 Price: |
USD $688 /person |
| Customise: |
This package can be customised |
| Country:
|
Tanzania |
| Duration: |
4 days |
| Persons: |
min (2) |
|
Accommodation: |
Camping |
Duration: 3, 4, or 5 days trekking from Arusha
Length: 46 km/29 mi round trip
Elevation: 3,065 m/10,056 ft gai Momella Gate (1,500
m/4,921 ft) to Mount Meru (4,565 m/14,977 ft) and
return
Description:
At 4,565 m/14,977 ft, Mount Meru is the second
highestmountain in Tanzania and the fifth highest in
Africa. Meru is the only great isolated
stratovolcano in East Africa that is still active. A
massive eruption 7,800 years ago shattered Meru’s
upper slopes and formed an oblong 8 km/5 mi wide
caldera that is open to the east. The main summit is
on the caldera’s western edge, perched above a
dramatic and still active Ash Cone inside the
caldera. Meru is just below the permanent snowline,
so there are no glaciers orsnowfields on its slopes.
It is best to allow 4 days for climbing Meru, since
it involves a large elevation gain, but you can do
the trek in 3 or 5 days. There are huts available to
climbers on the mountain and firewood is supplied.
Your ascent involves hiking through grassland and
forest on the mountain’s lower slopes where you can
see animals grazing. Higher, you hike and scramble
along the breathtaking crater rim to the summit.
Aside from being a rewarding and picturesque trek in
its own right, Meru is also great acclimatization
for a Kilimanjaro climb. You need advance permission
from the park warden at Momella Gate before you
start your ascent. The best time to climb Meru is
between October and February. But also June to
September, while it is colder then.
We recommend you to bring gears like; smaller
personal backpack, thick hiking socks,
windproof/waterproof pants and jacket, heavy gloves,
heavy winter jacket, water bottles, gaiters (covers
top of boots and bottom of pants), hiking boots,
larger backpack for clothes, cold weather sleeping
bags, safari style hat protecting face and neck from
sun, headlamp style flashlight, camera of course,
dried fruit and energy bars, sun block, malaria
pills, water purification tablets, inflatable
pillows, your regular clothes.
Note:
We do not place groups together. This way you are
ensured the full attention of our guide, but with
the added knowledge of our guides’ experiences. It
also means that we can start the climb on the day
you prefer
Mount Meru Itinerary:
Arrival Day:
Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport. You
will be met at the Airport and transferred to the
hotel in Arusha for your overnight and briefing by
our mountain guide
Day 1: Arusha to Momalla Gate
Elevation(m): (1,387 m to (1,500 m)
Elevation(ft): 4,921 ft) to 3,000 ft )
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest.
Transfer from Arusha town to Arusha National Park,
check in with park personnel, and in the late
morning, walk under the Momella Gate to begin your
trek. You soon pass some open grassland where you
can view buffalo, warthogs, and elephants. Then, you
continue a steady climb through montane forest. You
can pause for your lunch at the famous Fig Tree.
After lunch you, continue through less dense forest,
where you can see birds and monkeys, including the
black and white Colobus. By mid afternoon, you have
closer views of Meru’s towering cliffs and Ash Cone.
The Miriakamba Huts are situated in anidyllic grassy
glade, and you will reach it in time to enjoy the
afternoon sun and beautiful views over the
surrounding plains between Meru and Kilimanjaro. If
you are lucky, a giraffe may walk through camp.
Day 2: Miriakamba Huts to Saddle Huts
Elevation(m): 2,514 m to 3,570 m
Elevation(ft): 8,250 ft to 11,712 ft
Distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 3-5 hours
Habitat: Forest and Moorland.
It is often clear in the morning, so if you want a
view of Kilimanjaro, get up early. From the
Miriakamba Huts, you climb steeply to the crater
rim, which is called Elephant Ridge at this point.
Then, you follow a steep path through attractive
open lush Montane Forest to reach the giant heather
in the Moorland near the saddle between Little Meru
and Meru. A hot lunch will be ready for you when you
arrive at the Saddle Huts. Your afternoon is free to
rest and enjoy the views, but energetic trekkers can
make the short climb to the nearby summit of Little
Meru (3,820 m/12,533 ft) or superb views just before
sunset.
Day 3: Summit Day! Saddle Huts to Mount Meru
Summit to Miriakamba Huts
Elevation(m): 3,570 m to 4,565m to 2,514m
Elevation(ft): 14,977ft to 11,712 ft to 8,250ft
Distance: 5 km up 13 km down
Hiking Time: 10 - 12 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert Moorland and Montane forest.
Start early at 2 AM and climb steeply for an hour to
Phino Point (3,800m/ 12,467ft). In icy conditions or
in strong winds it may be unreasonable to progress
beyond Rhino Point but sunrise from hereis equally
as spectacular as from Cobra Point. If the weather
is fine, descend slightly and continue along or near
a rough undulating ridge of ash and rock to reach
Cobra Point (4,350 m/14,271 ft) near sunrise. The
stunning views include the cliffs of the crater rim,
the Ash Cone rising from the crater floor,
Kilimanjaro floating on the morning clouds, and the
Rift Valley. Hike for another hour on a superb but
often steep path into the unfolding day to reach the
summit of Meru. The view rom the top of this
steep-sided peak can make you feel quite unique and
suspended. Your hike back to Rhino Point in the
still sharp morning light between the crater’s
sloping outer wall and sheer cliffs of the inner
wall is one of the most dramatic and exhilarating
walks in Africa. Enjoy brunch and a well-earned rest
at the Saddle Huts before continuing your descent to
the Miriakamba Huts where you will spend the night
if you are on the 4-day itinerary. If you are on a
3-day itinerary, you will descend all the way to
Momella Gate on Day 3.
Day 4: Miriakamba Huts to Momella Gate to Arusha
Elevation(m): 2,514 m to 1,500 m to 1,387 m
Elevation(ft): 4,921 ft to 8,250 ft to 4,921ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking time: 2-4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Taking a slightly different route, make a fast
descent through open grassland and mixed forest,
with good chances of seeing wildlife. This trail has
excellent views back toward the crater and over the
plains of the national park. You will reach Momella
Gate by late morning. Remember to tip your guides
and porters, since you will be leaving them here. A
vehicle will take you back to the Hotel in arusha
where it is definitely time for celebration
Arusha:
Depart for the airport or other destinations in
Tanzania or Kenya. A trip to the beaches at Zanzibar
is a good way to recuperate. We can arrange many
reasonably priced trips and safaris to the Tanzania
Nothern Parks such as trips to Serengeti National
Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park,
Tarangire National Park and to Arusha National Park.
Also we can arrange trips to Southern Circuit such
as trips to Selous game reserve, Mikumi National
Park and Ruaha National Park.
Extra Day
You can make this a 5-day trek by only descending to
the Saddle Huts on Day 3, descending to the
Miriakamba Huts on Day 4, and descending to the
Momella Gate on day 5. This itinerary makes the long
descent much easier and gives you more time to enjoy
the mountain.
Price:
US $688 per person sharing (minimum 2pax) - 4
days climb
Extra days on the Mountain: US $172 per person
per day
* Discounts available for groups of 4 persons and
above
Price Above Includes:
- Transport to and from mountain gates.
- All parks entry fees.
- All camping fees.
- Rescue fees.
- Guide and porters fees.
- Guide and porters salaries.
- All accommodations on the mountain based on three
meals a day.
- Cook and all kitchen utensils.
Price Above Excludes:
- International and domestic flights (we can arrange
on request)
- Accommodation on the first night upon your arrival
before climb and on the last day after climb (book
with us)
- Airport transfers (book with us)
- Tips, drinks and all items of personal nature
- Hard and soft drinks and tips
- Sleeping bags but we can provide for hire on
request
- All Mountain Gears (we can arrange hire of this)
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