OUR TREKKING TOURS:
Standing at 4,566 metres (14,980 ft), Mount Meru is Tanzania’s second highest peak and one of the most rewarding treks in East Africa. It rises within Arusha National Park, its jagged profile visible from the town below, and its history written in the landscape around it. Like its neighbours, Meru was born from the volcanic forces that shaped the Great Rift Valley. At some point in the distant past a catastrophic eruption tore away its eastern flank and the upper cone entirely, leaving behind the dramatic horseshoe caldera that defines the mountain today. A more recent eruption built the Ash Cone inside that caldera, and small eruptions recorded within the last century confirm that Meru is not finished yet.
The route to the summit follows the Momela Route, climbing through a complete range of vegetation zones: open grassland, dense forest rich with buffalo, giraffe and zebra on the lower slopes, giving way to barren moorland and finally the rocky summit ridge. The final approach along the narrow crater rim, with the caldera dropping away on one side and Kilimanjaro filling the horizon on the other, is one of the most spectacular walks in Tanzania. The summit view at sunrise, with Kilimanjaro emerging from the darkness behind you, is something very few people ever forget.
Do not underestimate Meru on account of its height. The route is continuously steep and the acclimatisation profile less forgiving than Kilimanjaro, which leads many experienced trekkers to consider it the harder climb of the two. Proper preparation matters here. The trek can be completed in three days by fit and well-acclimatised climbers combining the final days, or at a more comfortable pace over four. An armed ranger accompanies all groups throughout the trek for wildlife safety.
This trek combines beautifully with a game drive through Arusha National Park, or with any of the parks and reserves in the Northern Safari Circuit. Our Trekking Tips, Trekking FAQ and Equipment and Preparation pages cover everything you need before you start. For questions or a quick price quotation, please get in touch.
ITINERARY:
DAY 1: Arusha – Momela Gate – Miriakamba Hut (10km, 4-5 hour walk, 1000m/3281ft ascent)
After breakfast, the transfer takes you from Arusha to Momela Gate inside Arusha National Park, where the trek begins. The trail crosses the Ngarenanyuki River and moves into the forest, passing the Fig Tree Arch, Itikoni Clearing and the Maio Falls before reaching Miriakamba Hut. The lower slopes are alive with wildlife, and encounters with buffalo, giraffe and colobus monkey are common on this first day. Dinner and overnight at the hut. Overnight: Miriakamba Hut
DAY 2: Miriakamba Hut– Saddle Hut (4km, 2-3 hour walk, 1070m/3518ft ascent)
A shorter day in distance but a significant climb, arriving at Saddle Hut with the afternoon open for one of three options depending on energy and preference.
The first is a two to three hour trek to the summit of Little Meru (3,820m / 12,533ft), where the views take in the Meru Summit, the Ash Cone inside the caldera, the full horseshoe shape of the main crater and, on a clear day, the unmistakeable outline of Kilimanjaro rising in the east.
The second is a two hour walk to Rhino Point, which sits directly on the main summit route and offers sweeping views of both Kilimanjaro and Meru’s dramatic crater. It is worth doing even if you will pass it again tomorrow.
The third option is simply to rest at Saddle Hut and conserve energy for the summit push ahead. All are valid choices, and the decision is yours. Overnight: Saddle Hut
DAY 3: Saddle Hut– Meru Summit – Miriakamba Hut (14km, 8-11 hour walk, 1000m/3281ft ascent, 2070m/6791ft descent)
The alarm goes off around two in the morning. The trail passes Rhino Point and follows the narrow ridge of the crater rim toward the summit, a walk that is as exhilarating as any on the mountain and demands full attention in the dark. Reach the top at 4,566 metres (14,980 feet) in time to watch the sun rise from behind Kilimanjaro, a view that has stopped more than a few seasoned trekkers in their tracks. The descent returns on the same route to Miriakamba Hut for dinner and overnight. Overnight: Miriakamba Hut
DAY 3/4: Miriakamba Hut– Momela Gate – Arusha (5km, 3-4 hour walk, 1000m descent)
After breakfast, the trail descends to Momela Gate where the vehicle is waiting for the transfer back to Arusha. If time allows, a complimentary game drive through Arusha National Park rounds off the trek with a final encounter with the mountain’s wildlife, including the black and white colobus monkeys and flamingos on the Momela Lakes.
End of tour!
Back to main Trekking page
