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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 Shira route
Kilimanjaro Shira Route
The Shira Plateau west of Kibo is the remains
Kilimanjaro’s first volcano. Mawenzi erupted second, and
finally, supported by its neighbors, Kibo rose to its
great height betShira and Mawenzi. Older and more eroded
than Mawenzi, the Shira Plateau’s ridges and moorland
comprise one of Kilimanjaro’s most scenic areas. The
drive to Shira offers magnificent views of the Great
Rift Valley, Mount Meru, and Longido, and the plateau’s
parasitic cones extend north of the road, rising from
from plain plateau. The vegetation changes along the
route are striking. The plateau is grassland, heath, and
moor, with senecios up to 10 meters high in valleys near
the cone. You can see Elands on the plateau, and you may
see signs of buffaloes, leopards, and other animals. The
Shira Cone rises 200 meters above the plateau, and west
of the cone is Shira Ridge, a steep rough rise reaching
almost 400 meters above the plateau. The southern ridge
of the Shira Plateau has two dramatic peaks called
Cathedral and the Needle. The road to Shira is only
accessible by 4-wheel-drive vehicles and can become
impassable during wet periods. The Shira Route traverses
the plateau to join the Machame Route
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 gai 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 : 6 days trekking from Moshi/Arusha; 4
and a half days ascending, 1 and a half days descending
Length : 98 km/61 mi total; 60 km/37 mi ascent; 38
km/24 mi descent
Elevation(m): 4,065 m to 3,915 m
descentShira Gate 1,830 m to Uhuru Peak 5,895 m and
descent to Mweka Gate 1,980 m
Elevation(ft):13,340
ft to 12,840 ft descentShira Gate 6,000 ft to Uhuru Peak
19,34ft and descent to Mweka Gate 6,500 ft
Shira Itinerary:
Arusha/Moshi
Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport.
You will be met at the Airport and transferred to the
hotel in Arusha/Moshi for your overnight and briefing by
our mountain guide
Day 1: Moshi /Arusha to
Shira Gate to Shira Camp 2
Elevation(m): 915 m
to 1387m to 1,830 m to 1,830 m
Elevation(ft): 3,000
ft to 6,000 ft to 6,000 ft
Distance: 18 km,
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Montane forest.
After breakfast and a briefing from your guide,
leave Moshi/Arusha and drive for several hours to the
Shira Gate on the western side of Kilimanjaro, register
with the national park. Begin hiking, and enter the
rainforest immediately. Your walk through the rainforest
is on a winding muddy trail up a ridge. At these lower
elevations, it can be wet and muddy, so gaiters and
trekking poles will help. Stop halfway for lunch, and
reach the Shira Camp in the afternoon. Unpack, rest, and
have some tea or coffee. Dinner is served during the
early evening at 7 PM.
Day 2: Shira Camp 2to
Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Elevation(m): 3840m
to 4,630 m to 3,950 m
Elevation(ft): 12,600 ft to
15,190 ft to 12,960 ft
Distance: 15 km,
Hiking
Time: 7 hours
Habitat: Semi-Desert
After
breakfast, you will hike east up a steepening path above
the highest vegetation toward Kilimanjaro’s looming
mass. After several hours, you walk through a rocky
landscape to reach the prominent landmark called Lava
Tower at 4,630 m/15,190 ft. This chunky remnant of
Kilimanjaro’s earlier volcanic activity is several
hundred feet high, and the trail passes right below it.
For extra credit, the sure-footed can scramble to the
top of the tower. After a lunch stop near Lava Tower,
descend for 2 hours below the lower aliffs of the
Western Breach and Breach Wall to Barranco Camp at 3,950
m/12,960 ft. There are numerous photo opportunities on
hike, especially if the walls are festooned with ice.
Barranco Camp is in a valley below the Breach and Great
Barranco Walls, which should provide you with a
memorable sunset while you wait for dinner. On this day,
be careful to notice any signs of altitude sickness
Day 3: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation(m): 3,900 m to 4,200 m
Elevation(ft): 12,800 ft to 13,780 ft
Distance:
7 km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we continue up a steep ridge to
the great Barranco Wall, then you climb this imposing
obstacle, which turns out to be easier than it looks.
Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you can now
appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is.
With Kibo’s glaciers soaring overhead, you descend into
the lush Karanga Valley to the Karanga Valley campsite.
From the camp, you can look east and see the jagged
peaks of Mawenzi jutting into the African sky. After a
hot lunch in camp, your afternoon is at leisure for
resting or exploring. After two long days, this short
day is very important for your acclimatization, since
your summit push is about to start.
Day 4:
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation(m): 4,200
m to 4,550 m
Elevation(ft): 13,780 ft to 14,930 ft
Distance: 13 km,
Hiking Time: 8 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
In the morning, you
hike east over intervening ridges and valleys to join
the Mweka Route, which will be your descent route. Turn
left toward the mountain and hike up the ridge through a
sparse landscape for another hour to the Barafu Hut
where you will receive a hot lunch. The last water on
the route is in the Karanga Valley; there is no water at
Barafu Camp, even though Barafu is the Swahili word for
“ice.” The famous snows of Kilimanjaro are far above
Barafu Camp near the summit of the mountain. Your tent
will be pitched on a narrow, stony, wind-swept ridge, so
make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain
before dark to avoid any accidents. Prepare your
equipment and warm clothing for your summit climb, and
drink a lot of fluids. After an early dinner, go to bed
for a few hours of precious sleep.
Day 5:
Summit Day! Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Elevation(m): 4,550 m to 5,895 m to 3,100 m
Elevation(ft): 14,930 ft to 19,340 ft to 10,170 ft
Distance: 7 km up, 23 km down
Hiking Time : 8
hours up, 7-8 hours down
Habitat: Scree and seasonal
snow
You will rise around 11:30 PM, and after
some steaming tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the
night. Your 6-hour climb northwest up through heavy
scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella
Point on the crater rim is the most challenging part of
the route for most climbers. At Stella Point (5,685
m/18,650 ft) you stop for a short rest and a chance to
see a supremely sanguine sunrise. At Stella Point you
join the top part of the Marangu Route, but do not stop
here too long, as it will be extremely difficult to
start again due to cold and fatigue. Depending on the
season and recent storms, you may encounter snow on your
remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak. On the
summit, you can enjoy your accomplishment and know that
you are creating a day that you will remember for the
rest of your life. After your 3-hour descent from the
summit back to Barafu Camp, you will have a well-earned
but short rest, collect your gear, and hike down a rock
and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the
forest to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft). This camp is
in the upper forest, so you can expect mist or rain in
the late afternoon. Dinner, and washing water will be
prepared, and the camp office sells drinking water, soft
drinks, chocolates, and beer!
Day 6: Mweka
Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi/Arusha
Elevation(m)
:3,100 m to 1,980 m to 890 m/1378m
Elevation(ft)
:10,170 ft to 6,500 ft to 2,920 ft/4921ft
Distance:
15 km
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Habitat: Forest
After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short,
scenic, 3 - hour hike back to the park gate. Don’t give
your porters any tips until you and all your gear have
reached the gate safely, but do remember to tip your
staff at the gate. At Mweka Gate, you can sign your name
and add details in a register. This is also where
successful climbers receive their summit certificates.
Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green
certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive
gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate, you will
continue down to the Mweka Village, possibly a muddy, 3
km, 1 hour hike if the road is too muddy for vehicles.
In the Mweka Village you will be served a delicious hot
lunch after which you are driven back to Moshi/Arusha
for an overdue hot shower and comfortable night in a
nice hotel.
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 to your trek by staying at Barranco
Camp for two nights. Then, you will hike to the Karanga
Valley Camp on Day 5, the Barafu Camp on Day 6, summit
on Day 7, and finish your descent on Day 8. Adding this
day will ease your effort, and amplify your
acclimatization.
Price:
US $2,211 per
person sharing (minimum 2pax) - 6 days climb
Extra days on the Mountain: US $216 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)
Book with us today and get 10% discount |
