Overview
| Accommodation | Confirmed together with you — see the Rates tab for general comfort levels we work with. |
|---|---|
| Meals | Full board on safari days; meals as specified for any city/beach nights, per your final itinerary. |
Day by Day (4 days)
MOMELLA GATE TO MIRIAKAMBA HUT
Your driver picks you up from your hotel in Moshi or Arusha after breakfast, and your guide checks your gear and the final details. Your night before and after the climb is spent at a comfortable mid-range hotel. You start the day with breakfast and a briefing from your lead guide, then hike from Momella Gate (1,500 m) to Miriakamba Hut (2,514 m). The hike takes about 3 to 4 hours at a slow, steady "pole pole" pace, through savanna and forest where giraffes, buffalo, warthogs and monkeys are often seen. An armed park ranger walks with the group for safety. The porters go ahead to set up camp, and you arrive to find your tent pitched, hot water for washing and a three-course dinner served in the mess tent. Your guide checks your oxygen levels and general health each evening and the cook prepares plenty of hot drinks and carbohydrate-rich meals. You sleep in a sleeping bag and mat provided with the climb.
MIRIAKAMBA HUT TO SADDLE HUT
You start the day with breakfast and a briefing from your lead guide, then hike from Miriakamba Hut (2,514 m) to Saddle Hut (3,570 m). The hike takes about 4 to 5 hours at a slow, steady "pole pole" pace, through montane forest and heath, with the dramatic crater of Mount Meru below you. In the afternoon you can climb Little Meru at 3,820 metres for sunset views and better acclimatisation. The porters go ahead to set up camp, and you arrive to find your tent pitched, hot water for washing and a three-course dinner served in the mess tent. Your guide checks your oxygen levels and general health each evening and the cook prepares plenty of hot drinks and carbohydrate-rich meals. You sleep in a sleeping bag and mat provided with the climb.
SUMMIT OF MOUNT MERU
You wake at about 1:00 am for tea and biscuits and set out by headlamp from Saddle Hut (3,570 m) along the narrow ridge of the crater rim toward Socialist Peak at 4,566 metres. The climb takes 4 to 5 hours and is steep and rocky, with exposed sections where you scramble with your guide and ranger. At the summit the sun rises behind Kilimanjaro, which floats above the clouds, and you can look down into the ash cone inside the crater. You descend to Saddle Hut for breakfast and a rest, then continue to Miriakamba Hut for the night. Meru is a tough but rewarding climb, and is also an excellent acclimatisation trek before Kilimanjaro.
DESCENT TO MOMELLA GATE
After breakfast you hike down through the forest to Momella Gate, a descent of about 2 hours, where you sign out and collect your summit certificate. Your driver takes you back to your hotel in Arusha for a hot shower and a celebration meal.
Rates Per Person
The Overview tab explains the accommodation and meal options. Send us your dates and group size for an exact price.
Next: Inclusions →Inclusions
Included
- Private vehicle with your own driver-guide
- Park entry and conservation fees
- Accommodation as specified in your itinerary
- Meals as specified per day (full board on safari days)
- Airport pickup and drop-off
Excluded
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Getting There
Tour Start & End
This trip starts in Mount Meru and ends in Mount Meru.
Airport Information
Kilimanjaro International Airport or Mwanza Airport is the most common arrival point for this trip.
Transfer Information
We meet you at the airport and handle every transfer between destinations throughout your trip.
Accommodation Before/After
Want an extra night in Arusha, Moshi or Zanzibar before or after your trip? Just ask and we will arrange it.