4-Days trekking Mt. Meru
Tanzania is home to the incredible Mount Meru, the country’s third-highest mountain at an impressive 4,566 metres! The mountain is right in the middle of Arusha National Park, which makes the first day of the hike absolutely incredible! In the lowlands of the mountain, you’ll have the chance to spot baboons, buffalo, giraffes and other wildlife with a ranger!
The ascent takes you on an incredible journey through a kaleidoscope of landscapes, from lush grasslands to vibrant rainforests, and from rolling heaths to awe-inspiring alpine deserts. A truly magnificent mountain that deserves to be celebrated!
The Meru is an incredible challenge for experienced hikers! It’s more difficult than Kilimanjaro and requires good conditioning, but it’s totally worth it! The last 1000 metres are steep, so make sure you’re in shape! The good news is that climbing skills are not required! The mountain is ideal for acclimatising before Kilimanjaro. We can even combine the two! Try the incredible Mount Meru climb as a 4-day tour!
4-Days trekking Mt. Meru Itinerary
As soon as you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you'll be greeted by our friendly and helpful Polepole African Experience representative. They'll transfer you to your hotel, where you'll meet your guide for a comprehensive briefing. Get prepared for an amazing climb!
After breakfast, we'll collect you from your hotel and drive to the incredible Arusha National Park. We'll make sure all our permits are in order at the Park Headquarters, and then we're off! Then, we'll head out by vehicle until we reach Momella Park Gate, where the real adventure begins! We are so excited to have an armed ranger with us on this route to ensure our safety against any wild animal threats! The trail takes us through a truly magical landscape, where we'll find ourselves surrounded by lush montane forest, cascading waterfalls, and uniquely shaped trees. Our journey will take us to the enchanting Miriakamba Hut.
- Hiking time: 3 - 4 hours
- Ascent: 900 m
- Max. altitude: 2500 m
- Accomodation: Hut
As we climb higher up Mount Meru, you'll start to feel the air getting cooler and thinner, which is totally normal! Today we're going to climb over 1000 metres up to Saddle Hut at 3560m. This afternoon there's time to go for an acclimatisation hike a further 300 metres up to Little Meru at 3820m. It'd be great if you could take your camera to capture the views of Mount Kilimanjaro over 80 kilometres away!
- Hiking time: 3 - 4 hours
- Ascent: 1050 m
- Max. altitude: 3560 m
- Accomodation: Hut
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Once you've had a little snack and a nice hot drink, you'll be all set to head off to the summit at around 2 o'clock in the morning. With your trusty headlight leading the way, you'll make your way through the beautiful bushland to Rhino Point. The path gets a little more challenging as you go along, but don't worry! You'll also come across some easier bits to climb. The good news is that the route continues along the long north ridge all the way to the summit, which you'll reach around sunrise. As the sun rises behind Kilimanjaro and the plains of Meru, bathing them in an orange-red glow, you'll find the challenging ascent quickly fades into the background. Once you've made it back down, you'll find a lovely lunch and a hot drink waiting for you at the Saddle Hut. After that, you'll continue on to Mirikamba Hut, which you'll reach in the early afternoon. You've done it! Now it's time to rest and enjoy your summit success.
After breakfast, we'll head down towards Momella Gate via the so-called "Northern Route". On the way, you'll have another chance to see buffaloes, baboons and other wild animals, and if you're lucky, you might even spot some elephants! After a 2-3 hour trek, you'll arrive at the Momella Gate, where your friendly driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel.
It's time to head home, but don't be sad! You've had an amazing holiday, and now it's time for the next part. Enjoy your last hours in Tanzania before our driver comes to pick you up and takes you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home. And if you're still longing for more, you can add a few days of safari or a beach holiday to your Mt. Meru adventure!
KWAHERI
INCLUSIONS
Trip Cost Includes
- Mount Meru trekking according to the itinerary
- Professional, English-speaking guide
- Mountain crew (cook & porters)
- Overnight stays in mountain huts
- Meals according to the itinerary
- Drinking water, tea & coffee
- All national park fees
- Transfer from the hotel to the National Park gate and back
Trip Cost Excludes
- Alcohol and soft drinks
- Sleeping bag
- Flights
- Visa fees
- Tips
- Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
- Travel insurance
Frequently asked questions answered!
We’re so excited to have you join us on this incredible trek! Before we embark on our journey, our Trekking Operations Manager will give you a comprehensive overview of the safety procedures and route. This is the perfect time to ask any questions you may have! We’ll also check your trekking gear to make sure you’re comfortable and safe on the mountain! We’ve got you covered! If you require extra equipment, you can rent it from us.
When trekking the mountain, make sure you’ve got a smaller day backpack with all the essentials: sunscreen, water, snacks, and rain clothes! Our amazing porters will carry all the other equipment, food, and luggage ahead of you!
Our mountain guides are the best in the business! They’ve climbed the mountain dozens of times and are responsible for your safety. They are absolute experts at reading the weather and how the trekkers in the group are faring. If someone is injured or suffering acutely from altitude sickness or if there is extreme weather, they will call the climb off. But don’t worry! This is just part of the adventure. Our mountain guides are experts at reading the weather and keeping an eye on everyone in the group.
Our amazing cooks will take care of you with delicious breakfasts, lunches, hot drinks, snacks, and a three-course dinner! And the water from mountain streams is boiled before you drink it, so you can enjoy a refreshing, clean drink!
The incredible Momella route is the only pathway to the summit of the magnificent Mount Meru! And it gets its name from the eastern Momella Gate, which marks the beginning of this incredible trek!
Once you’ve been registered at the gate by your guide, you’ll set off on an incredible journey through the southern loop of the route, where you’ll have the chance to spot some amazing wildlife, including colobus monkeys, buffalo, giraffes and so many other species! And there’s more! You’ll also pass through the heart of a massive fig tree, Malo Falls, and Kitoto viewpoint before reaching Miriakamba Hut,
The incredible Mount Meru is trekkable almost all year round! If you want to trek Mount Meru, then the dry season is the perfect time to do it! It’s from June to October, so get ready for an amazing experience! The weather is absolutely perfect for a trek, safari or beach retreat! Another great time to go trekking is during the short dry season, from January to February. Unlike Kilimanjaro, Mt Meru is usually pretty quiet even during the high season, which makes it an exclusive experience.
Tanzania has two rainy seasons. The long rains happen from mid-March to late-May, and the short rains from November to December. Trekking Mount Meru may not be possible in April, May, and November due to heavy rain creating dangerous conditions, but it’s still a great time to go!
The summit of Mount Meru is a whopping 1,300 metres lower than that of Mount Kilimanjaro! That means you’ll be less likely to get altitude sickness on Mount Meru than on Mount Kilimanjaro! However, the crater rim and summit present a thrilling technical challenge that is different from what you would find on Mount Kilimanjaro. Don’t let this put you off! It is still an achievable challenge.
In terms of fitness, you just need to be fit and healthy enough to trek for four to five hours each day! And there’s more! You’ll also need the added stamina to hike for up to ten to fourteen hours on the day you ascend to the summit.
