4 Day Mt Meru Trekking
Four days on the trail up Mount Meru, Tanzania's second highest mountain, with armed-ranger walking safaris, hut stays and a summit on Socialist Peak.
- Duration
- 4 days
- Route
- Arusha – Momella Gate – Miriakamba Hut – Saddle Hut – Socialist Peak – Miriakamba Hut – Momella Gate – Arusha
- Start / end
- Starts and ends in Arusha (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
- Fully supported hut-to-hut trek with professional mountain guides, cooks and porters and an armed ranger, staying in wooden cabins on the mountain and a hotel in Arusha on a bed-and-breakfast basis before and after the trek.
Tour overview
Mount Meru is the second highest mountain in Tanzania, standing at 4,566 m above sea level inside Arusha National Park. Meru has one route to the top, which can also be climbed in 3 days, and many climbers use it for acclimatization before a Kilimanjaro climb.
Unlike on Kilimanjaro, climbers on Mount Meru must be escorted by an armed ranger. You will enjoy what feels like a walking safari as you pass groups of African buffaloes, zebras and black-and-white colobus monkeys.
This program spends four days on the mountain, with an extra night at Miriakamba Hut after the summit, plus an arrival day and a departure day in Arusha.
Highlights
- Walking safari with an armed ranger past buffaloes, giraffes, warthogs and bushbucks
- Views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the Momella Lakes from the lower slopes
- Acclimatization hike to Little Meru (3,810 m) from Saddle Hut
- Summit Socialist Peak (4,562 m) with views of the Meru crater and Ash Cone
- Look out for klipspringers and mountain reedbucks on the rocky summit terrain
- Descend past the impressive Fig Tree Arch in the montane forest
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Tanzania
You are picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. Here you meet your guide, who briefs you on the upcoming trek and checks your equipment to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Any missing gear can be rented on this day. Overnight at Mvuli Hotel or similar.
Day 2Momella Gate (1,500 m) to Miriakamba Hut (2,500 m)
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 3Miriakamba Hut (2,500 m) to Saddle Hut (3,500 m)
Today's trek follows a steep path along the ridge to the saddle, with amazing views of the Meru crater, the Ash Cone and Little Meru along the way. While trekking through the forest, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife and attractive wildflowers; common animals include buffaloes and black-and-white colobus monkeys. After resting at Saddle Hut, you set off on a one-hour acclimatization hike to Little Meru (3,810 m) and then return to the hut for the night. Distance: 6.5 km / 4 mi. Approximate time: 3–4 hours.
Day 4Saddle Hut (3,500 m) to Socialist Peak (4,562 m) to Miriakamba Hut (2,500 m)
You wake just after midnight for a light meal and start your final ascent to Socialist Peak, the top of Big Meru. The trail to the summit is steep, climbing over gravel and rocky ridges. At the summit you enjoy breathtaking views of the Meru crater and the Ash Cone, and animals such as klipspringers and mountain reedbucks can occasionally be seen on the rocky terrain. After the summit, you descend to Miriakamba Hut for the night. Distance: 19 km / 12 mi. Approximate time: 10–12 hours.
Day 5Miriakamba Hut (2,500 m) to Momella Gate (1,500 m)
After breakfast you begin your final descent to Momella Gate, using the southern route. On the way down you pass through the montane forest and the impressive Fig Tree Arch. On arrival at Momella Gate, you are picked up and transferred back to your hotel. Distance: 14 km / 8.5 mi. Approximate time: 4–5 hours.
Day 6Depart Tanzania
The day is free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on your flight times, you could explore Arusha town and pick up some souvenirs before your shared transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure. Breakfast is served at the hotel, and your two-way shared airport transfers are included in the trek price.
What is included
- Park fees, camping fees and rescue fees
- 18% VAT on tour fees and services
- Accommodation in wooden cabins on the mountain
- -29°C extreme-limit sleeping bags
- Double-layered sleeping mats
- Transportation to and from the mountain gate
- Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
- 3 meals daily while on the mountain
- Pre- and post-trek accommodation on a bed-and-breakfast basis
- Two-way shared airport transfers
Not included
- International flights to and from Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
- Tanzanian visa (USD 95)
- Meals in Arusha, except breakfast at the hotel
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, satellite phone, internet access and beverages
- Travel insurance covering trekking to altitudes up to 6,000 m and medical evacuation from the mountains
- Rescue or other costs due to leaving the group (individual transfers, helicopter flights, extra nights, meals, flight changes etc.)
- Personal equipment and trekking gear
- Liability for loss, theft and damage
- Tips for the mountain crew
- Any other service not listed as included
Good to know
- Recommended tips per day: porters from USD 6, assistant guide or cook from USD 12, and guides from USD 20.
- Your guide does an equipment check on arrival day, and any missing gear can be rented then.
- Travel insurance must cover trekking to altitudes up to 6,000 m and medical evacuation from the mountains.
- Mount Meru is a popular acclimatization climb before Kilimanjaro.
Frequently asked questions
Can Mount Meru be used as preparation for Kilimanjaro?
Yes. Many climbers trek Mount Meru first to acclimatize before attempting Kilimanjaro. At 4,566 m, it gives your body a good introduction to altitude.
Where do we sleep on the mountain?
You stay in wooden cabins at Miriakamba Hut and Saddle Hut. Sleeping bags rated to -29°C and double-layered sleeping mats are included.
How long is summit day?
Summit day starts just after midnight from Saddle Hut and takes about 10–12 hours, covering around 19 km. You climb to Socialist Peak and then descend all the way to Miriakamba Hut for the night.
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