Mount Meru 3 days / 4 days

In the middle of Arusha National Park, this is Kilimanjaro’s little brother.

The third-tallest mountain in Tanzania is Mount Meru, which stands at 4566 meters. The highest mountains in Tanzania are Kilimanjaro, which is made up of three peaks. The mountain was made by volcanoes in the East African Rift Valley. The volcano’s eastern flank was blown off by a powerful eruption about 250,000 years ago. It is still an amazing sight to see.

It’s a beautiful walk on the first day because the mountain is in the middle of Arusha National Park. You can see baboons, buffalo, giraffes, and other animals in the lowlands of the mountain with the help of a guide. The path goes up through different types of foliage, from grassland to rainforest and from heath and moorland to the alpine desert. A very tall mountain that shouldn’t be in Kilimanjaro’s shadow.

Technically, Meru is harder than Kilimanjaro, and you need to be in good shape because the last 1000 meters are very steep. But you don’t need to know how to climb to get there.

There are also many people who use the mountain to get used to climbing Kilimanjaro, and we can do this too if you ask. We think that the climb up Mount Meru should be done over four days. The tour can also be done in three days by very fit, experienced mountain hikers who have been to high elevations before. The third day of the shorter tour goes straight to the Momella Gate from the top of the mountain on the third day. Simple wooden huts are used for overnight stays.

Highlight of hiking Mt Meru

Highlights:

• Route with accomodation in wooden huts
• Ascent through the Arusha National Park with many wild animals
• Great view in the crater and on the Kilimanjaro
• Total distance about 45 km

Daily stages/walking times:

Detailed Mt Meru itinerary

Day 1 Transfer from the hotel to Momella Gate (1500m) – Miriakamba Hut (2514m)

You will be taken to your hotel after breakfast. Before we leave, we go over the details of your climb of Meru and make sure all of your gear is in order. It takes about an hour to get to Arusha National Park. When your guide is done with the paperwork at the gate, the trip continues to Momella Gate, where your hike begins. You can see giraffes, zebras, and other animals along the way. As you enter the park through the Momella Gate, an armed park guard will be with you. As you walk along the Ngare Nanyuki River, you will see buffalo groups, baboons, and other animals. The path takes you across the river. The trail will soon take you through the forest. After about two hours, you’ll reach the small Mayo Falls, where a field is a great spot for a picnic. You will continue your walk to the “Arched Fig Tree” after taking a short break. This is a unique tree that spans the path like a gate. After another 1.5 – 2 hours you will reach the Miriakamba Hut. Here you spend your first night on Meru.

Lunch; Dinner

Day 2 Miriakamba Hut (2514m) – Saddle Hut (3560m)

The hike starts after breakfast and goes through a thick forest full of mosses and beard lichens. You will need about three hours to get to the top of Mngongo wa Tembo (Elephant Ridge), which is a lookout point. Some of the way up is on wooden steps, because the terrain is steep and slippery in some places. Looking out from this spot, you can see the big, burst hole very well. The walk goes on to the Saddle Hut after a short break. The scenery changes from mountain jungle to light bushland just before you get there. You will be able to take a side trip to the top of Little Mount Meru (3820m) after lunch. The 1- to 1.5-hour walk will give you a great view of the national park and Kilimanjaro. Once you get back to the hut, it’s time for dinner and then bed. The top day is tomorrow, and it starts early!

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 3 Saddle Hut (3560m) – Socialist Peak (4566m) – Miriakamba Hut (2514m)

Around 2 a.m., you can start your climb to the top after having a small snack and a hot drink. You will go up through the bush to get to Rhino Point by the light of your headlight. As you go along the road, it gets harder, but there are also parts that are easy to climb. You can keep going to the top along the long north peak until you reach it around sunrise. You’ll quickly forget how hard it was to climb when the sun rises behind Kilimanjaro and the plain to Meru starts to glow in an orange-red light. After going down, you’ll go back to the Saddle Hut and be given food and a hot drink. After that, you’ll keep going to Mirikamba Hut, which you’ll reach early in the afternoon. You can rest here and enjoy your success at the top.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 4 Miriakamba Hut (2514m) – Momella Gate (1500m)- Transfer to the hotel

The path keeps going down to Momella Gate via the so-called “Northern Route” after breakfast. You might see buffalo, baboons, and other wild animals along the way. If you’re lucky, may even see elephants. The hike will take about two to three hours. When you get to the Momella Gate, your driver will be ready for you. You will be driven back to your hotel after saying goodbye to your mountain team.

Breakfast; Lunch

NOTE: There are some easy climbing routes on the summit stage, but they are not secured. You need to be sure-footed and have a good head for heights. If it’s raining hard, there’s thick fog, or the rocks are frozen, the guide who is with you may decide to stop the climb. It’s not a good idea to go up during the heavy rainy season (April and May).