Mount Meru Trek through verdant afromontane forest into high altitude alpine desert with stunning views of a dormant volcano. There is possible sightings of wildlife on foot, afromontane forest, less busy than Kilimanjaro, excellent bird life and. Mount Meru is one of the most under rated hikes in East Africa. This is a trip to Africa that truly has it all.
Itinerary
Welcome to Tanzania! Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) you will be met by your driver/guide and transferred to Arusha for overnight. The rest of the day is free, enjoy the accommodations tranquil natural setting as you settle in for your first night in Tanzania. Take a stroll, enjoy the sights and sounds. Get plenty of rest tomorrow will be huge!
Dinner and overnight at Maura Apartment.
We depart Arusha for Momella Gate in Arusha National Park for the necessary formalities before beginning our trek. The hiking trail begins in open grassland with an armed ranger as the possibility of seeing wildlife – giraffe, zebras, antelope, elephant and buffalo – is high. We climb steadily through the rain forest until you reach Miriakamba Huts, situated in a grassy glade.
Elevation: 4,921 ft to 8,250 ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
Dinner and overnight Miriakamba Hut.
We continue climbing through the rain forest until we enter the heath zone accompanied by giant heather and other moorland vegetation. Along the ridge of the saddle, we have views of Mount Meru Crater and the Ash Tray. After arriving at Saddle Huts, there is an option to hike to the top of Little Mount Meru for superb views and to further aid acclimatization.
Elevation: 8,250 ft to 11,712 ft
Distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 3-5 hours
Habitat: Heath
Dinner and overnight Saddle Hut.
Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our climb to the summit. The trail is steep to Rhino Point and then Cobra Point. The path continues along the ridge of ash and rock to the summit – Socialist Peak. Here we enjoy magnificent views of Kilimanjaro and the sunrise before returning to Miriakamba Huts.
Elevation: 11,712 ft to 14,977 ft
Distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Summit to Miriakamba Huts
Elevation: 14,977 ft to 8,250 ft
Distance: 13 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Heath
Dinner and overnight Miriakamba Hut.
After breakfast, we embark on our final trek and our hard work is rewarded at dawn as the sun rises to the East. Kilimanjaro is normally clearly seen from here and the sheer cliffs of the crater fall dramatically 1000 feet or more. We return back and after some brunch at Saddle Hut, we continue down to MIRIAKAMBA. The final section takes up to 3 hours to return to our vehicles where we say farewell to our crew and have time for a short picnic lunch and after we return to Arusha for a well deserved shower!
Elevation: 11,712 ft to 4,921 ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 2-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
Dinner and overnight Maura Apartment
It’s the final day in mainland Tanzania, depending with the time of your flight departure, be sure to grab any last minute souvenirs you may want and say one last goodbye to the the new friends you made in Tanzania before. Our drive will come to the hotel to pick you up for trip to the Airport to catch a flight back home.
Or else a trip to the beaches at Zanzibar is a good way to recuperate. We can also arrange many reasonably priced safaris before Mount Kilimanjaro trek to help with acclimatization.
Kwa heri ya kuonana – (Good bye and see you again).
