Mount Meru Climbing 4 Days

After breakfast, you will be collected from your lodge in Moshi and taken to the Marangu gate. Once the necessary paperwork has been completed and trekking team is gathered, your trek can begin with accompanied by armed park rangers. On the way you will be to see wildlife such as elephants, Giraffes, Wildebeest, Zebras, Impalas, and various primates such as white colobus monkeys and baboons as well as birds. Soon you will enter the acacia forest on the southern route. After approximately 2 hours you will reach the Maio Falls – the perfect spot to rest and have a picnic. Thereafter you will continue your trek to the well-known “fig tree arch”. You will finally arrive at the Miriakamba Hut in time for afternoon tea and snacks. The night will be spent at the Miriakamba Hut.

After breakfast, you will follow wooden steps along a steep track. Due to the gain in altitude, it will be noticeably cooler than the previous day and walking may seem easier. The clouds often hang low in the rainforest, creating a moody atmosphere in the lush vegetation. After going uphill for approximately 2 hours, you will reach the vantage point “Mgongo wa Tembo” (elephant back) at a height of 3,200 m, where you will enjoy a well-earned break. The vegetation now changes from rainforest to heather and moorland and you should reach Saddle Hut at around midday. During the afternoon, you have the option to hike to Little Meru (3,820 m) which should take about 1 to 2 hours. From here you will enjoy wonderful views of Arusha National Park and Mt Kilimanjaro about 80 km away. You will have dinner and overnight at Saddle Hut.

Today is our big day where we will work up around 1am or 2am, you will be given a small snack and some tea for warm up and get ready to leave for summit. As you start your summit this night headlight will be on use and you will follow the trail through bush land to Rhino Point (3,821 m). From here the path becomes more challenging and occasionally climbing will be necessary. You will walk on frozen volcanic ash and rocks, following the crater rim. After about 4 to 5 hours you should reach the summit, Socialist Peak. Experience the sun rising above Mt Kilimanjaro and enjoy the fantastic view of Mt Meru’s crater with its steep sides and the ash cone in the middle. The descent follows the same route back to Saddle Hut where you will take a break and recuperate with hot soup and tea. After refreshing you will park you belong and walk down to Miriakamba for overnight.

After breakfast, you will follow the so-called northern route – a 2 to 3 hours trek back to the Momella Gate. The descent follows a shorter route than the ascent but there is still a chance to see elephants, buffaloes, giraffes as well as the black and white colobus monkeys.