3 Days Mount Meru Climbing

3 Days Mount Meru Climbing and hiking is the best acclimatization prior Kilimanjaro Climbing experience. The mountain is location in Arusha National Park, a Tanzania’s gem.

Standing in Arusha region with the 4566m high, Mount Meru is the fifth highest mountain in African and the second highest in Tanzania after the Kilimanjaro. Climbing Mount Meru you will passes via different habitats starting with the dense mountain forest to scrubland heading to the Moorland forest and finally the alpine desert. With the change in habitat the wildlife also is of different as on the lower pace you will find big wild animals like elephants and buffalos or leopard and this makes the obligation of having an armed park ranger on your hike. Your 3 days climb to the Mount Meru is as follows;

Day 1: Arusha – Momella Gate (1500m) – Miriakamba Hut (2500m)
The day will start in the Morning after your breakfast from your lodging point; you will be picked by the driver together with your Mountain guide whereby you will take a 2hrs drive to Arusha National Park gate for the park formalities and authorization of your permit to climb. The guide will finalize the park formalities and together with the rest of your mountain crew (Porters and chef) you will then drive further to the Momella gate where your adventure begins. On the start of your climb, you will be accompanied by the armed park ranger as there are wild animals on the way where you can have the first glance of the wonderful giraffes and buffalos after leaving these herds you will then enter the acacia forest following the Southern Route. Hiking for 2 hours you will be at the Maio Falls and scenery that is ideal for your picnic. Taking a short rest at the falls you will then hike up to the popular arched fig tree where you will get to know it in details from your park ranger and then you will take 2 hours hike reaching the Miriakamba hut where you will be camping for your overnight stay.

Day 2: Miriakamba Hut (2500m) – Saddle Hut (3550m)
The day will start with a hike leaving the Miriakamba Hut following a steep track with wooden steps upwards and ay you’re at a bit high elevation you will notice a cooler environment than the previous day which makes an easier hike where the clouds also often hang in the rainforest and dip the lush vegetation in a moody atmosphere. For a hike of up to 2hrs you will be at the vantage point of ‘Mgongo wa Tembo’ at elevation of 3200m where you will take a short break. After such break you will then continue the hike up to the saddle hut and you will be at 3550m high where you can have your lunch and that is your camping point. While you are at the saddle hut, in the afternoon you can opt for a side trip to a little Meru of 3820m high which is a hike of 1 to 1.5hrs having stunning views of Arusha National Park and of the Kilimanjaro Mountain. You will the head back to your camp for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Summit Day back to Arusha (Saddle to Socialist peak, the descent to Miriakamba then to Momella gate)
This is your summit day which normally begins in the mid-night at around 02:00hrs where you will take a light food (Usually tea and biscuits) then start the hike through the bush land to the Rhino point of 3821m high, as it is a night hike head-lumps are compulsory for the climbers. Reaching at the rhino point, the Climb turn to a tough one and you will be hiking following the northern ridge alternating between the lava ash and rocks reaching to the summit point. The hike will be of 4 to 5hrs reaching the summit where you will enjoy the sun rise above Kilimanjaro and the fantastic view of Mount Meru’s crater with its steep sides and the “Ash Cone” in the middle. After this joyful and stunning view with some photos for the memories you will then descend down to Saddle Hut taking a very short break and recuperate with hot soup and tea then continue the descend to Miriakamba Hut then to Momella gate through the Northern route and still expects to see the elephants, buffalos, giraffes, the black and white colobus monkeys. Here you will meet the driver ready to pick you and drive back to Arusha town.

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