4-Day Mount Meru Climb in Arusha National Park with Summit Sunrise

Soon after breakfast, we leave for the start of our route on Mt. Meru. The drive takes approximately 2 hours from Moshi and passes through farmland and small communities on the edge of Arusha National Park. As we travel to the foot of the mountain, there is a lot to see - examples of the local way of life, the alkaline lakes inside the park that are home to flamingoes and other water birds, and even giraffe grazing near the road.

We arrive at Momella Park Gate (1500m) and register while our porters sort their loads. We then enter the park with a National Park ranger, who accompanies us throughout our time on the mountain, and cross a small plain that is home to game including zebra, giraffe, and elephant.

Climbing gradually, we enter the rainforest and can look out for bushbuck, a small antelope, and Colobus monkeys among the large cedar trees and forest glades. The relatively small number of trekkers on the mountain means the camps are not overcrowded, and we may not even encounter other groups during our trek.

After around 4 hours of walking, we arrive at Miriakamba Hut, at roughly 2500 meters above sea level. From here, there are views of the lakes in the National Park. While on Mt. Meru, we stay in large wooden huts divided into small dormitories that are relatively comfortable.

The path through the rainforest is steeper today, and we should have views of Kilimanjaro roughly 50 km away to the northeast. Hanging vines, large trees, ferns, and streams provide a rich habitat for plants and animals in this part of the National Park, where we may see monkeys and birdlife and may even spot leopard.

Our camp for tonight is Saddle Hut at 3570 meters, set between Little Meru and Rhino Point on Mt. Meru, which we reach after 4-5 hours of walking. From Saddle Hut, we have the option to climb Little Meru, a 2-hour return trip that takes us to 3821 meters and is very useful for further acclimatizing.

We then have time to get our kit ready for tomorrow's summit attempt and enjoy an early dinner before going to bed to be ready for the climb's early start tonight.

We wake up around 1 am and prepare to leave the hut by 2 am. Walking by the light of our head torches, we head towards Rhino Point and the crater rim. We then follow the crater rim to the 4566-meter summit and enjoy spectacular silhouetted views of Kilimanjaro as the sun rises over the plains of Africa, including the pyramid shadow cast by Mt. Meru behind us.

The flag of Tanzania is fixed at the top of Mt. Meru, also known as Socialist Peak since the country's independence, and there is a summit register kept in a metal box to sign before leaving. The true, dramatic nature of Mt. Meru becomes clear on the way down once the sun has risen. The crater rim is shaped like a horseshoe because the opposite wall collapsed, leaving cliffs of 1500 meters. These are some of the biggest in Africa, and from the top of them on the crater rim we can see the ash cone below, a perfectly formed reminder of past volcanic eruptions that is quite spectacular to see.

We follow the rim back to Rhino Point with views of Little Meru, then return to Saddle Hut for food and to pack before heading down to Miriakamba Hut. On a four-day itinerary, the overnight is spent here at Miriakamba Hut. On the three-day itinerary, we stop at the hut for a short break before continuing to the national park gate.

After collecting our certificates for climbing to the summit, we head back to our hotel for a well-deserved hot shower and rest. This is a long day with a total walking time of 12-14 hours.

After breakfast, we take a few hours to continue down to the national park gate, where our vehicle will be waiting to transport you back to your hotel.