Mount Meru Trek – TMM4
Though often ignored in favour of its big sister Kilimanjaro, a Mount Meru trek is a worthy substitute. This massive volcano towers over 3,000 meters above Arusha town, which lies at the foothills on its south side. The mountain endured a violent explosion in the distant past, and in its wake the explosion left towering cliffs in a gaping U shaped ridge facing east towards Kilimanjaro. The crater stands today in a protected amphitheatre of sorts, thousands of feet below the summit rocks. The craggy top lies at the westernmost point of the summit ridge and juts boldly into the sky at 4566 m (14,979 feet).
From the top, one can look out at Kilimanjaro from the highest perch possible. Perhaps there is no better vantage point to gaze at Africa’s tallest mountain, approximately 80 kilometers to the northeast. The trail to the summit follows the northern rim of the natural amphitheatre which forms Meru Crater. The trail skirts the ridgeline, and above the Saddle (between the summit and Little Meru Peak (12,533 ft / 3,820 mt.)), the route is quite steep, with sections of rock scrambling and sheer drops on one side.
What makes this trek truly special is the chance to see animals on foot. The lower section of the trail runs into the forest on the Meru crater floor, with many large, potentially dangerous game animals about. An armed ranger comes along on this trek for safety, the biggest danger being Cape Buffalo and Elephant. You may see while on this trek many animals, including Cape Buffalo, giraffe, elephant, waterbuck, bushbuck, dik dik, warthog, olive baboon, Abyssinian (black & white) Colobus monkey, sykes monkey, and may find traces of leopard, civet cat, red duiker and mountain duiker. Bird life is amazing, with the Momella Lakes close by, attracting thousands of European and African migrant species in the green season.
The best time to climb Mount Meru is between October and February. Also June to September are normally fine, while it is cooler.
This climb is 3 nights/4 days long. Often, Mt. Meru Climb is done in 2 nights/3 days; however since descending takes about 7 hours, this makes the last day 11 – 12 hours of hiking. If you wish to do the shorter tour, contact us.
Itinerary
Day 1
Transfer from Arusha to Momella gate to begin Climbing of Mt. Meru. Three hours walk gets you to the floor of the Meru Crater. Spend the afternoon exploring the Meru Crater. Overnight is spent at Miriakamba Hut. Momella Gate 1500 m.
Day 2
Climb to Saddle Hut which will take about three hours along the steep Saddle walls to Saddle Hut. After lunch, discover little Meru, 1.5 hours climb. Overnight is spent at Saddle Hut. Little Meru 3820 m.
Day 3
Early morning ascent to the summit of Mt. Meru which will take up to 5 hours. Meru Summit is at 4566 m. Explore the summit and then descend to Miriakamba Hut for overnight, another 2 – 2.5 hours.
Day 4
Ultimately, we descend to Kitoto and proceed to Momella Gate, with transfer to Arusha.
Mount Meru Trek Services:
Safety Equipment
Mobile phone
Comprehensive First Aid Kit
Staff
NOLS Certified Guides
Cooks and porters
Ratio of guides to clients (1 – 3)
Camping Equipment and Gear
4-Season Mountain Tents
Foam Camping Mat
Large Weatherproof mess tents
Wash Basins for Each Climber at Camp
Back Rest Chairs
Mountain Cuisine
Three hearty meals a day + snacks upon arrival in camp.
Other assurances included
Mountain operator’s license
Active member of TATO, the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, and KIATO, the Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators
Comprehensive climb briefing before the trek
Transport to/from the mountain from Arusha
High Altitude Climbing and Altitude Sickness
