4 days mount meru climbing

Welcome to Arusha: Tanzania’s unofficial safari capital! When your plane arrives at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a friendly representative from Chalema Tanzania Safaris will be waiting to meet you and introduce you to the sights and sounds of Arusha. The town serves as the gateway to Tanzania’s famous northern safari circuit, and it’s also just a short drive from both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. You’ve come to reach the summit of the latter, and you’re sure to enjoy a building sense of anticipation as we get checked in at the pleasant Pazuri Arusha Inn. But tonight you’ll spend the rest of the day at your leisure; consider taking a cooling swim at the pool or simply wandering the exquisitely landscaped gardens on a charming stone-built path. Your accommodations tonight will be in one of the inn’s spacious, comfortable rooms.

Elevation: 1597m/4921ft to 2500m/8202ft

Distance: 6km/3.5mi

Time: 4-5 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

This morning, your mountain guide will meet you at the hotel to discuss the upcoming climb and to review your trekking equipment. Unlike Kilimanjaro, there is only one trekking route to reach the summit of Mount Meru, and it’s known as the Momella Route. We’ll start by making the short drive to Arusha National Park. After meeting our trekking team and beginning our climb from Momella Gate, we’ll ascend through the plains on the mountain’s slopes. Keep your eyes peeled—you just might spot some giraffe and buffalo in the distance. Soon, we’ll reach the beautiful Tululusia waterfall and Miriakamba Hut itself. Your accommodations tonight will be in a simple, comfortable lodge here on the mountain. All told, we’ll be spending about two or three hours on the trail today—but if we reachMiriakamba in time, you may be able to add on an additional short hike to reach the scenic NjekuViewpoint.

Elevation: 2500m/8202ft to 3500m/11483ft

Distance: 6km/3.5mi

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

While Mount Meru may not quite reach the lofty heights of Kilimanjaro, the volcano does rise to an altitude of just over 4,500 meters. That means we’ll be climbing at genuinely high elevations, where we’ll take our time to ascend slowly (“pole pole” in Swahili). Our hike today begins on wooden steps, rising through fields and forests where we may be lucky enough to come across a group of elephants. We’ll stop at midday to enjoy the views from Mgongo wa Tembo, or Elephant’s Back: a natural viewpoint where you’ll be able to see straight down into Meru’s volcanic crater and cinder cone. From there, we’ll cross a rocky alpine landscape before arriving at today’s destination: Saddle Hut. After unloading our bags in the bunkhouses here, we’ll make an additional short hike to Little Meru Peak. This vantage point sits at about 3,800 meters and offers a great chance to continue acclimatizing to the altitude—not to mention some sublime views.

Elevation: 3500m/11483ft to 4562m/14967ft down to 2500m/8202ft

Distance: 19km/12mi

Hiking Time: 10-12 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

We’ll get a very early start today in order to reach the summit of Mount Meru at sunrise. We’ll climb a series of switchbacks towards a ridgeline known as Rhino Point, make a brief descent, and then trek steadily upwards on a path cut straight through volcanic rock on the edge of the crater. The final part of our ascent is especially steep, so we’ll take our time and stay on the lookout for any symptoms of altitude sickness. When we finally reach the summit of Mount Meru, the hard-earned reward for your struggle will become immediately apparent: with the sun breaking over the horizon, the rolling clouds take on a fiery orange glow, and the two summits of Kilimanjaro rise above the mist like natural skyscrapers. After savoring this incredible spectacle to its fullest (and signing the guestbook), we’ll return to Saddle Hut for lunch. Later, we’ll descend further to spend our last night on the mountain at Miriakamba Hut.

Elevation: 2500m/8202ft to 1500m/4921ft

Distance: 14km/8.5mi

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

This morning, we’ll finish our descent from Mount Meru at a comfortable pace. While the high point ofour trek may be behind us, the mountain may still have a few surprises in store for us. Keep an eye out for colossal fig trees, sparkling waterfalls, and all manner of forest wildlife: baboons, giraffes, and even the elusive dik-dik. When we reach Momella Gate once again, it’s time to bid a fond farewell to the climbing crew from Chalema Tanzania Safaris who have kept you company over the past few days of hiking. Depending on your outgoing travel arrangements, we’ll provide transportation back to PazuriArusha Inn, the Kilimanjaro International Airport, or another destination of your choice. We hope you have enjoyed ascending Africa’s fifth-highest mountain!