Day 1:
Meriakamba Hut
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Mount Meru
- 4 Days | 3 Nights
Mount Meru in Tanzania is one of Africa’s most beautiful volcanoes, and it is the second highest mountain in Tanzania at 4,5685m, the fifth highest in Africa. The mountain is located within Arusha National Park, Tanzania’s gem. This prime location gives walkers the opportunity to spot some of the birds and wildlife that inhabit the area. The ascend is quite steep, the route to the summit passes over streams, through parkland, montane forest, a giant heather zone and moorland. The summit is reached by a narrow, barren ridge, which provides stunning views of the Ash Cone lying several thousand feet below in the crater.
Starting Point
Arusha
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accomodation
Hotel / Lodges
Trip End
Arusha
Astro Safaris
Based in Tanzania
Looking for Kilimanjaro Trkking?
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Destinations
Day 2:
Saddle Hut
Day 3:
Summit Day
Day 4:
Momella Gate
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha → Momella Gate → Miriakamba Hut
Your adventure begins with a scenic drive from Arusha to Momella Gate, gateway to the wildlife-rich Arusha National Park. After completing registration formalities, you’ll meet your professional mountain crew and set off under the watchful eye of an armed ranger — a safety measure that also happens to make Day 1 one of the most exciting starts to any trek in Africa.
Unlike most mountain treks, this one opens with a genuine safari on foot. As the trail winds through open woodland into cool, whispering montane forest, keep your camera ready: giraffes, zebras, antelope, blue monkeys, and — with a bit of luck — elephants all call these lower slopes home.
Regular breaks along the way let you rehydrate, refuel with snacks, and soak in the scenery, with a packed lunch enjoyed trailside. After 4–6 hours of hiking, you’ll reach Miriakamba Hut, tucked into a peaceful forest clearing — the perfect place to rest, freshen up, and enjoy a hot dinner as the first stars appear.
- Elevation (m): (1,387 m to (1,500 m)
- Distance: Approximately 10 km
- Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
- Habitat: Montane Forest.
- Accommodation: Miriakamba Hut
- Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinne
- Support: Mountain guides, porters, armed ranger escort
Day 2: Miriakamba Hut → Saddle Hut
The forest gives way to giant heather and high-altitude moorland today as you climb steadily toward Saddle Hut. The pace is deliberately unhurried — every step is designed to help your body acclimatize — with plenty of stops for water, snacks, and those first jaw-dropping views back across Arusha National Park and the plains beyond.
By the time you reach Saddle Hut, perched dramatically between Meru’s two summits, you’ll have earned a proper rest. If the weather cooperates, consider the short acclimatization walk up Little Meru — a rewarding bonus summit and one of the finest sunset viewpoints on the mountain. Then it’s back to the hut for dinner and an early night, because summit day starts in the middle of the night.
- Elevation: 2,514 m – 3,570 m (8,248 ft – 11,713 ft)
- Distance: Approximately 8 kmHIKING TIME: 3–5 hours
- Habitat: Moorland and Heather Zone
- Accommodation: Saddle Hut
- Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
- Optional: Acclimatization hike to Little Meru
Day 3: Saddle Hut → Socialist Peak → Miriakamba Hut
Summit Day — Sunrise on the Roof of Meru
This is the day it’s all been building to. Long before dawn, you’ll set off by headlamp along Meru’s narrow, exposed ridgeline, climbing steadily past Rhino Point and Cobra Point toward the summit. The terrain is steep and rocky, but your guides will hold a slow, steady rhythm, with frequent stops to rest, drink, and catch your breath — both literally and figuratively.
Then comes the moment that makes Meru unforgettable: as the sky lightens, the crater walls begin to glow gold, and — on a clear morning — Kilimanjaro appears on the horizon, floating above the clouds. Reaching Socialist Peak at 4,566 m (14,980 ft), the true summit of Mount Meru, is a quiet, powerful triumph. Take your photos, take it all in, and take your time — you’ve earned it.
The descent is long: back to Saddle Hut for a well-deserved lunch and rest, then onward through changing landscapes to Miriakamba Hut for a final night on the mountain. It’s a demanding day, but one of the most rewarding in African trekking.
- Elevation(m): 3,570 m → 4,566 m → 2,514 m (11,713 ft → 14,980 ft → 8,248 ft)
- Distance: Approximately 14 km
- Hiking Time: 10 – 14 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert Moorland and Montane forest
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Miriakamba Hut → Momella Gate → Arusha
One Last Look at the Wild
Your final morning is a gentle, satisfying descent through montane forest and lower woodland back to Momella Gate. As the air warms and the vegetation thickens, the wildlife often reappears — monkeys, antelope, zebra, and giraffe sending you off much as they welcomed you on Day 1.
Regular breaks and a final trailside lunch box make for a relaxed last few hours on the mountain. At Momella Gate, you’ll complete your exit formalities and receive your official summit certificate — a well-earned memento of an extraordinary achievement — before your crew transfers you back to Arusha.
- Elevation(ft): 2,514 m → 1,387 m (8,248 ft → 4,550 ft)
- Distance: 10 km
Hiking time: 3–5 hours - Habitat: Montane Forest and Woodland
- Transfer: Momella Gate → Arusha
Included
Roundtrip airport transfer All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
Porterage
Park fees
All activities (unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
A professional driver/guide
Drinking water on all days
All Taxes/VAT
Camping Equipment
International flights (from/to home)
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips (tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Sleeping Bag
Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.
Rescue Fee
Climbing Gear
Alcohol drinks
Why Astro Safaris?
Unmatched Expertise
Our seasoned guides don’t just take you on safari; they unveil the secrets of the universe above and the wildlife below.
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Every safari is designed to match your interests, ensuring a truly personal and unforgettable journey.
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We take you to exclusive locations where nature and the cosmos meet in breathtaking harmony.
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Travelling in style and on a budget
After 10 years specializing in tailor-made holidays, Mountain Trekking has perfected the art of crafting unforgettable journeys.
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