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Trip
information:
Mount Meru:
Mt Meru
is a real gem of a mountain and is often ignored by
trekkers who only seem intent on climbing Kili. Meru is
the second highest mountain in Tanzania at 4,565 m.
There are great views down to the subsidiary cinder cone
on the crater floor and of course across to Kilimanjaro
for the next climb. Combining trekking to the summits of
the Africa's continent's highest and fifth highest
peaks. Starting with the beautiful ascent of Mt. Meru -
an exceptional crater rim roller - coaster warm up and
acclimatization trek for the big one - Mount Kilimanjaro
on Marangu route
Kilimanjaro Marangu
Route
The Marangu Route is the easiest and
shortest route to Kilimanjaro’s summit and is known as
the “Coca Cola” or “tourist” route. This is the only
route on Kilimanjaro with the comforts of solar-powered
sleeping huts and comfortable beds at every camp. The
huts are communal, and each bunk has a sponge mattress
and pillow. There are 60 beds at both Mandara and Kibo
Huts and 120 beds at Horombo Hut. Bathrooms and running
water are available at the two lower huts. Basic men’s
and ladies’ latrines are available at the last camp.
All climbing groups, often from several
countries around the world, share meals in dining huts
providing a jovial and energetic atmosphere. Soft
drinks, bottled water, and beer may be for sale at the
huts. Bring small Tanzanian bills to purchase these
items (prices increase with elevation). This route is
usually done in 5 days, but you can do it in 6 days for
better acclimatization. You can spend your extra day
resting at Horombo or climbing to a basecamp below
Kibo’s sub peak Mawenzi.
Important:
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:
Duration: 3, 4, or 5 days
trekking from Arusha
Length: 46 km/29 mi round trip
Elevation: 3,065 m/10,056 ft Momella Gate (1,500
m/4,921 ft) to Mount Meru (4,565 m/14,977 ft) and return
Day 1: 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 2: 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 3: 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 4: 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 5: 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
Day 6: Rest Day
spend a
relaxing day by the pool or have a stroll around. A walk
to this small town with view of the mountain is as good
as it reveals. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Duration: 5 days trekking; 3 and a half days
ascending, 1 and a half days descending
Length: 32
km/20 mi ascent; 64 km/40 mi round trip
Elevation:
4,065 m/13,340 ft gain; 4,065 m/13,340 ft descent
Marangu Gate (1,830 m/6,000 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895
m/19,340 ft) and return
Marangu Itinerary:
Day 1: Arusha/Moshi to Marangu Gate to
Mandara Huts
Elevation: (915 m/3,000 ft) to
(1,830 m/6,000 ft) to (2,740 m/9,000 ft)
Distance: 7
km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Montane
Forest
After breakfast and a briefing from your
guide, leave Moshi at 9 AM, drive for 45 minutes (or if
driving from Arusha leave the town at 7 AM, drive for
one and half hours) to the Marangu Gate on the eastern
side of Kilimanjaro, register with the national park,
and begin hiking at 10:30 AM. In the rainforest, look
for towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, and Colubus
monkeys. At these lower elevations, it can be wet and
muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts
and t-shirts should be sufficient, but keep your rain
gear and warmer clothing handy. Stop halfway for lunch,
and reach the Mandara Huts at 2 or 3 PM. Unpack, rest,
and have some tea or coffee. A 15 minute side trip to
Maundi Crater is a good way to see the surroundings
including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. Dinner is served
during the early evening at 7 PM. Bathrooms with running
water are available.
Day 2: Mandara Huts to
Horombo Huts
Elevation: (2,740 m/9,000 ft) to
(3,690 m/12,100 ft)
Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time:
6-8 hours
habitat: Heathland
Wake to a 7:30
AM breakfast, and pack for your next trek. Break camp by
8:30 AM, hike for an hour through rainforest glades,
then follow an ascending path through heathland where
you can look for giant lobelias and groundsels. Continue
up into open moorlands where small shrubs are the main
vegetation. Stop halfway for lunch, where you can enjoy
amazing views of Mawenzi. Arrive at the Horombo Huts by
3 PM, where you can see Kibo’s summit. Rest, unpack, and
prepare for dinner. Bathrooms with running water are
available.
You may start to feel the effects of
altitude here, and to aid your acclimatization, you can
choose to spend an extra day resting at Horombo or
climbing to a basecamp below Kibo’s sub peak Mawenzi.
Day 3: Horombo Huts to Kibo Huts
Elevation: (3,690 m/12,100 ft) to (4,695
m/15,400 ft)
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 6-8
hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Wake to
breakfast as usual, but if you wake early you can get
some great photos of the sunrise. The first part of the
day’s hike climbs through the dwindling heathland that
blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle
connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. When you stop for lunch,
and later when you cross this surprisingly large saddle,
you can examine the summit climb up Kibo that you will
be starting in just a few hours. Be careful to notice
any signs of altitude sickness. There is no running
water at the Kibo Huts.
Day 4: Summit Day!
"Kibo Huts to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Huts
Elevation: (4,695 m/15,400 ft) to (5,895 m/19,340
ft) to (3,690 m/12,100 ft)
Distance: 4 km up, 14 km
down
Hiking Time: 10-15 hours
Habitat: Alpine
Desert
Wake at midnight to a light breakfast,
then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to
climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak
shortly after sunrise. Leave at 1 AM, switchback up
steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Gilman’s Point
on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 5 and 7
AM. Here, views of the fabled crater and its icecaps
greet you. Another 2 hours of hiking along the crater
rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro’s
true summit, Uhuru Peak, by 9 AM. This is Africa’s
highest point, and you would have to travel more than
3,000 miles toward the Himalayas to find a higher
peak! Be sure to have your picture taken at the
summit to show your friends. After your summit stay,
descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, collect
your things, and re cross the saddle to the Horombo
Huts. Eat dinner and get some well-deserved sleep!
You do the beginning of this climb in the dark
with headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold
until you start descending, so you will need all of your
warm layers. This is, by far, the most difficult part of
the trek. Slowly slowly, or, “pole pole,” and an
optimistic attitude will get you there!
Day
5: Horombo Huts to Marangu Gate to Moshi/Arusha
Elevation: (3,690 m/12,100 ft) to (1,830 m/6,000 ft)
to (890 m/2,920 ft)
Distance: 18 km
Hiking Time:
5-7 hours
Wake as usual, pack, and descend
through the moorland to the Mandara Huts. Have lunch
there then continue your triumphant recessional down
through lush forest to the park gate, which you should
reach around 2 or 3 PM. Remember to tip your guides,
cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here.
A vehicle will take you back to the Hotel in
Moshi/Arusha, where it is definitely time for
celebration!
Arusha/Moshi:
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 for Acclimatization:
You
can add an extra day at the Horombo Huts (3,690 m/12,100
ft). You can spend a full day and a second night at
Horombo. On this day, you can either rest at the huts or
take a stroll up to the Mawenzi basecamp then return to
the Horombo Huts. This extra day will help your
acclimatization, and further your
understanding of
the mountain’s weather and altitude. After your pause,
you will continue up to the Kibo Huts on your fourth day
for your midnight start to the summit.
Price:
US $2,023per person sharing (minimum 2pax)
Extra days on the Mountain: US $195 per person
per day
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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