Details
Overview
Located in Arusha Tanzania, just a few kilometers from Arusha city . This is the fifth highest mountain in Africa. It is a great mountain to climb that offers spectacular scenery, including a glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro. The mountain is unspoiled and less populated as compared to its Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya counterparts. This 4 days mount meru climb will wow you with amazing wildlife, history and the spectacular hiking experience.
We will depart from the hotel in Arusha in the morning. Our expedition begins with a drive to Arusha National Park which takes approximately one hour. The lively vegetation in the park is extremely versatile. The infamous film Hatari starring Hollywood’s Hardy Kruger and John Wayne was shot in the park. Once we have completed the necessary park formalities, our trek will officially commence close to the Ngarenanyuki River.
Our first waypoint is the Miriakamba. You will be accompanied by an armed ranger and a professional mountain guide throughout the duration of the walk. During the walk, you will encounter a vast amount of wildlife including buffalo, waterbucks, giraffes, warthogs, zebras, and gazelles. Your guide will identify the different bird species you come across. There is a possibility that you will see leopards or elephants but they tend to be more reserved compared to the ones in the Serengeti. We will stop at the Miriakamba Hut where we will spend the night and enjoy an appetizing dinner.
We will start the day with an energy-dense breakfast and then we will follow the steep path to the Saddle Hut. The trek to little Meru can be completed once you arrive at the Saddle Hut. We will return to the Saddle hut and have dinner. Due to the fact that you will wake up at midnight to hike to the summit of Mount Meru, it is recommended that you attempt to fall asleep shortly after dinner.
The Mount Meru trekking excursion begins shortly after midnight. For the next five hours, the light of your headlamp will guide you on the path. Ascending to the summit is the most difficult part of the trek. The high altitude makes climbing to the top an arduous task. Once you reach the peak we will give you an opportunity to snap some pictures and recollect yourself. The downward journey is absolutely mesmerizing because there are scenic views of the luscious mountains and vibrant landscapes. We have a leisurely lunch at the Saddle Hut but the journey is not over yet. We will walk for roughly two hours until we reach the Miriakamba Hut, where we will spend the night.
We will enjoy a hearty breakfast at the camp and then we will commence the final part of the trek. The hike requires us to travel amid Meru’s cloud forest – which resembles an enchanted forest in a whimsical novel. The steep incline on the way to the Momela gate tends to be slippery, we urge you to step cautiously. When you arrive at the Momela Gate there will be an opportunity to buy sodas and Mount Meru trekking t-shirts. The Meru slopes Tours and safaris vehicle will transport you back to where you started.
