Tanzania · Trekking

4-Day Mount Meru Trek from Moshi or Arusha with Socialist Peak

4 Days Round trip from Kilimanjaro Airport Rd Challenging pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Summit Mount Meru, Tanzania's second-tallest mountain
02 Hike through Arusha National Park with chances to spot buffaloes, giraffes, zebra, warthogs, and other grazers
03 Enjoy the stunning sunrise from Socialist Peak
04 Take in superb views from Little Meru before sunset

Climb Mount Meru on this 4-day, 3-night tour from Moshi or Arusha and reach Tanzania's second-highest peak at 4,566 metres (14,980 ft). This dormant stratovolcano lies in Arusha National Park, 70 kilometres (43 miles) west of Mount Kilimanjaro, and offers a trek with minimal traffic on the mountain. Along the way, enjoy an amazing wildlife experience as you hike past wild animals and admire an incredible sunrise from Socialist Peak.

You will reach the Mount Meru summit, Socialist Peak (4,566 m), right at sunrise.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Challenging

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Arusha, Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru

Languages Afrikaans, Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Cambodian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Filipino, Finnish, French, Georgian, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Irish, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Lithuanian, Mongolian, Nepali, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Momella Gate to Miriakamba Hut via Wildlife-Filled Grassland

You will clear your trekking permits at the gate, meet your porters, guide, cook, and game ranger, and start the climb. You will pass through open grassland that allows you to see buffaloes, giraffes, zebra, warthogs, and other grazers.

Walking Time: 4-6 Hours

Day 02

Miriakamba Hut to Saddle Hut and Little Meru Hike

You will start early in the morning and ascend steeply through a lush mountain forest full of birds to reach the halfway point of Elephant Ridge. There, you can see the crater. After 3 to 5 hours of climbing, you will reach Saddle Hut, where you will have lunch. In the afternoon, you will take another hike to Little Meru (3,820 m) for superb views before sunset. Then, you will return to Saddle Hut for an overnight stay.

Walking Time: 3-5 Hours

Day 03

Summit Push to Socialist Peak at Sunrise

You will start the climb between 1 and 2 at night. The route is very steep towards Rhino Point (3,850 m) and from there continues towards the summit along a very narrow ridge. You will reach the Mount Meru summit, Socialist Peak (4,566 m), right at sunrise. The scenery there is stunning, and you will see Mount Kilimanjaro in close distance. After taking photos on the summit, you will descend back to Saddle Hut.

Walking Time: 10-12 Hours

Day 04

Descent from Miriakamba Hut to Momella Gate

You will leave at about 8:00 am and descend to Momella Gate. Once at the gate, it is time to tip your porters, guide, cook, and game ranger. After that, your transportation back to Moshi or Arusha will be waiting for you and will transfer you to your booked hotel for dinner and overnight.

Walking Time: 2-5 Hours.

Where this trip takes you

Socialist Peak sunrise, Little Meru ridge, Elephant Ridge forest, views of Mount Kilimanjaro

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Kilimanjaro Airport Rd 4 cities · 4 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Transport
2-way airport transfers
Mountain huts
Mountain guides
All park fees
Rescue fees
All meals while on the mountain
Guides, porters, and cooks' salaries
Healthy, nutritious food
Drinking water

What's Not Included

Accommodation in Arusha
Tanzania visa
Gratuity
Personal expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
Meals not listed above

What to bring

Top base layer
Bottom base layer
4-5 pairs of underwear
3-4 short-sleeve shirts
One insulated trekking pants
1-2 long-sleeve hiking shirts
1-2 pairs of hiking trousers
One insulated winter jacket
1 Polartec fleece jacket
One hard shell jacket
Sleeping bag
Trekking poles
Water bladder/bottles
Warm beanie-style hat
Headlamp
Sunglasses
Warm gloves
Trekking boots
Socks
Gaiters
Camera and spare batteries
Sun and lip screen
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Personal snacks

Know before you go

Before climbing Mount Meru:

Start your physical preparation (hiking) at least two months before. Decrease your efforts in the last two weeks and rest during the final days before the climb so that your body can recover properly. We recommend long walks on different terrains, swimming, and yoga.
Start practising deep, deliberate breathing. Try the Pranayama breathing technique or any other that suits your lungs.
Make sure you are appropriately equipped according to our packing gear list.
You should bring some "comfort" food, such as chocolate, energy bars, or energy drink powder. You might need this for a boost on summit night.
Be positive and prepared for any weather and surface - rainy, foggy, snowy, dusty, muddy, or loose terrain.
Ascend slowly. Don't overexert yourself.
Take deep, deliberate breaths.
Communicate openly with your guide and follow his instructions at all times. He is the most experienced person on the mountain and is there to assist you at all times.
At high altitudes, loss of appetite is common. Eat and drink properly, even if you don't feel like it.

Logistics