular views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and of the Mt. Meru Crater.

Itinerary

• Day 1:Arusha – Miriakamba Hut

  Duration: 5-7 hours of hiking

  After an early morning breakfast in Arusha (1400m), you will be picked up from your hotel and brought to the Momella Gate in Arusha National Park. At this time, the porters will organize and pack the belongings for the hike while you and your guide register with the Tanzania National Park (TANAPA). You will then begin your ascent in Arusha National Park. The first day of hiking is similar to a walking safari; you should expect to see giraffes, zebras, antelope, buffalo, and potentially elephants near the trail. Due to the high possibility of spotting wildlife, an armed ranger, hired through the National Park, is required to hike with our team for the duration of the hike. As you continue hiking, you will pass the Ngarenanyuki River and a beautiful waterfall at the base of Mt. Meru. Upon arriving to Miriakamba Hut (2500m), your chef will prepare a hot dinner and washing water for you. Enjoy the beautiful sunset and overnight.

• Day 2:Miriakamba Hut – Saddle Hut 

  Duration: 3-5 hours of hiking

  After breakfast, you will start ascending up the steep trail along the ridge of the saddle. You may see various wildlife along the way! The trail has views of Mt. Meru Crater and the Ash Tray. When you arrive at camp, you have the option of hiking Little Mt. Meru (3820m) with your guide to further acclimate. You will be served an early dinner, so you can receive ample rest before your midnight summit attempt. Get to sleep by 1900!

• Day 3:Saddle Hut – Summit Attempt – Miriakamba Hut

  Duration: 10-12 hours of hiking

  Your guide will wake you at 00:30 for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt at 1:30am. The trail starts off on a steep grade to Rhino Point (3800m) to Cobra Point (4350m). The last hour of the hike you will scamble on a rocky ridge between the crater and inner cliffs of Meru. You will reach the summit of Meru (4565m) at sunrise with spectacular views of Mt. Meru Ash Tray and Mt. Kilimanjaro. Enjoy your views then descend to Saddle Hut for a short break. You will then continue descending to Miriakamba Hut (2500m) for dinner and overnight.

• Day 4:Miriakamba Hut – Arusha

  After a leisurely breakfast you depart for Serengeti National Park. In the Maasai language, "serengeti" means "endless plain". The park stretches for over 15,000 square kilometers. It is renowned for the famous annual wildebeest migration, with over one and a half million wildebeest and 250,000 zebra. Also it is one of a UNESCO World Heritage site covering around 5,700 square miles of grassland plains, savannah as well as forest and woodlands. The park also contains a variety of wildlife, including the “Big Five.” There are also many cheetah to be seen, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, hyena, impala and even the elusive African wild dog. In the late afternoon you will proceed to your lodge/Camp for dinner and overnight

• Day 5: Tarangire National Park

  After breakfast, you will be picked from your hotel at 8:00 AM, and drive to Tarangire National Park. Spend a full day exploring Tarangire National Park, back dropped by the spectacular, rust-hued Great Rift Valley. At Tarangire, find a stunning concentration of animals — herds of elephants, impalas and zebras — all of which traverse the sprawling plains late afternoon drive back to your lodge for shower dinner and overnight.

  Destination	Tarangire Park.
  Activities	Game view
  Meals	Fully board.
  Accommodation options	Mid range : www.mareravalley.com

• Day 6:Ngorongoro Crater Fully Day.

  After breakfast collect your lunch boxes start descending down, Set out on a full-day game drive in Ngorongoro Crater to explore the panoramic, short-grass prairies along the crater floor, home to rare black rhinos as well as lions, hyenas and gazelles. See colorfully garbed Maasai herdsmen, who call the stunning landscape home. Nearly eight miles across, this was once an active volcano that sunk in on itself, and is now a rich ecosystem with immense biodiversity and wildlife, Midafternoon enjoy your picnic lunch box along hipo pool and Late afternoon drive back to your lodge .

Included

• All meals and accommodations during the entire safari
• Transport to/from Arusha National Park
• Overnight stays in mountain huts
• Professional, experienced, mountain guides
• All Park fees
• Rescue fees
• All meals while on the Mountain
• Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees
• Large portions of fresh, healthy nutritious food
• Clean, purified drinking water
• Crisis management and safety procedures
• Fair and ethical treatment of porters
• 3nights Accommodation in Arusha

Excluded

• Airport transfers
•  Accommodation in Arusha
• Tanzania Visa
• Gratuity
• Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
• Meals not listed above

Tour maps