visit Mt. Meru
Immerse yourself in Tanzania's breathtaking landscapes and vibrant wildlife. Let our expert guides show you the hidden gems of this incredible destination.
4 days safari
Here’s what to expect:
- Scenic Diversity: Your journey begins through lush rainforests teeming with colobus monkeys and colorful birds, transitioning into heathland and then alpine desert. Each step up Meru unveils a new ecological zone, painting a vivid picture of Tanzania’s natural diversity.
- Wildlife Encounters: Unlike Kilimanjaro, Meru offers the chance to spot wildlife during your trek. From giraffes and buffaloes in the lower reaches to potential sightings of leopards and elephants, your trek is as much a safari as it is a climb.
- Acclimatization Advantage: Meru’s lower altitude compared to Kilimanjaro makes it an excellent preparatory climb for those planning to tackle Africa’s highest peak later. Its summit, at 4,566 meters (14,980 feet), still provides a significant challenge but with better acclimatization prospects.
- The Crater Rim Walk: Before your final ascent, you’ll have the opportunity to walk along Meru’s crater rim, offering panoramic views of the ash cone and the distant Kilimanjaro. The sunrise from here is a spectacle that etches itself into memory.
- Cultural and Historical Enrichment: Learn about the mountain’s significance to local folklore and its geological history from our knowledgeable guides. Meru is not just a physical challenge but a journey through time and culture.
- Sustainable Trekking: We ensure that your trek contributes positively to conservation efforts within Arusha National Park. This includes adhering to strict environmental guidelines, supporting park initiatives, and engaging in community projects around the park.
- The Summit Push: The final ascent to Socialist Peak, Meru’s summit, is both a test of endurance and a reward of breathtaking views, where you stand atop one of Tanzania’s most scenic mountains, surrounded by the vast expanse of the African Rift Valley.
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Safari Itinerary
Arrival day
After all custom formalities, you will meet Know-Tanzania Tour drivers holding a signboard with your booking names on the list. After cross-checking that you have all your luggage and belongings, the driver will take you with your group to the lodge/hotel. Since you might have a long flight from your home, you don’t have to be worried hotel will provide you with internet access to reach your loved ones back home. In the evening, after you have rested, you meet our managers and the chief guide for briefing and gear testing to ensure you are ready for the hike.
Day 1 Arusha – Momella Gate (1,500 m) – Miriakamba Hut (2,500 m)
After breakfast, you will be taken to the Arusha National Park gate. Thereafter, paperwork for clearance will be done ready to start trekking. Once your guide is done with all the formalities you will be taken to the Momella Gate. From this point, the trekking will start accompanied by an armed park ranger. It is normal to spot buffaloes and giraffes as you walk through open grassland. Once you are done with open grass you will enter the acacia forest. The first stop will be at Maio Falls after approximately 2 hours where you will enjoy your picnic and rest before you continue to the well-known fig tree arch which will finally take you to the home of today at the Miriakamba Hut. You will finally enjoy your lunch as well dinner and enjoy your night at Miriakamba Hut
Day 2 Miriakamba Hut (2,500 m) – Saddle Hut (3,550 m)
After breakfast, the trekking will continue through the wooden steps along a steep track. Today it will be a bit cooler than the previous day due to the high altitude. The weather is quite good since the clouds often hang low in the rainforest making walking easier through the lush vegetation. You will reach the viewpoint famously known as “Mgongo wa Tembo” (elephant back) at a height of 3,200 m after climbing for almost two hours. Here, you will have a well-deserved rest. Around midday, you will have arrived at addle Hut where you will spend the night. However, since you have all the afternoon you can opt to spend 1-2 hours trekking to Little Meru with an altitude of 3,820 m. moreover, from this point you will enjoy wonderful views of Arusha National Park and Mt Kilimanjaro which is about 80 km away. You will then go back to Saddle Hut where you will enjoy meal before you retire to bed early since you will have to wake up just after midnight for the summit.
Day 3 Saddle Hut (3,550 m) – Socialist Peak (4,562 m) – Miriakamba Hut (2,500 m)
Your final trek to the summit will start around 2 am. Your trail will be through bushland to Rhino Point (3,821 m) which might be more challenging due to gained altitude. The walk on frozen volcanic ash and rocks, following the crater rim, will take you to the summit, Socialist Peak after about 4 to 5 hours. You will be able while at the summit experience, the sun rising above Mt Kilimanjaro and enjoy the whimsical view of Mt Meru’s crater with its steep sides and the ash cone in the middle. The time you spend on the summit is determined by the weather and wind conditions. Soon after capturing this farfetched view and accomplishment, you will start descending along the same route back to Saddle Hut where you will take a break and convalesce with a hot breakfast. Later, you will continue the descent Miriakamba Hut. You will spend the rest of your day here enjoying your meal as your body rejuvinates
Day 4 Miriakamba Hut (2,500 m) – Momella Gate (1,500 m) – Arusha
After breakfast, you will follow the so-called northern route – a 2 to 3 hours trek back to the Momella Gate. On your way back to the gate there is still a chance to see buffaloes, giraffes, elephants, as well as the black and white colobus monkeys. Once you get at the gate you will meet some of the team from our office, ready to join you and the whole of the climb crew for a short celebration. Remember, your victory is our victory, so we will have a delicious lunch together before you tip and say goodbye to the climb crew then relax for your departure.
Departure day
This is the last day whereby you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport after breakfast or decide otherwise to extend your trip in Tanzania and go on safari. However, if you decide to go back home but have some ample time before your flight you will have an opportunity to visit the Maasai market to buy gifts for your family and friends back home.
Budget
The Marangu Route fee depends much on the number of people who will be trekking at a particular time. Marangu has its own uniqueness compared to other routes since you will be sleeping in huts instead of tents. The larger the group, the more the economy of scale. If you are in the group, a leader of the group can reach out for negotiation of the discounted price from the company. The 40% of the total budget will be needed to be paid in advance for at least a month and a half to facilitate various reservations.
The budget covers:
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Arrival accommodation
- All Park fees
- Professional guide(s), porters & cook salaries
- All Meals while on the mountain
- All accommodation while on the mountain
- Mountain gears
- Pair of walking poles
- Sleep bags
- Oxygen cylinders and oximeters
- Warm Jackets
- Pair of Gaitors
- Rain Jackets
Not included in the budget:
- International flights
- Tips as per provided tipping guideline
- Visa fee
- Portable toilets
- Dinner while in the hotel (after and before)
- Alcohol
- Rescue Fee