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4 Days - Mount Meru Trekking
4 Days / 3 Nights Days
Arusha or Moshi, Tanzania (hotel pickup) → Arusha or Moshi, Tanzania (hotel drop-off)
Why Choose This Safari?
Mount Meru is the second highest mountain in Tanzania, and at 4,566 m it makes a popular acclimatization climb before Kilimanjaro. This four-day version gives you more room to enjoy it than the quick three-day trek. You climb by stages through forest and moorland with an armed ranger, spend two nights on the way up, summit before sunrise, and then come down to Miriakamba Hut for a second night rather than racing to the gate. The final morning is a short, gentle descent through open grassland and mixed forest, with another chance of seeing wildlife before you reach Momella Gate. Inside Arusha National Park you walk through habitats from montane forest to alpine desert, and you’re collected from and returned to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi.
Safari Highlights
- Tour above can be customized based on your needs or requirements. You can add with Wildlife Safari, Beach Holidays etc
Destinations to Travel
Arusha National Park · Momella Gate · Miriakamba Hut · Saddle Hut · Little Meru · Rhino Point · Cobra Point · Mount Meru Summit
Itinerary
Day 1 — Arusha/Moshi to Momella Gate to Miriakamba Hut
You’re driven from Arusha or Moshi to Momella Gate, where a short registration is followed by the start of your walk, escorted by an armed ranger. The trail winds through montane forest where you may spot elephants, zebras, giraffe, monkeys and antelope along the way. It’s an easy start that lets your body begin adjusting to the altitude. You finish at Miriakamba Hut for dinner and your first night on the mountain.
Trek: Elevation 1,500 m to 2,514 m (4,921 ft to 8,250 ft) · Distance 10 km · Hiking time 4 to 6 hours · Habitat: montane forest
Day 2 — Miriakamba Hut to Saddle Hut
The walk from Miriakamba Hut to the saddle below Little Meru is a short day, but the climb is steep. You follow the ridge slowly, with spectacular views of the Meru Crater and the imposing Ash Cone. After a hot lunch at Saddle Hut you can make a short climb to the summit of Little Meru (3,820 m) for superb views just before sunset, then return for dinner and an early night before summit day.
Trek: Elevation 2,514 m to 3,570 m (8,250 ft to 11,712 ft) · Distance 8 km · Hiking time 3 to 5 hours · Habitat: forest and moorland
Day 3 — Summit Day and Descent to Miriakamba Hut
Your day starts at around 1:30am with a steep climb to Rhino Point (3,800 m) and on to Cobra Point (4,350 m). You reach the summit at 4,566 m in time for sunrise, with a chance of seeing Kilimanjaro above the clouds. The final stretch follows a spectacular narrow ridgeline between the sheer inner cliffs and the sloping outer wall of the crater. After a short rest on top you head down for brunch at Saddle Hut and continue the descent to Miriakamba Hut, where you sleep.
Trek: Elevation 3,570 m to 4,566 m to 2,514 m (11,712 ft to about 14,980 ft to 8,250 ft) · Distance 5 km up, 13 km down · Hiking time 10 to 12 hours · Habitat: alpine desert, moorland and montane forest
Day 4 — Miriakamba Hut to Momella Gate to Arusha/Moshi
A short and fast descent takes you through open grassland and mixed forest, with a chance of seeing wildlife before you reach Momella Gate in the late morning. Your transfer is waiting at the gate to take you to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi.
Trek: Elevation 2,514 m to 1,500 m (8,250 ft to 4,921 ft) · Distance 10 km · Hiking time 2 to 4 hours · Habitat: montane forest, open grassland and mixed forest
What's Included
Rate Includes
- Transport to and from mountain gates.
- All parks entry fees.
- All camping fees.
- Rescue fees.
- Guide and porters fees.
- Guide and porters salaries.
- All accommodations on the mountain based on three meals a day.
- Cook and all kitchen utensils.
Rate Excludes
- International and domestic flights (we can arrange on request)
- Accommodation on the first night upon your arrival before climb and on the last day after climb (book with us)
- Airport transfers (book with us)
- Tips, drinks and all items of personal nature
- Hard and soft drinks and tips
- Sleeping bags but we can provide for hire on request
- All Mountain Gears (we can arrange hire of this)
Best Time to Go
No travel window was given for this itinerary, so the advice below comes from the route and Tanzania’s general seasonality. The drier months, roughly June to October and December to February, usually offer the clearest views from the crater rim and the most comfortable trail conditions, and clear skies improve your chance of seeing Kilimanjaro at sunrise. The wetter months of March to May and November can make the forest and moorland slippery and the views cloudier. Nights above the forest are cold in every season, so bring warm layers whenever you go. Because this four-day schedule leaves you in good shape on the final morning, it fits well as a warm-up before a Kilimanjaro climb. For park information, see the Tanzania National Parks Authority.
Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this climb start and end, and how long does it take?
The climb starts with a pickup from your hotel in Arusha or Moshi and a drive to Momella Gate in Arusha National Park. It ends with a transfer from the gate back to your hotel on Day 4. It takes 4 days and 3 nights, with two nights at Miriakamba Hut and one at Saddle Hut.
What is the difference between this and the 3-day climb?
On the 4-day itinerary you descend on summit day to Miriakamba Hut and spend a second night there, instead of descending all the way to the gate. That shortens summit day to 10 to 12 hours of hiking and leaves a gentle 2 to 4 hour descent on the final morning, so it suits trekkers who’d like a more relaxed pace.
Is Mount Meru a good warm-up for Kilimanjaro?
Yes. At 4,566 m it’s high enough to test how your body responds to altitude, and the staged ascent through forest, moorland and alpine desert gives you a taste of a longer climb. Many trekkers climb it first as an acclimatization trek.
What happens on summit day?
You start at around 1:30am and climb steeply to Rhino Point, then Cobra Point and the summit at 4,566 m for sunrise. The last stretch follows a narrow ridgeline along the crater rim, so a good level of fitness and a steady pace help. After brunch at Saddle Hut you descend to Miriakamba Hut.
Will we see wildlife on the climb?
You may see giraffe, zebra, antelope, monkeys and elephants on the lower trail, especially on Day 1 and again on the final morning’s descent through open grassland. An armed ranger accompanies you, and sightings can’t be guaranteed on any given day. You can read more about the park on its Wikipedia page.