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Mt. Meru 3 Day

Mt. Meru is the second highest mountain in Tanzania, standing at 4565 m / 14,977 ft.

Serving as a great acclimatization trek before hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro or a standalone adventure, Mt. Meru is sure to be a one-of-a-kind experience, bringing you up close and personal with majestic wildlife and providing views both of this unique crater mountain and of Kilimanjaro in the distance. A 3-day trek takes you to the summit in two days, reaching the peak at sunrise on the third day. You will then descend completely on the final day.

Overview Itinerary

Day From To Distance & Time Altitude Change
Day 1 KILIMANJARO INT’L AIRPORT ARUSHA 1 hour
Day 2 MOMELLA GATE

1500 m / 4,921 ft

MIRIAKAMBA HUT

2515 m / 8,251 ft

14.5 km / 9 mi

4-6 hours

+1015 m / +3,330 ft
Day 3 MIRIAKAMBA HUT

2515 m / 8,251 ft

SADDLE HUT

3570 m / 11,713 ft

6 km / 3.7 mi

3-5 hours

+1055 m / +3,462 ft
Day 4 SADDLE HUT

3570 m / 11,713 ft

SOCIALIST PEAK

4565 m / 14,977 ft

6.4 km / 4 mi

4-6 hours

+1086 m / +3,264 ft
SOCIALIST PEAK

4565 m / 14,977 ft

MOMELLA GATE

1500 m / 4,921 ft

18 km / 11 mi

6-8 hours

-3065 m / -10,056 ft
Day 5 ARUSHA KILIMANJARO INT’L AIRPORT 1 hour

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha

Welcome to Tanzania! Welcome to Tanzania! Upon arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by a Pristine Trails representative and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. Depending on your arrival time, you will have a pre-trek briefing with your mountain guide either this afternoon/evening or the following morning.

Transfer Time: 1 hour
Meals: None

Day 2: Arusha – Momella Gate – Miriakamba Hut

Depart Arusha in the morning for the drive to the Momella Gate of Arusha National Park. After completing park registration and the packing of your gear, you will begin your trek. This first day starts with the feeling of a walking safari, taking you past zebra, giraffe, antelope and other animals as you begin your ascent. As you continue hiking you will come upon a beautiful waterfall and the Ngarenanyuki River before making your way to camp for dinner and overnight.

Trekking Time: 4-6 hours • Distance: 14.5 km / 9 mi • Altitude Change: +1015 m / +3,330 ft

Overnight: Miriakamba Hut 
Transfer Time: 30 mins
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Miriakamba Hut – Saddle Hut

This day begins with an ascent up a long series of steps as the climb becomes steeper. After just a few short hours, you will reach Saddle Hut and enter into the alpine desert zone. After enjoying a rest and lunch, you’ll take a short hike to the peak of Little Meru (3820 m / 12,533 ft) for acclimatization and beautiful views of Mt. Meru Crater and the Ash Tray. Head back to the campsite for an early dinner and bed time so you are well-rested to wake for your summit climb.

Trekking Time: 3-5 hours • Distance: 6 km / 3.7 mi • Altitude Change: +1055 m / +3,462 ft

Overnight: Saddle Hut
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Saddle Hut – Socialist Peak – Momella Gate – Arusha

You will wake around 12:30 am for a quick snack and preparations for the summit climb. The trail starts off steeply, seeing you pass Rhino Point, traversing a rocky wall, hiking through Cobra Point and eventually traversing a rocky ridge between the crater and inner cliffs of the mountain. You will have impressive views of the Ash Tray and eventually reach the summit, Socialist Peak, where you can enjoy views of Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance and celebrate your accomplishment.

Trekking Time: 4-6 hours • Distance: 6.4 km / 4 mi • Altitude Change: +1086 m / +3,264 ft

Thereafter, you will begin the descent by returning the way you came all the way through Saddle Hut, where you will have a short rest before the final descent. The last part of the trail has you winding through grasses and meadows, passing majestic wildlife along the way before reaching Momella Gate and driving back to Arusha.

Trekking Time: 6-8 hours • Distance: 18 km / 11 mi • Altitude Change: -3065 m / -10,056 ft

Transfer Time: 30 mins
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Continuation of Your Journey or Departure

After breakfast, you will begin the next leg of your journey either onto your Mount Kilimanjaro trek, wildlife safari or you will be transferred to the Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight.

Transfer Time: 1 hour to airport
Meals: Breakfast

Pricing

Valid through December 31, 2024

1 Person 2-3 People 4-6 People 7+ / Open Group
$1,730 $1,185 $1,050 $1,010

Inclusions / Exclusions

Details of the trekking package are outlined below.

Price Inclusions:

Category

Item

Crew

Lead Guide(s)
English Speaking & Wilderness First Responder Trained

Assistant Guide(s), for 2+ people

Park Ranger

Cook

Porters, equipment

Porters, personal client luggage (15 kg per client)

ACCOMMODATION IN CAMP FACILITIES

Sleeping huts with bunk beds

Toilets

Mess hall

FOOD & DRINK

Three meals per day & afternoon snack during the trek
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free upon request

Treated drinking water (minimum of 3L per day while trekking with additional water available at camp)

Coffee and tea during the trek

HEALTH & SAFETY

Pulse oximeter

Altitude sickness checklists

First aid kit

Emergency oxygen

PREPARATION & FEES

Arusha National Park fees
Hut, rescue, crew and taxes

Pre-trek briefing with your guide

ACCOMMODATION & TRANSFERS

Roundtrip airport transfer between Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Arusha

Roundtrip transfer between Arusha and the park gate

Hotel stays in Arusha pre- and post-trek (2 nights total) on bed & breakfast basis at Mt. Meru View Lodge

Optional Upgrade:

  • Luxury lodge pre- and post-trek: $140 per person

Price Exclusions:

  • Gratuities/tips
  • Personal trekking gear such as sleeping bag and clothing
  • Favored beverages (water, soda and alcohol at hotels)
  • Additional accommodation or meals resulting from early descent
  • Tanzania entry visa
  • Travel insurance
  • Domestic or international flights
  • Expenses of a personal nature

Recommended Tipping Guide

Tipping is customary on Mount Meru for all members of your mountain crew.

Although they receive a fair wage, they rely on tips for a total fair compensation as set by the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project Partners for Responsible Travel.

Crew Member Per Crew Member
Per Day Per Group
Per Crew Member
Per Trek Per Group
Guide $20 $60
Assistant Guide $15 $45
Park Ranger $15 $45
Cook $15 $45
Porters $6 $18

The standard guide to client ratio on our treks is 1 lead guide, 1 assistant guide and 1 ranger for every 2-4 clients, with an average of 2 porters per client and 1 cook. Tipping will be done at the completion of your trek.

To ensure fair and transparent tipping for each crew member, there will be a tipping ceremony following your descent from the mountain. Envelopes will be provided to divide your tips for each member of the crew.

Disclaimer

All quotations are based on the current rates of national park fees, value added tax (VAT), other government taxes and current exchange rates.

In the event that any of these are increased or a new tax introduced, these increases will be added to the cost of your trip even if your trip has been paid for already.

All quotations are based on double or triple occupancy for the pre- and post-trek accommodation and double occupancy on the trek itself. A single supplement fee applies for a solo traveler or a client who wishes to have pre- and post-trek accommodation in a single room and his/her own tent during the trek.

Children aged 5-15 years receive a discount off the full trek price.

Residents of the United Republic of Tanzania receive a 50% discount on national park fees. Citizens of East African Community member states receive a 90-95% discount on national park fees, rescue fees, camping fees and forest fees to be calculated at the time of booking.

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