4-Day Mount Meru Trek
Arusha Momella Gate Miriakamba Hut Saddle Hut Little Meru Socialist Peak
From, per person$940
Mount Meru trek
3-Day Mount Meru Trek
Overview
Short on time but keen to stand on a real summit? Three days is the quickest standard way up Mount Meru, the 4,566 m (14,980 ft) volcano in Arusha National Park, and it suits strong walkers who are happy to trade a slower pace for a big final day.
The plan is simple. Day one takes you from Momella Gate through grassland and forest to Miriakamba Hut. Day two is a short, steep climb to Saddle Hut, with the option of an afternoon walk up Little Meru. On day three you leave in the dark, reach the summit around sunrise with Kilimanjaro on the skyline, then walk all the way back down to the gate. It is a long, demanding day, often ten hours or more on your feet.
On the lower slopes you walk with an armed park ranger, because buffalo, giraffe and other animals share the trail. Tanzania Tourism Safaris includes airport transfers and a hotel night in Arusha before the climb and after it. If you would prefer a gentler pace, the 4-day Meru trek adds a night on the way down.
Tour highlights
- Mount Meru’s summit in just three days
- Walking past buffalo and giraffe on day one
- Optional side trip up Little Meru
- Sunrise behind Kilimanjaro from the top
- Hotel nights in Arusha included
Day by day
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Day 1 Arusha to Momella Gate and Up to Miriakamba Stay Dormitory-style mountain hut at MiriakambaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a night in Arusha, it is roughly an hour’s drive to Momella Gate. Once the permits are done, you meet the crew and your ranger and start walking. The first section crosses open country where wildlife is often in view, then fords the Ngare Nanyuki River and enters the forest. Expect around four to five hours of walking, with a climb of about 1,000 m, before you reach Miriakamba Hut for dinner and the night.
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Day 2 Forest Glades and Giant Heather to Saddle Hut Stay Dormitory-style mountain hut at Saddle HutMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A short but steep morning: two to three hours through forest glades and stands of giant heather bring you to Saddle Hut, at about 3,570 m (11,700 ft), in time for lunch. If you feel good, your guide can take you up Little Meru in the afternoon, a round trip of about two hours with fine views of the main peak and the plains below. Otherwise, rest. Eat early and sleep as soon as you can, because the wake-up comes very early.
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Day 3 Summit at Dawn and the Long Walk Down Stay Upscale hotel in ArushaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
You set off by headlamp for Rhino Point, then follow the rim of the crater to Socialist Peak, aiming to watch the sun rise behind Kilimanjaro. The climb takes about four to five hours. After photos you return to Saddle Hut for food and to pack, then keep going down past Miriakamba to Momella Gate, another six to eight hours of descent. Your driver meets you at the gate for the hour’s drive back to Arusha and a well-earned night at your hotel.
Prices by season
Per person in US dollars. The price depends on when you travel and how many travelers share the trip.
| Season | 1 traveler | 2 travelers | 4 travelers | 6 travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low season 1 Mar – 31 May | $1,418 | $1,068 | $878 | $768 |
| High season 1 Nov – 20 Dec and 6 Jan – 29 Feb | $1,498 | $1,125 | $925 | $808 |
| Peak season Now 1 Jun – 31 Oct and 21 Dec – 5 Jan | $1,675 | $1,250 | $1,028 | $898 |
Tour price includes
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- A hotel night in Arusha before and after the trek
- Transfers between Arusha and Momella Gate
- Arusha National Park, hut and rescue fees
- Professional mountain guide, cook and porters
- Wages and park fees for the crew
- All meals on the mountain and purified drinking water
- Pulse oximeter, first-aid kit and emergency oxygen
Tour price excludes
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Tips for your guide, ranger, cook and porters
- Souvenirs and personal spending
Questions about this trek
Is three days enough to climb Mount Meru?
For fit, experienced walkers, yes. The catch is less time to adjust to altitude and a very long final day. If you have not hiked at altitude before, or you would rather enjoy the descent than rush it, the four-day version is the more comfortable choice.
How long is the final day?
Plan on four to five hours up to the summit and six to eight hours down to Momella Gate, plus rests. That is a big day by any measure, with most of the effort on tired legs. Good boots, trekking poles and plenty of snacks make a real difference.
Will we see wild animals on the trek?
Quite likely, especially on the first day. Buffalo, giraffe and warthog graze the open ground near Momella Gate, and colobus monkeys live in the forest higher up. That is why an armed park ranger walks with every group on the mountain.
What should I pack for Mount Meru?
Bring warm layers, a hat and gloves for the summit, where it is often below freezing before sunrise, plus a rain jacket, a headlamp and a warm sleeping bag for the huts. Broken-in boots and trekking poles help on the steep sections and the long descent.
Before you go
Where you will go
Parks on this safari
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