Kilimanjaro & treks
Arusha, Momella Gate, Miriakamba Hut, Saddle Hut, Little Meru, Meru summit, Miriakamba Hut, Momella Gate
your journey
Mount Meru, Tanzania's second-highest mountain, rises inside Arusha National Park and makes a quieter alternative to Kilimanjaro. The climb starts with something no Kilimanjaro route offers: a walk through wildlife country with an armed ranger, where giraffe, buffalo and monkeys live on the lower slopes.
The four-day climb takes the same line as the three-day one, but with an extra night at Saddle Hut. After the midnight summit attempt you come back to the hut for breakfast and spend the rest of the day resting, then walk down the next morning. The slower pace gives your body more time to adjust and leaves you time to enjoy the views.
From the summit you look over the Great Rift Valley and, on clear days, across to Kilimanjaro. You sleep in mountain huts throughout, and the climb makes good preparation for Kilimanjaro.
Walkers who want a less rushed climb with more time to acclimatise, including first-time high-altitude trekkers and anyone using Meru as preparation for Kilimanjaro.
Parks visited
Arusha National Park · Mount Meru
what makes it special
day by day
After breakfast we leave Arusha at about 8:30 am for the drive to Momella Gate in Arusha National Park. After registration you start walking, with a picnic lunch on the way. An armed ranger walks with you, because the lower slopes are home to giraffe, buffalo, monkeys and many birds, and you may meet them on foot. The trail climbs through open grassland and forest to Miriakamba Hut, the first hut on the mountain, in about 3½ hours. Dinner and the night are at the hut.
After breakfast you climb on to the second hut, Saddle Hut. This part is steeper than the first day's walk and takes about 2½ hours, so you arrive with the afternoon to spare. If you feel strong, you can climb Little Meru with your guide and come back to the hut, which is good acclimatisation and gives views across to Kilimanjaro on a clear day. Dinner follows, and then an early night, because the summit attempt starts around midnight.
You wake around midnight for a cup of tea, then set off for the main summit of Mount Meru, following a rocky path in the dark and reaching the top in time to watch the light come up over the Great Rift Valley and, on a clear morning, Kilimanjaro. You return to Saddle Hut for a full breakfast and spend the rest of the day resting, with lunch, dinner and a second night at the hut. The easy afternoon is the reward for the early start.
You leave Saddle Hut and walk down to Momella Gate by way of Miriakamba Hut, back through the forest and the open glades of the lower slopes, where buffalo and giraffe are often about. Your armed ranger walks with you again. At the gate you sign out of the park, and we transfer you to Arusha or Moshi, whichever suits your onward plans. It is a good moment to look back up at the mountain you have just climbed.
the price
Price on request
before you ask
Kilimanjaro needs no ropes or technical climbing skills, but it is a serious high-altitude trek. You walk for several hours a day on uneven ground, nights are cold, and summit night starts around midnight in thin air. Walking regularly on hills before you come, with a loaded daypack, is the best preparation.
We choose routes and itineraries with enough days on the mountain, and we follow the principle of climbing high and sleeping low. On the Machame route, for example, you take short walks above camp at Shira, Lava Tower, Karanga and Barafu before returning to sleep lower. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and tell your guide straight away about any headache, nausea or dizziness.
Many climbers use acetazolamide (Diamox) to help with acclimatisation, but it is a prescription medicine and not right for everyone. Talk to your own doctor before the trip, especially about allergies and side effects, and tell your guide if you are taking it.
Kilimanjaro can be climbed all year, but the driest months are mid-January to mid-March and late June to October, which are also the busiest. The long rains from late March to early June bring wet trails and cloud, and we generally advise against climbing then unless you are experienced in those conditions. November brings short rains, often in the afternoon.
On our Kilimanjaro packages with hotel nights, you stay at our partner hotel, Weru Weru River Lodge near Moshi, or a similar hotel, on the night before and the night after the climb. Your guide holds the pre-climb briefing and gear check there.
You need good broken-in hiking boots, warm layers including a down jacket, waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves, a warm hat, a headtorch and a daypack. Tents, mats and all group and cooking equipment are provided. Your specialist will confirm what can be rented locally, including sleeping bags, and send you a full packing list.
Enquire
Every AAA Express Adventure trip can be changed to suit you: the pace, the lodges, the number of days. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and our team in Arusha will come back to you with a plan and a price.
Your journey
Price on request
4 days · 3 nights
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karibu
Call us on +255 784 281316, email sales@aaaexpressadventure.com or send an enquiry. Our team in Arusha will get back to you.
Price on request
Plan your trip
Enquiry about: 4-Day Mount Meru Climb from Arusha
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