5 Days Mount Meru Trekking
Mt. Meru is located in the heart of Arusha National Park and it is 50 miles west of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Mount Meru is a massive volcano reaching 14,980 feet (4,565 meters). This trek serves as an ideal warm up for Mt. Kilimanjaro due to its altitude acclimatization and hiking distances. This trek is also geared towards hikers that prefer less crowds and a challenging ascent. As it is located inside Arusha National Park, hikers must climb with an armed ranger due to the wide range of wildlife living on the mountain. On the lower slopes of the mountain, hikers are more likely to see elephants, giraffes, and buffalo! As hikers continue their ascents, the trail follows the north rim of the volcano’s crater along a dramatic ridge line. Throughout the climb, hikers sleep in designated huts along the trail. Hikers reach the summit as the sun is rising and they will have spectacular views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and of the Mt. Meru Crater.
Mount Meru Highlights
Mount Meru Size: 552 sq km 212 sq miles
Location: Northern Tanzania, North East of Arusha Town – In Arusha National Park
Distance: An easy 40-minute drive from Arusha. Approximately 60 km (35 miles) from KIA Airport.
Best View of Kilimanjaro: December – February
Best Time to Climb: June-February although it may rain in November
Details
Accommodation: Venus Hotel
Travel Duration: 1hr Drive (55km)
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast
On arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport, you will be welcomed by our company safari guide who will brief you about this safari. From here you will be transferred to Arusha Town where you will have dinner and spend the night. Arusha is the beating heart of the wild – the last port of civilization before heading out into dense jungles and rich savannah plains. The markets of Arusha burst with color, and throng with locals picking up their weekly wares. The numerous cafes sell dark and deliriously good coffee from the plantations, and close by the infamous National Park lures visitors in to explore her evocative Maasai culture and exotic flora and fauna.
Accommodation: Mariakamba Hut
Duration: 5-7 hours of hiking
Meal Plan: Full Board
After an early morning breakfast in Arusha (1400m), 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.
Accommodation: Saddle Hut
Duration: 3-5 hours of hiking
Meal Plan: Full Board
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. Get to sleep by 1900!
Duration: 12-14 hours of hiking
Arusha – Moshi: 1 Hour
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
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 scamble 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 Momella Gate and return to Arusha for lunch and leisure. Depending on your flight time we will then drive you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for the International Flight back home or Arusha Airport for the domestic flight. End of tour
Travel Duration: 45 Minutes
Meal Plan: Breakfast Only
If you are flying back home, we mostly recommend to book an evening flight so that you can spend in the afternoon doing shopping in Moshi and off-course this is the reason why we booked your last night accommodation in here. Moshi is a Municipality, the capital of Kilimanjaro region, the nearest town to Mount Kilimanjaro, the cleanest town all over Tanzania, and above all Moshi is one of the tourist centers of the northern safari circuit and the second largest tourist hub of Tanzania. In the late evening, depending on your flight time we will come to pick you up and drop you at Airport for your flight back home.
| Destination |
Tanzania |
| Included |
- Transfer from Airport to Hotel
- Transfer from Hotel to Mount Meru
- Transfer from Mount Meru to Hotel
- Transfer from Hotel back to Airport
- 2 nights accommodation before and after the climb based on half board
- experienced and licensed mountain guides
- Porters, assistant guides, cooks
- Camping equipments incl sleeping tents, mats, dining tents, lamps, washing kits
- 3 healthy meals a day
- Drinking water
- Park entry fees p/day
- Camping fees p/night
- Rescue fees (done by Kilimanjaro national Park)
|
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