3 Days Mt Meru Trek
A three-day trek up Mount Meru in Arusha National Park, with an armed ranger, wildlife on the lower slopes and a sunrise summit on Socialist Peak.
- Duration
- 3 days
- Route
- Arusha – Momella Gate – Miriakamba Hut – Saddle Hut – Socialist Peak – Momella Gate – Arusha
- Start / end
- Starts and ends in Arusha/Moshi (fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport)
- Best time
- Mount Meru can be climbed most of the year, but the drier months, roughly June to October and December to February, usually bring the best trail conditions and clearest views.
- Trip style
- Private hut-to-hut trek with professional mountain guides, porters and a cook, accompanied by an armed park ranger, with all meals provided on the mountain.
Tour overview
Mount Meru is a dormant stratovolcano located 70 km (43 mi) west of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. At a height of 4,562 m (14,968 ft), it is the fifth highest mountain in Africa.
Mount Meru is the topographic centerpiece of Arusha National Park. Its fertile slopes rise above the surrounding savanna and support a forest that hosts diverse wildlife, including nearly 400 species of birds.
This three-day trek climbs from Momella Gate via Miriakamba Hut and Saddle Hut to the summit, Socialist Peak, with an armed ranger on the trail, spectacular views of Kilimanjaro and the Momella Lakes, and a dramatic ridge walk along the crater rim.
Highlights
- Trek from Momella Gate with an armed ranger, past cape buffaloes, giraffes, warthogs and bushbucks
- Spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the Momella Lakes
- Optional sunset climb of Little Meru from Saddle Hut
- Reach Cobra Point around sunrise with Kilimanjaro floating above the clouds
- Summit Socialist Peak (4,566 m) on the rim of the Meru crater
- Dramatic ridge walk between the crater's outer wall and the sheer cliffs of the inner wall
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Momella Gate to Miriakamba Hut
You depart the hotel at 08:00 and drive roughly an hour and a half to Momella Gate, the starting point of the trek. After registration, you start trekking accompanied by an armed ranger. Along the route you enjoy spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the Momella Lakes, and you may encounter animals such as cape buffaloes, giraffes, warthogs and bushbucks. The trek ends at Miriakamba Hut, where you spend the night. Distance: 6 km / 3.5 mi. Approximate time: 4–5 hours.
Day 2Miriakamba Hut to Saddle Hut
The walk from Miriakamba Hut to the saddle below Little Meru is a short day, but a steep, sustained climb all the way. Starting through attractive, open montane forest, the trail passes the halfway point at Elephant Ridge and continues uphill through giant heather and other moorland vegetation to reach Saddle Hut in time for lunch. The afternoon is free to rest and enjoy the views; energetic climbers can make the short ascent of nearby Little Meru for excellent views just before sunset. Saddle Hut is similar to Miriakamba, but water is collected from a stream about ten minutes away. Walking time: 3–5 hours. Ascent: 1,056 m.
Day 3Saddle Hut to Socialist Peak and Momella Gate
An early start at around 02:00 to climb steeply to Rhino Point (3,800 m). The trail continues along an undulating ridge of ash and rock to Cobra Point (4,350 m) at around sunrise. The views are stunning: the cliffs of the crater rim, the Ash Cone rising from the crater floor, Kilimanjaro floating on the morning clouds and, in clear weather, the valley below. Socialist Peak (4,566 m) is about an hour further on a good but often steep and slightly exposed path, with fine views toward the Maasai Hills. The return to Rhino Point along the narrow ridge is one of the most dramatic walks in Africa, followed by a fast descent through grassland and mixed forest, with good chances of seeing wildlife, to Momella Gate. Descent: 1,014 m.
What is included
- 2 nights' accommodation in Arusha
- Private professional mountain guides
- All park fees
- Rescue fees
- Three meals a day while on the mountain
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Salaries for guides, porters and cook
- Pulse oximeters
- Walking poles
- First aid supplies
- Flying Doctors service
Not included
- Tanzania visa (USD 50 per person on arrival)
- Personal expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages)
- Meals not listed above
- Optional tours (e.g. a short safari after your climb)
- Tips and items of a personal nature
Good to know
- Fly to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha/Moshi. Serengeti Joy Tours can help you choose international flights, but you will need to book them yourself.
- Additional accommodation before and after the tour can be arranged at extra cost.
- An armed ranger accompanies all trekkers on Mount Meru because of the wildlife on its lower slopes.
- The descent follows the ascent route; traversing down the other ridge is strictly forbidden.
Frequently asked questions
Why does an armed ranger accompany the trek?
Mount Meru lies inside Arusha National Park, and its lower slopes are home to wildlife such as cape buffaloes and giraffes. An armed park ranger walks with every group for safety.
How hard is summit day on Mount Meru?
Summit day starts at around 02:00 with a steep climb to Rhino Point and continues along an undulating, sometimes exposed ridge to Socialist Peak (4,566 m). You then return along the ridge and descend all the way to Momella Gate, so it is a long and demanding day.
Is the visa included in the price?
No. The Tanzania visa costs USD 50 per person and is paid on arrival. Personal expenses, optional tours and tips are also not included.
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