4-Day Mount Meru Trek from Arusha with Little Meru Views

• Travel to the Arusha National Park Gate. At the national park gate, your guide will complete the obligatory entry forms and whilst he does so, you can peruse the information boards of the national park. Once the formalities have been completed and the hiking team consisting of porters from the surrounding villages is formed, you will then be driven a little further to Momella Gate. An armed park ranger will accompany you while you start your hike and get a first glimpse of the wonderful giraffes and buffaloes. 
• Enter the acacia forest in which you will follow the Southern Route. After a steady 2-hour climb, you will reach Maio Falls and some picturesque meadows that are a perfect place for a picnic.

• Reach the well-known ‘Arched Fig Tree’. Here your park ranger will tell you about the formation of this tree and how it gained its shape forming an arch over the path. After another 1½ - 2 hours, you will reach the Miriakamba Hut. Evening meal and overnight stay at the Miriakamba Hut. Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Elevation (m): (1,387 m to (1,500 m)
Elevation (ft): 4,921 ft) to 3,000 ft )
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest

• Leave the Miriakamba Hut behind and follow a steep track with wooden steps upwards. Due to the gain in height, it will be noticeably cooler than the previous day, and due to this, the hike will seem to get easier. The clouds often hang in the rainforest and dip the lush vegetation in a moody atmosphere. After approximately 2 hours, you will reach the vantage point ‘MgongowaTembo’ (Elephant back) at an elevation of 3200m, enjoying a well-earned break.
• Reach Saddle Hut (3550m) for a relaxing lunch break at midday. During the afternoon, you have the option of a side trip to Little Meru (3820m), which takes approx. 1 - 1 ½ hours and from where you can have beautiful views of Arusha National Park and of the Kilimanjaro (approx. 80 km away). Back at the hut, a warm dinner is waiting for you before you have the final preliminary talk in preparation for the following day’s climb to the summit. Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Elevation (m): 2,514m to 3,570m
Elevation (ft): 8,250ft to 11,712ft
Distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 3-5 hours
Habitat: Forest and Moorland

• Leave for the summit at 02:00 hrs. By torchlight, you will follow the trail through bushland to the so-called Rhino Point (3821m), in which the path turns into a little more challenging trek with occasional light climbs. You will follow the north ridge to the summit, on which you walk on the ground alternating between lava ash and rock.

• After approx. 4 - 5 hours, attend the summit and the Tanzanian flag in your sights. From the summit, you will enjoy the sun rising above Kilimanjaro and the fantastic view of Mount Meru’s crater with its steep sides and the “Ash Cone” in the middle. The descent follows the same route back to Saddle Hut (3550m), where you will take a well-deserved long break and recuperate with hot soup and tea. Once refreshed, you will continue with the disc, and you will reach Miriakamba Hut (25during the early afternoon 00m) - tired but happy. In this hut, you can relax and think about the last stage you have completed. Evening meal and overnight stay at Miriakamba Hut (2500m). Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Elevation (m): 3,570 m to 4,565m to 2,514m
Elevation (ft): 14,977ft to 11,712 ft to 8,250ft
Distance: 5 km up 13 km down
Hiking Time: 10 – 12 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert Moorland and Montane forest

• After breakfast, follow a 2 - 3 hour trek over the so-called Northern Route back to Momella Gate. The descent is shorter than the ascent, but there is still the chance to see elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, and the black and white Columbus monkeys. You will say farewell to your hiking crew at the gate, and your driver will take you back to Arusha. 

Elevation (m): 2,514m to 1,500m to 1,387m
Elevation (ft): 4,921ft to 8,250ft to 4,921ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking time: 2-4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest