Mount Meru 4 Days

Mount Meru 4 Days – A beautiful mountain to hike. Great as a pre Kilimanjaro acclimatization or as part of a trilogy of East Africa’s highest peaks. Also, a superb pre safari for keen hikers or the adventurous.

Description

Meru 4 day hike to the summit of Mt Meru, the third highest peak in Tanzania, through verdant afromontane forest into high altitude alpine desert with unparalleled views of a dormant volcano. Please note: the first 2 days require an armed ranger due to wild animals. There are simply NOT ENOUGH rangers to go around and this means for the first 2 days guests have to walk together / start together. This has proven frustrating to guests that are not informed. Please inform all guests of this point.

Highlights

Signs and possible sightings of wildlife on foot, afromontane forest, less busy than Kilimanjaro, excellent bird life and game drives in Arusha National Park. One of the most under rated hikes in East Africa.

In Brief

Hike Distance – 28 miles / 45km
Vertical Gain – 10,056ft / 3065m
Drop – 10,056ft / 3065m
Trekking Time – 26 hours

In Detail: Mount Meru 4 Days

DAY 1 : MOMMELA GATE TO MIRIAKAMBA HUT

START – 4,922FT / 1500M
END – 8,248FT / 2514M
DISTANCE – 9 MILES / 14KM
TIME – 6-8 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST

In the morning you are collected from your hotel and transferred to Arusha National Park. At the Momella Gate we complete registration formalities before setting off with your guide and armed ranger – there is abundant wildlife in the forests! The forest section is especially scenic with strangler figs and the possibility of seeing buffalo grazing in one of the clearings. In the late afternoon you reach a viewpoint before heading on to Miriakamba Hut for dinner.

DAY 2: MIRIAKAMBA TO SADDLE HUT

START – 8,248FT / 2514M
END – 11,713 / 3570M
DISTANCE – 4 MILES / 6KM
TIME – 4-5 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT

You set off from Miriakamba Hut, initially still in the forest zone, but in a few hours as you reach Saddle Hut for lunch in the alpine desert zone. In the afternoon a walk to the summit of Little Meru (Alt: 12,532ft, 3820m) can be taken for stunning views before heading back to Saddle Hut for dinner.

DAY 3 – SUMMIT BID / MIRIAKAMBA

START – 11,713FT / 3570M
END – 8,248FT / 2514M
DISTANCE – 11 MILES / 18KM
TIME – 12 HRS
CLIMATE ZONES – ALPINE DESERT / AFROMONTANE FOREST

You rise early and your 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. After taking photos at Socialist Peak (Alt: 14,978ft, 4,565m) you return to our base camp at Saddle Hut. After some brunch, you continue down to Miriakamba Hut for dinner.

DAY 4 – ARUSHA/BOMANG’OMBE/MOSHI

START – 8,248FT / 2514M
END – 4,922FT / 1500M
DISTANCE – 4 MILES / 7KM
TIME – 3-4 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST

The shorter final section takes up to 4 hours to return to our vehicles where you say farewell to our crew and have time for a short picnic lunch and game drive before returning to Moshi/Arusha for a well deserved shower!

GROUP SIZE	PRICE PER PERSON
1 person	$ 1050/person
2-4 people	$ 935/person
5-9 people	$ 900/person
10+ people	$ 890/person

Included in the price:

2 nights’ accommodation in the hotel bed and breakfast
Private transport to/from Kilimanjaro International Airport to the hotel in Moshi
Medically Qualified guides with mountain crew
National park fees
18% VAT on tour fees and services
All huts accommodations
Rescue fees
All meals on the mountain (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Guides and porters’ accommodations and their entry fees on the mountain
Pulse oximeter
First aid kit
Emergency oxygen
Fair wages to guides and porters as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park authority