Mount Meru (4,566 m) is an active stratovolcano and forms the centrepiece of Arusha National Park in Tanzania. The mountain is often referred to as Mt Kilimanjaro’s ‘little brother’. Although the mountain is not as high as Kilimanjaro, it is just as challenging. Known for its huge cliffs, beautiful green surroundings and abundant wildlife, Mount Meru is the sixth highest mountain in Africa and the second highest in Tanzania!
Still, Mount Meru is sometimes used as warm-up for climbing Kilimanjaro, especially to acclimate the body to greater heights. If you have the time and budget to climb Meru, it is definitely worth it. The mountain isn’t climbed as often and it provides a truly unique experience.
Since Meru lies in Arusha National Park, there’s a great chance of seeing various animals while trekking. You’re likely to encounter giraffes, buffalos, antelopes and baboons.
On mt meru you will sleep in two very well appointed, big huts. The huts are: the Miriakamba Huts at 2514 m (8248 ft) and the Saddle Huts at 3570 m (11712 ft).
ITINERARY OF 3 DAYS OF CLIMBING MT MERU
5 DAYS MT MERU (3 DAYS CLIMBING+ 2DAYS HOTEL)
DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO TANZANIA.
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro international airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town OR Arusha;
you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the
necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
DAY 2 - Reach 2500m - 4-6hours - 1000m ascend
Mt Meru: Momella Gate - Miriakamba Hut
The day starts with a transfer to Momella gate at 1500m. After the registration, the climb will start. Because Mt Meru is in the middle of Arusha National Park, the beginning of the trek is also a walking safari. During this trek, you have chances to spot wild Giraffes, Buffalo, Warthog, Elephants and a huge variety of birds as you continue a steady climb through the montane forest.
In roughly 2 hours, you will reach the Maio Falls, where you can stretch your legs and enjoy the view. After the falls, we will do a bit more trekking and hike to the “fig tree arch”. This fig tree is an unusual tree formation created by the wild fig Ficus Thonningii. Here we will enjoy a nice, pick nick lunch.
Once our belly’s are filled, the trek continues through less dense forest. Here you might be able to spot a variety of monkeys including the famous black and white Colobus. Within another two hours of trekking we will reach our final destination of today, Miriakamba Hut on Mt Meru. Afternoon tea, snacks and beautiful sunset-view awaits you.
MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER INCLUDED.
DAY 3 - Reach 3550m - 3-5hours - Ascend 1050m
Miriakamba Hut - Saddle Hut
In the morning, we will start trekking from Miriakamba hut to Saddle hut. The trek continues on wooden steps along a steep track. The climb may be short, but it will be very steep. Upon climbing, the temperature drops noticably due to the altitude gain.
Slowly, the vegetation on Mt Meru will change from rainforest to heather and moorland. Todays hike takes you to “Mgongo wa Tembo” (elephant back) at a height of 3,200 m after approximately 2 hours. Here we will take a break, relax and enjoy the surroundings. After another short hike we will find our way to Saddle hut at 3570m where we will have lunch.
The rest of the afternoon can be spend relaxing OR climbing towards the second highest peak of Mt Meru, Little Meru. This is an amazing place to watch the sunset and offers fantastic views over Arusha National Park and Kilimanjaro! If you choose to visit Little Meru (3820m), you will ascent another 250m meters from Saddle hut. Trekking to little meru and back usually takes another 3,5-4,5 hours.
Dinner will be waiting for you upon your return to Saddle Hut. Make sure to go to bed early and have a good night’s rest, because the night will be short and the next day will be long and exhausting.
MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER INCLUDED.
DAY 4 - Reach 4562m - 13-16hours - 1012m ascend, 3162m descend
Saddle Hut - SOCIALIST PEAK - Momella Gate
Today is summit day! The most difficult and certainly the most rewarding day of the climb. Summit day means an early awakening. Our hike will start from 1:30 with a steep climb to Rhino Point.
From Rhino Point (at 3820m), the path continues along an undulating ridge of ash and rock to reach Cobra Point (4350 m). Depending on the time we will stay at cobra point for an amazing sunrise or climb further to Mt Meru: Socialist Peak to watch the sunrise there! The path to socialist peak is quite challenging and some climbing skills will come in handy here. The path goes along the crater rim, where you’ll trek on frozen volcanic ash and rocks, before reaching the summit.
Standing at the peak you will enjoy the breath-taking view of the sun rising above Mt Kilimanjaro as well as a fantastic view of Mt Meru’s crater with its steep sides and the “ash cone” in the middle. YOU MADE IT!
After our summit we will start a fast decent through open grassland and mixed forest, with good chances of seeing wildlife. This trail has excellent views back towards the mt meru crater and over the plains of the National Park. Momella Gate is reached by late morning.
DAY 5: Hotel to Kilimanjaro International Airport
After breakfast, you continue with your travel plans or take a transfer to the Kilimanjaro Airport.
✔ Return transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to accommodation in Moshi;
✔ Return transfer from accommodation in Moshi to the entry gate into Arusha National Park.
Accommodation:
✔ Accommodation at 3* hotel (Around Moshi) one night before and one night after the Climbing. You will have all for a
comfortable stay - friendly staff, clean rooms, Wi-Fi, restaurant and swimming pool;
✔ Tented accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro (modern comfortable 4-season North Face VE-25 tents);
Please note: by default, you will share a room and a tent with your travel companion. If you travel solo on a group expedition,
we will room you with a same-sex participant. Single supplement is available upon request.
Meals:
✔ Breakfast in the hotel before and after the hike;
✔ All meals on the hike. You will find delicious energy-rich meals on our mountain menus.
Our professional chefs will prepare assorted soups, garnishes, several types of fish and meat, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Vegetarian/gluten-free/halal options are available at no extra cost;
✔ All drinks on the hike (coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water).
Hiking and safety equipment:
✔ 4-inch (10-cm) thick and comfortable sleeping mats;
✔ All group equipment (dining tent, table, chairs, crockery and cutlery);
✔ Oxygen cylinders and oximeters;
✔ Complete medical kits.
Climbing crew:
✔ Professional guides licensed by Kilimanjaro National Park. All guides are holder of Wilderness First Responder
certification.
All of them have 7+years of successful experience;
✔ 18% VAT, 1% TDL and 0.3% Service Levy. We Climb Kilimanjaro is an honest and responsible tour operator working in
full compliance with the tax law of the
United Republic of Tanzania.
:
✘ International flights;
✘ Tips (200-300 USD per climber for the whole mountain crew);
✘ Visa fee (100 USD for American citizens and 50 USD for all others);
✘ Personal gear rentals;
✘ Lunch and dinner at the hotel (before and after the climb);
✘ Portable toilets (if required - 250 USD per unit, one can be shared between 3 people);
✘ Mountaineering insurance. You'll need special insurance for climbing Kilimanjaro that covers
high-altitude trekking up to 6000 m.
