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 as a standalone adventure, Mt. Meru is a one-of-a-kind Tanzania trekking experience, bringing you up close and personal with majestic wildlife and providing views both of this unique crater mountain and of the iconic Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance.
Our 3-day trek gives you time to reach the summit and soak in all the natural wonders around you! Maybe this trek will inspire you to join us on one of our Guided Mount Kilimanjaro Tours!
Optional Upgrade:
Price Exclusions:
From:
Kilimanjaro Int’l Airport
To:
Arusha
Distance & Time:
1 hour
Altitude Change:
–
From:
Momella Gate
1500 m / 4,921 ft
To:
Miriakamba Hut
2515 m / 8,251 ft
Distance & Time:
14.5 km / 9 mi
4-6 hours
Altitude Change:
+1015 m / +3,330 ft
From:
Miriakamba Hut
2515 m / 8,251 ft
To:
Saddle Hut
3570 m / 11,713 ft
Distance & Time:
6 km / 3.7 mi
3-5 hours
Altitude Change:
+1055 m / +3,462 ft
From:
Saddle Hut
3570 m / 11,713 ft
To:
Socialist Peak
4565 m / 14,977 ft
Distance & Time:
6.4 km / 4 mi
4-6 hours
Altitude Change:
+1086 m / +3,264 ft
From:
Socialist Peak
4565 m / 14,977 ft
To:
Momella Gate
1500 m / 4,921 ft
Distance & Time:
18 km / 11 mi
6-8 hours
Altitude Change:
-3065 m / -10,056 ft
From:
Arusha
To:
Kilimanjaro Int’l Airport
Distance & Time:
1 hour
Altitude Change:
–
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.