MOUNT MERU (OVERVIEW, 3 & 4 DAYS ITINERARIES)
Mount Meru Overview
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Mount Meru, which is located within the Arusha National Park, overlooking Arusha town, is the second highest mountain in Tanzania after Kilimanjaro. It is an exciting mountain to climb. There are numerous animals to see on the lower slopes and vegetation zones change as you ascend.
Parts of the climb along the saddle are very steep but the views of Kilimanjaro 80km to the northeast and of the cliff face from the summit down to Meru Crater are spectacular. One does not however need technical equipment for the climb.
Mount Meru is usually scaled in 3 days / 2 nights, but since descending from summit takes about 7 hours, some climbers opt for an extra night at Miriakamba Hut which will make it a 4-day / 3 nights climb. Overnight accommodation is in alpine huts on your way up and down.
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Mt Meru Hiking 3 Days
Day 0: Arrival
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet a Kilimanjaro Our representative, and transfer to the hotel under the rate. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay
Day 1 - Moshi to Miriakamba Hut
Momella Gate to Miriakamba Huts
Elevation: 4,921 ft to 8,250 ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
After an early morning breakfast in Arusha/Moshi, 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 to Saddle Hut
Elevation: 8,250 ft to 11,712 ft
Distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 3-5 hours
Habitat: Heath
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.
Day 3 - Saddle Hut –Summit- back to Moshi or Arusha
Elevation: 11,712 ft to 14,977 ft to 4,921 ft
Distance: 26 km
Hiking Time: 9 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
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 scramble 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, get lunch and process to Momella Gate where you will be picked up by our vehicle and return to Moshi/Arusha.
Mt Meru Hiking 4 Days
Day 0: Arrival
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet a Our representative, and transfer to the hotel under the rate. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay
Day 1: Arusha - Momella Gate (1500m) – Miriakamba Hut (2500m)
The first morning of your Mt Meru Trek, you will be collected from your hotel in Arusha and transferred by car; arriving in around 45 minutes at the Arusha National Park’s Main Gate. At the park’s gate, your guide will complete the obligatory entry forms and whilst he does so, you can go through the information boards with the rules and regulations governing the national park.
Once your professional guide is done with the formalities and the hiking team consisting of porters from the surrounding villages is formed, you will then be driven a little further to Momella Gate. Ordinarily an armed TANAPA ranger will accompany you while you start your hike and get a first glimpse of the wonderful giraffes and buffalos. Once you have left the buffalo herds and giraffes behind, you will hike into the the acacia forest in which your guide will lead you the ‘Southern Route’. After a steady hike of around 2 hours, you will reach the ‘Maio Falls’ and some picturesque meadows that makes the best spot for your picnic lunch and rest for the day. After lunch and some rest t, you will proceed with your hike and soon reach the famous ‘Arched Fig Tree’. At this point the park ranger who is also a trained naturalist will narrate to you a few details about the formation of this tree and how it gained its shape forming an arch over the path.
After a further one and a half to two hours of trekking, you will reach the final spot for today where you will be spending the night; Miriakamba Hut. Here you will have a freshly prepared dinner and a well deserved rest, with overnight stay at the Miriakamba Hut.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 2: Miriakamba Hut (2500m) – Saddle Hut (3550m)
Early in the morning you wake up for hot breakfast prepared by your mountain chef, then you will leave the Miriakamba Hut behind and follow a rather steep track with wooden steps upwards. At this point it is already noticeably cooler than the first day obviously due to the gain in height, and the hike will seem to generally get easier.
At this point the clouds often hang in the rainforests at the slopes of Mt Meru and dip the lush vegetation in a moody atmosphere. After a hike of approximately 2 hours, you will reach the vantage point called ‘Mgongo wa Tembo’ which is Swahili that can be translated to ’Elephant back’ which is at an elevation of 3200m above the sea level. Here you will enjoy a well-earned rest. After some rest to catch breath you will proceed again with the hike in which the vegetation changes from rainforest into an airy bush land reaching the Saddle Hut that lies at 3550 m above sea level at around midday so you will break for lunch and relaxation.
After lunch during the afternoon, you have the option to make a side trip to the ‘Little Meru’ ( at 3820m) which takes approximately one to one and half hours. From the Little Meru you can have wonderful views of the Arusha National Park but also the majestic Mt Kilimanjaro (approx. 80 km away) on a clear day. Later you will go back to the the hut, for a hot dinner then you will be briefed the following day’s climb that starts after midnight because it will be the final assault day for going to the summit.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner included.
Day 3: Saddle Hut – Socialist Peak (4562m) – Miriakamba Hut (2500m)
Very early morning wake up after midnight then you will take some tea and biscuits to warm yourself up then we for the summit at around 02:00 hrs. By torchlight, you will follow the trail through bush land towards the Rhino Point ( at 3821m asl) from where the path turns into a little more challenging trek with occasional light climbs. We will follow the north ridge to the summit along the way alternating between lava ash and rocky surfaces. After approximately four to five hours, you will reach the summit where you will be met by the sight of a Tanzanian flag. The summit of Mount Meru is called ‘The Socialist Peak’.
From here at the Mt Meru’s Summit, you will be able to enjoy the sun rising above the Mount Kilimanjaro and the fantastic view of Mount Meru’s crater with its steep sides and the “Ash Cone” in the middle. After spending a few minutes at the peak enjoying the beautiful views and taking some photos you will begin the descent along the same route back to the Saddle Hut (3550 m) where you will take a well-deserved long break and recuperate with hot soup and tea. After breakfast and after you are refreshed, you will continue with the descent down reaching in the early afternoon at the Miriakamba Hut (2500m) – very tired but delighted to have made it to the top J. At this Miriakamba Hut on Mount Meru, you will relax and rejoice your had earned accomplishment. You will enjoy freshly prepared meals at the hut followed by overnight stay at Miriakamba Hut (2500m).
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 4: Miriakamba Hut (2500m) – Momella Gate (1500m) – End of Tour
Breakfast at the MIriakamba Hut, then you will continue with the descent a 2 – 3 hour trek over the so-called ‘Northern Route’ back to the Momella Gate. The descent is shorter than the ascent but there is still the chance to see elephants, buffalos, giraffes as well as the black and white colobus monkeys, so you will still be accompanied by an armed ranger provided to you by the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA). Once you arrive the gate, you will say farewell to your hiking crew and hand over to them their tips/gratuities then you will board a waiting car that will take you back to Arusha town where the tour ends.
Note: It’s important to note that the summit stage involves a few simple but unsecured climbing passages on the final assault. It requires a good head for heights and some sure footedness. During adverse weather conditions; for example with heavy rain, icy rocks and paths or thick fog with poor visibility, the TANAPA park ranger reserves the right to call off the final climb to the summit if need be
