Itinerary Highlights
- Duration in days: 4
- Itinerary Category: Mount Meru Trekking, Northern circuit
- Destinations: Mt Meru via Momella
- Major Attractions: Meru Mountain, Second free standing mountain in Tanzania
- Budget level: Standard
- Guiding Language: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian
- Start point: Arusha
- End point: Arusha
- Essential items: DigitalCamera with enough memory space and extra batteries, binoculars, light clothes, safari boot, mosquito repellents, sunhat, sunglasses with ultra violet radiation filtering etc
- Additional information: Porters will escort and guide you all your climbing along the mountain
Itinerary Description by Day
Day 1: Safari to Mount Meru trough Montane Forest and Grassland
Perform Registration formalities at Momella gate. We start from Momella Gate (1,500 m) in late morning. The track soon passes some open grassland, with a good chance of seeing buffaloes and warthogs. Then we continues as a steady climb through Montane forest. We take lunch at, or near, the Fig Tree Arch, which is big enough to drive a car through. After lunch, the route continues through less dense forest, where there are an abundance of birds and black and white colobus monkeys. By mid-afternoon, there are the first closer views of the towering cliffs and the Ash Cone. We reach Miriakamba Hut (2,514 m), situated in an idyllic grassy glade, in time to enjoy the last of the afternoon sun and beautiful views over the surrounding plains towards Kilimanjaro. [5-6 hours walking]. Have a camping overnight stay here and dinner included.
Day 2: Safari to Mount Meru through Saddle Hut
The walk from Miriakamba Hut to the saddle below Little Meru is a short day but a steep and sustained climb all the way. We walk through attractive, open, and lush montane forest to reach the halfway point of Elephant Ridge. This has excellent views of the summit ridge and across most of the crater floor. Whilst resting, you might spot elephants or other animals from here. The path continues uphill through giant heather and other moorland vegetation to reach Saddle Hut (3,570 m). At Saddle Hut is where lunch is waiting for us. At the afternoon you are free to rest and enjoy the views. The more energetic can make the short climb to the nearby summit of Little Meru (3,820 m) for superb views just before sunset. [3-6 hours walking]
Day 3: Safari to Mount Meru through Clifs of the Crater Rim
An early start at around 2 a.m. to climb steeply to Rhino Point (3,800 m).Then we will continue along an undulating ridge of ash and rock to reach Cobra Point (4,350 m) around sunrise. The views are stunning: the cliffs of the Crater rim, the Ash Cone rising from the Crater floor, Kilimanjaro floating on the morning clouds, and west towards the Rift Valley if the weather is clear. The summit of Socialist Peak (4,566 m) is an hour more on a superb but often steep path. We rest, and have brunch at Saddle Hut before continuing the descent to Miriakamba Hut (2,514 m). [10-12 hours walking]
Note: The ridge between the summit and Rhino Point is not suitable for those suffering from vertigo. In icy conditions or in strong winds, it may be impossible for anyone to progress beyond Rhino Point.
Day 4: Safari to Mount Meru Retrace through Forest
We take the direct route down towards Momella through open grassland and mixed forest, with good chances of seeing wildlife. This trail has excellent views back towards the crater and over the plains of the National Park. We should reach Momella Gate by late morning. [2-3 hours walking]
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