Hiking & Trekking Adventure Africa | Firecloud Adventure Travel Africa

Country:	Tanzania
Type of trek:	Arusha
Type of trek:	Hiking
Duration:	4 nights / 5 days OR 5 nights / 6 days
Difficulty*:	Moderate
Technicality:	No technical climbing skills required
Accomm:	Huts and camping
Best time:	July to October or December to February
Min group size:	Four people

*Difficulty: Easy A moderate walking fitness required. Distances are shorter and gradients moderate. Moderate A good walking fitness is required. Distances covered are between 10 and 20km’s per day and gradients are moderate Moderate to demanding A good level of endurance and fitness is required. Distances are moderate but the gradients steeper. Demanding A high level of fitness is required. Distances can vary but gradients are steep and may include technical sections. Extreme Only for the super fit and experienced mountaineers. Distances and gradients vary but trails involve technical skill and conditions are unpredictable.

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Mount Meru

Description

Towering over the small town of Arusha, Mt Meru at 4566m is Tanzania's second highest peak and is often overlooked because of it's proximity to Mt Kilimanjaro. Yet this not quite extinct volcanic cone offers a shorter scenic trekking option that is well worth the climb. It is a moderate climb with basic huts and camping grounds as accommodation facilities. One section of the caldera is broken away at 2500m resulting in a horseshoe shaped cone at the top of the mountain giving way to magnificent sheer cliffs. On the lower sections you'll often see buffalo and other antelope grazing in the grasslands before climbing up through the indigenous forests. As the daily trekking distances are shorter there are several side trips offering stunning views, which can be explored from the campsites by the more energetic.

Highlights

Opportunity to see wildlife on the lower slopes
Spectacular view of Kilimanjaro from the trail
Several short side trips to be explored along the route
Beautiful scenery and unique fauna & flora
Summiting Tanzania’s second highest peak

Sample Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive at Mountain Inn in time for an early evening pre-climb briefing on the trek. After dinner make final preparations for the trek and enjoy a comfortable night’s rest.

Day 2
Drive to the Momella gate in Arusha National Park from where you start hiking. The first section of the climb takes you through grasslands and further up through lush indigenous forest, crossing the Ngare Nanyuki river to reach Miriakamba Hut at 2541m where you’ll stay overnight. Duration of hike is approximately 4 to 5 hours.

Day 3
Today you continue to ascend steeply through the forest and giant heather to reach Saddle Hut at 3570m. Walking time is 2 to 3 hours. From here it is possible to take a side trek to reach the summit of Little Meru which lies at 3794m. The return trip takes about 2 hours. Overnight at Saddle Hut

Day 4
An early pre-dawn start takes you via Rhino Point and then on to the summit at 4566m to see the sun rise behind Mount Kilimanjaro. After viewing this spectacular vista descend back down to Momella Gate to be met and transferred back to Mountain Inn for dinner and overnight stay. (If you’d prefer to take the last day at a more relaxed pace, it is possible to extend the trek by a day and return to Saddle hut to overnight before returning to Momella gate.)

Day 5
After breakfast at Mountain Inn the tour ends.