MT MERU
Standing at 14,968 ft (4,562 m), Mt. Meru is the second highest mountain in Tanzania and the fifth highest in Africa. Located in Arusha National Park, this mountain towers over the city of Arusha.
A shorter, but more technically difficult trek than Kilimanjaro, Mt. Meru is a popular hiking destination. A climb of Mt. Meru can be completed in three or four days, and hikers stay in huts at camps along the route. The summit can be seen as a shorter, more affordable alternative to Kilimanjaro for those travelers with limited time and money. Many also choose to climb Mt. Meru before their Kilimanjaro trek as an acclimatization climb.
Another benefit of Mt. Meru is its location inside Arusha National Park. While on your climb, you have a good chance of encountering wildlife. Giraffes, zebras, buffalos, warthogs and many types of antelopes are commonly seen and there are even elephants in the park that you may spot if you get lucky.
Accommodation on Mt. Meru is in bunk beds in shared, 4-person rooms
within larger huts. There are also cooking, dining and bathroom facilities
at each camp as well.
While Mt. Meru can be climbed in 3 or 4 days, we strongly recommend the 4-day option. The three-day option requires you to summit and descend all the way to the gate in one long, grueling day that some find too exhausting.
Whatever your circumstances, we are happy to accommodate you!
What’s included:
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All park fees and taxes
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Transportation to and from the mountain
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Experienced guide(s), porters and cook(s)
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Meals while on the mountain
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Guides carry a first-aid kit
What’s not included:
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Tips for staff
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Airfare
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Visa fees
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Airport pickup/drop-off
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Personal gear
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Travel insurance (recommended)
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Hotel accommodation before/after climb (can be arranged for additional cost)
Cost:
3 day/2 night trek - $825 USD per person
4 day/3 night trek - $1100 USD per person
*Additional $250 (per group) fee for groups of 1-2 people
"Mount Meru" by Roman Boed/CC BY 2.0
3-day climb
Day 1: Drive to Momella Gate in Arusha National Park. We may see animals as we drive through the park and even while hiking. We will be paired with other climbers to share a park ranger, who will accompany us on the hike in case of encounters with wild animals. There are two routes leading to the first camp: the Northern Route and the Southern Route. Before we head out, you and your fellow hikers will have to decide which of the two routes we will take.
- The Northern route is slightly steeper, but shorter (about 4 hours) and has a great view of the lake and nearby villages.
- The Southern route is longer (5-6 hours), but contains some interesting natural features such as the fig tree arch and Moiyo waterfall.
No matter which route we use, everyone will sleep at Miriakamba Hut (8248 ft/2514m).
Day 2: Today's hike is steep, but not as far as yesterday. We will hike through switchbacks to Saddle Hut (11,700 ft/3,566 m). Once arriving (4-5 hours), we will have lunch at the camp. We will do an evening acclimatization hike to Little Meru (12,532 ft/3,820m) and prepare for the summit hike at midnight.
Day 3: Summit Day! We will wake up at midnight, eat breakfast and prepare for the ascent. We will climb to the summit in the dark (using our headlamps). This will take us 6-7 hours. On the way, there will be parts that require some scrambling and we will reach the summit (14,968 ft/4,562 m) around sunrise. The view of Kilimanjaro and the surrounding area at sunrise is stunning. After photos at the summit, we will begin our descent back toward Saddle Hut for lunch. After lunch, we will continue our descent through Miriakamba Hut camp all the way to Momella Gate (5-6 hours). After arriving at the gate, we will drive back to Arusha town.
4-day climb
Days 1 & 2: The first two days of this trip are identical to the 3-day option.
The only difference between the options is the descent. The 3-day option completes summit and full descent all in one long, intense day (midnight - evening). The 4-day option breaks this up into two days to give you time to rest.
Day 3: Summit Day! We will wake up at midnight, eat breakfast and prepare for the ascent. We will climb to the summit in the dark (using our headlamps). This will take us 6-7 hours. On the way, there will be parts that require some scrambling and we will reach the summit (14,968 ft/4,562 m) around sunrise. The view of Kilimanjaro and the surrounding area at sunrise is stunning. After photos at the summit, we will begin our descent back toward Saddle Hut for lunch. After lunch, we will continue our descent to Miriakamba Hut camp (2-3 hours) where we will stay for the night.
Day 4: After enjoying breakfast at Miriakamba, we will hike down through the forest back to Momella Gate (2-3 hours). After arriving at the gate, we will drive back to Arusha town.
Itineraries
