4-Day Mount Meru Climb in Arusha National Park with Wildlife Views

• In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel, and after a 45-minute drive, you will arrive at the Arusha National Park Gate. At the national park gate, your guide will complete the required 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 be driven further to Momella Gate. An armed park ranger will accompany you while you start your hike and get a first glimpse of the beautiful giraffes and buffalos. Once you have left the buffalo herds and giraffes behind, you will enter the acacia forest, where you will follow the Southern Route. After a steady 2-hour climb, you will reach Maio Falls and some picturesque meadows that are perfect for a picnic.
• After a rest, you will proceed with climbing and soon 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 1:30- 2 hours, you will reach the Miriakamba Hut. Evening meal and overnight stay at the Miriakamba Hut.

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

• In the morning, you will leave the Miriakamba Hut behind and follow a steep track with wooden steps upwards. Due to the gain in height, it will be noticeably more relaxed than the previous day and due to this, the hike will seem to get easier. The clouds also often hang in the rainforest and dip the lush vegetation in a moody atmosphere. After approximately 2 hours, you will reach the vantage point "Mgongo wa Tembo" (Elephant back) at an elevation of 3200m, where you will enjoy a well-earned break.
• After another hike in which the vegetation changes from rainforest into airy bushland, you will reach Saddle Hut (3550m) mid-day for a relaxing lunch break. During the afternoon, you can take a side trip to Little Meru (3820m), which takes approx. 1 hour or 1:30 hour, and from where you can have beautiful views of Arusha National Park and Kilimanjaro (approx. 80 km away). Back at the hut, a warm dinner awaits you before you have the final preliminary talk in preparation for the following day’s climb to the summit.

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

• After an early start with tea and biscuits, you will leave for the summit at 02:00 Am. By torchlight, you will follow the trail through bush land 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, where you walk on ground alternating between lava ash and rock.
• After approx. 4 - 5 hours, you will have the summit and the Tanzanian flag in your sights. From the summit, you will be able to 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 descent. During the early afternoon, you will reach Miriakamba Hut (2500m) - tired but happy. At this Miriakamba hut, you can relax and think about the last stage that you have completed. Evening meal and overnight stay at Miriakamba Hut (2500m).

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, you will follow a 2 or 3 hours 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, buffalos, giraffes, and the black and white Columbus monkeys. At the gate, you will say farewell to your hiking crew, 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