Mount Meru isn’t just a warm-up for Kilimanjaro—it’s a wild, untamed adventure in its own right. We’ll start where most treks don’t: with a walking safari, strolling past giraffes and buffalo before trading savannah for steep ridges and volcanic craters. The summit push? It’s an all-night scramble under the stars, with Kilimanjaro waiting at sunrise like a scene straight out of a dream. This is high-altitude trekking at its finest—fewer crowds, more wildlife, and the kind of challenge that leaves you breathless in all the best ways.
On the arrival day, you will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town/Arusha town. You will meet your guide who will brief you on the upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear.
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi/Arusha
After an early morning breakfast, we will be picked up from the hotel and brought to the Momella Gate in Arusha National Park. At this time, the porters will organize and pack the belongings for the hike while we register with the Tanzania National Park (TANAPA). We will then begin our ascent in Arusha National Park.
The first day of hiking is similar to a walking safari; expect to see giraffes, zebras, antelope, buffalo, and potentially elephants near the trail. Due to the high possibility of spotting wildlife, an armed ranger, hired through the National Park, is required to hike with us for the duration of the hike. As we continue hiking, we will pass the Ngarenanyuki River and a beautiful waterfall at the base of Mt. Meru. Upon arriving at Miriakamba Hut, our chef will prepare a hot dinner and washing water.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 5-7 hours
Accommodation: Miriakamba Hut
After breakfast, we will start ascending up the steep trail along the ridge of the saddle. We may see various wildlife along the way. The trail has views of Mt. Meru Crater and the Ash Tray. When we arrive at camp, we’ll have the option of hiking Little Mt. Meru (3,820 m / 12,532 ft) with the guide to further acclimate. We will be served an early dinner, so we can get ample rest before our midnight summit attempt. Get to sleep by 7pm.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 3-5 hours
Accommodation: Saddle Hut
The guide will wake us at 12:30am for tea and biscuits. We will then begin our summit attempt at 1:30am. The trail starts off on a steep grade to Rhino Point (3,800 m / 12,467 ft) to Cobra Point (4,350 m / 14,271 ft). For the last hour of the hike, we will scramble on a rocky ridge between the crater and inner cliffs of Meru. We will reach the summit of Meru (4,565 m / 14,977 ft) at sunrise, with spectacular views of Mt. Meru Ash Tray and Mt. Kilimanjaro. We’ll enjoy the view, then descend to Saddle Hut for a short break. We will then continue descending to Miriakamba Hut for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 10-12 hours
Accommodation: Miriakamba Hut
After a long rest and breakfast, we will begin our final descent to Momella gate. We will hike through forest and meadows where it is very likely we’ll spot wildlife. At the base of Mt. Meru, we will be greeted by a driver who will take us back to our hotel in Arusha/Moshi.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 2-3 hours
Accommodation: Hotel in Arusha/Moshi
The last day is left free to wind down after the trek and before the flight back home. Depending on flight times, you can go and explore the nearby town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport.
Included:
Not included:
This Mount Meru guided climb is rated moderate to challenging, which means that anyone with a very good fitness level can participate. Expect hiking up to 10 hours per day with a maximum elevation of 4,565 meters (14,977 feet).
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Technical clothing:
Headwear:
Hand wear:
Footwear:
Accessories:
Equipment:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Important note: The most common mistake that climbers make is that they over pack and bring way too much gear. Be selective in what you take with you. Please note that the porters are limited to carrying 33 lbs (15 kgs) of your personal belongings. Everything the porters will carry for you between campsites should be placed into the duffel bag, including the sleeping bag, but it is an option to pack the sleeping bag separately if necessary.
The porters will place your duffel bag and sleeping bag into a large, sturdy, waterproof bag with a roll-top closure. If you have excess weight, you will be required to hire an additional porter.
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Group sizes and pricing
A Mount Meru guided climb can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your Mount Meru guided climb is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
Once you’re there, your guides will pick you up at a predetermined time and transfer you to the accommodation in Moshi/Arusha. The guides will provide more details before the adventure starts.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.