3 Days Mount Meru Trekking
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Safari & Tours Overview
Meru may not be a name that enjoys the same international recognition as mighty Mount Kilimanjaro, 80km to the east. But whether you are training for an ascent of Africa’s highest peak, or targeting Meru as your primary goal, this really is an experience to treasure. At a lofty 4566 meters, this is a great challenge in its own right.
And there are plenty of other highlights on this epic climb! You can expect to see some wildlife on the lower slopes, maybe some buffalo, elephant or giraffe, perhaps even – if you are very lucky – hyena or leopard. Bird lovers will also find lots to interest them.
3 Days on the Mountain, 2 Nights in Arusha Hotel
1 Arusha – 1 Miriakamba Huts – 1 Saddle Hut – 1 Arusha
- Day 1 – Kilimanjaro International Airport To Arusha
- Day 2 – Arusha – Momela Gate – Miriakamba Huts
- Day 3 – Miriakamba Huts – Saddle Huts
- Day 4 – Saddle Huts – Summit – Momela Gate – Arusha
- Day 5 – Departure: Arusha – Kilimanjaro International Airport
Detailed Itinerary
After your long flight, you’ll be pleased to spend your first night in comfort at your hotel, the hotel, or Lodge in Arusha. If you have chosen to be picked up by us from Kilimanjaro International Airport, our driver will be waiting to meet and welcome you and take you to your hotel in Arusha to relax after your flight. Your adventure has begun, Mount Meru awaits you!
Accommodation: Lodge or Hotel in Arusha
Meal Plan: Dinner at hotel.
This morning we take a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, before setting out in our vehicle at around 08.00 to allow for a scheduled arrival at Momela Gate 1500 meters at 10.00. Before reaching that start point, we stop at the Momela Park entrance to complete formalities; from, there it is a further 15km drive to Momela. You will be introduced to your expert mountain team: the guides, porters, and everyone else who will take you safely up the mountain. And crucially, we will be accompanied by an armed ranger – proof indeed that the wildlife is close by!
Today’s walk is a fairly long one: in pure numbers, you gain just over 1000 meters in altitude during your 14km/9 miles of walking. Keep your eyes peeled in the first hour or so, as the wildlife here is abundant. Maybe you’ll spot a troop of baboons or some dik-dik. The scenery is varied as you ascend, with forest and the well-known Meru’s Garden marshland, as well as the extraordinary Arched Fig Tree and then the Maio Falls further on. Various viewpoints on the ascent provide excellent photo opportunities to capture the magic of the stunning landscape around Mount Meru. Finally, we will see the welcome sight of Miriakamba Huts 2500 meters, our resting place tonight.
Accommodation: At Miriakamba Huts
Meal Plan: Breakfast at the hotel, picnic lunch box, and dinner
Journey time and Altitude: 5 – 6 hours’ walking, from 1500m at Momela Gate to 2500m at Miriakamba Huts.
Walking distance: 14km/9miles
Although today’s stage is much shorter in distance, we will ascend significantly on our way to Saddle Huts at 3500 meters. Shorter and steeper than yesterday, today will be a challenge, so we will obey the golden rule of the mountain: pole pole, or ‘slowly, slowly.’
We will transition today from rain forest into heathland, and views of the marvelous Meru Crater, distinctive Ash Cone, and the stunning white-capped peak of Kilimanjaro in the distance will provide us with some fantastic highlights. And don’t be surprised to see an elephant today, even at this increased altitude.
This afternoon, if you have some energy to spare, you will have the option to hike up Little Mount Meru, thus helping you to acclimatize. At 3820 meters, it is not really that little and you’ll get some super views from its summit.
Accommodation: at Saddle Huts
Meal Plan: Breakfast at Miriakamba Huts, picnic lunch box en route, dinner at Saddle Huts.
Journey time and Altitude: 4 – 5 hours’ walking, from 2500m at Miriakamba Huts to 3500m at Saddle Huts
Walking distance: 6km/4miles
Today is the day: ‘summit day’ of course! To make the most of our summit experience, we will be awake early – around midnight – with another short and very steep ascent. First, you will notice that we leave the large vegetation specimens of yesterday behind as we cross the saddle and reach Rhino Point at 3874 meters. Briefly, the stage profile flattens, before we ascend once again towards the peak at 4566 meters. After we have achieved our goal and of course, celebrated the moment, we will descend once more past the familiar Miriakamba Huts 2500 meters, and continue downwards to Momela Gate 1500 meters.
Here, you will be presented with your certificate to commemorate your achievement and will have a chance to tip your mountain team.
Accommodation: Lodge or Hotel in Arusha
Meal Plan: Breakfast at Saddle Huts, picnic lunch box en route, dinner at Planet Lodge Hotel, Arusha
Journey time and Altitude: 11 – 14 hours’ walking, from 3500m at Saddle Huts to the summit at 4566m, then descend again to Miriakamba Huts at 2500m and finally to Momela Gate at 1500m.
Walking distance: 25km/15.5miles
After a good night’s rest at your lodge, you will take breakfast ready for the scheduled check-out by 10.00hrs. (If you wish to remain in the hotel during the day, please advise us of this when you book your trip and we will inform you of the cost for a ‘day room’ which allows you to stay until 18:00hrs, and then make the booking on your behalf.)
If you have booked a transfer to the airport, you will be collected from your hotel and dropped off at the airport. For those travelers who have booked to go on safari, our guide will be meeting you in the evening to provide you with a briefing.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Journey time and Distance: 1 hour, 55 km drive from Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport
Included / Exclude
- All accommodations per itinerary
- All meals per itinerary (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- All tours and entrance fees per itinerary
- All transportation and transfers per itinerary
- 2 nights hotel in Arusha or Moshi
- National Park gate fees
- Camping fees
- Certified, experienced, English-speaking guides
- Salaries for all crew members
- Rescue fees (as required by the national park)
- Camping equipment, cooking, and eating utensils
- Oximeters
- Emergency Oxygen (2L canister)
- International and domestic flights
- Meals not listed
- Beverages and alcohol
- Tips for guides, drivers, hotel staff
- Optional tours
- Single room supplement
- Personal expenses
- Tips for guides, porters, and cooks
- Sleeping bags and personal gear
- $50 for a single tent
- Low season discount in April/May
Our expedition experts are ready to start creating your dream African adventure.
Christian Anderson
Each of our safaris and tours is individually planned based on our experience and your wishes. Authentic and sustainable travel is especially important to us.
We therefore do not sell anything that we have not experienced ourselves and found to be good. We convince ourselves firsthand in order to make an unforgettable adventure in the heart of Africa possible for you.
We are committed to more responsibility and sustainability in tourism.
