 |
 |
 |
You'll love the way we climb & trek! |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Lonely Planet's "Trekking in East Africa", says this about Mount Meru: "..At 4566m (14,979 ft), Mt Meru is the 2nd highest mountain in Tanzania, although it is overshadowed by Kilimanjaro, its famous neighbor, and frequently overlooked by trekkers. But Meru is a spectacular classic volcanic cone, and well worth a visit..." We agree. It is a great way to acclimatize for Kilimanjaro and a great trek if you don't have enough time for Kili. |
 |
 |
||
 |
Route 6 - Mount Meru
Arusha National Park, often overlooked, is in fact a treasure, a rich tapestry of habitats, teeming with animals and birds. From the lush swamps of the Ngurdoto Crater to the tranquil beauty of the Momela Lakes and the rocky alpine heights of Mt. Meru, the terrain of the park is as varied as it is interesting. Zebra graze on the parks red grasslands, and leopard lurk next to waterfalls in the shadowy forest. More than 400 species of bird, both migrant and resident, can be found in Arusha National Park alongside rare primates such as the black-and-white colobus monkey.
Imagery by Google Earth™. We are an official Google Earth business license holder. It is illegal to copy this image!
Mt.
Meru, at 14,979 feet, may be second to Kilimanjaro in height, but certainly more
spectacular in terms of scenery, fauna and flora. Giraffe and buffalo are
plentiful on the lower slopes and the upper slopes offer spectacular views of
Arusha National Park and Kilimanjaro to the west. The mountain's rim is
horseshoe shaped creating a natural amphitheater called Meru crater and contains
a large ash cone. The walls of this amphitheatre are nearly sheer from the
summit down to its floor. The mountain only sees a fraction of the climbers that
Kilimanjaro sees and it is not unusual to have the slopes and scenery to
ourselves!
- Day 1:
After departing our hotel earlier in the day, we meet our armed ranger accompanying us
along with our porters at Momela Gate at 10am. Armed rangers are needed as the
presence of wild animals such as buffalo and elephant pose a potential danger to
climbers. There are two routes to our overnight camp. On the way up we prefer
the slightly longer and more scenic Fig Tree route so we turn left at the Gate
for our 4-6 hours
hike to Miriakamba Hut (8,250 feet). The climb starts out in the grasslands of
the lower slopes where we'll encounter giraffe, buffalo, warthogs and
other grazers. Before lunch the trail continues as a steady climb through
the lush forest inhabited by bushbuck, warthogs, red duiker, Sykes monkeys and
black-and-white Colobus monkeys.
After
lunch, the trail continues through less dense forest with an abundance of birds
until we reach Miriakamba Hut for a welcome rest!
In the afternoon we suggest a 2-3 excursion to the very scenic Njeku viewpoint which overlooks a
waterfall, the Ash Cone and the entire crater itself.
There are two bunkhouses at Miriakamba Hut - each hut is actually a large dormitory and a dining/leisure room with sit-down toilets. The two dormitories have simple two-tier bunk beds and room for about 40 people. There is running water from faucets and solar panels provide electricity until 9pm. You can buy bottled water here - subject to availability!
-
Day 2:
Our destination today is Saddle Hut (11,700 feet) and along the way we will stop
at Topela Mbogo (Buffalo Swamp) and the Mgongo wa Tembo (Elephant Ridge) viewpoint
(the halfway mark in a clearing in the woods). The walk from Miriakamba Hut to the saddle below Little Meru
is short but steep! About 3-5 hours.
The trail leads us through giant heather and other fascinating moorland vegetation before we reach Saddle Hut in time for lunch!
After reaching our camp and a short rest we will depart at 4:30pm on an optional hike to the summit of Little Meru (12,400 feet) which has spectacular views of Mt. Meru's summit and the sheer cliffs of the crater's inner wall. Allow about an hour up and 45 minutes down.
As the sun sets behind us we can watch the glaciers on Kilimanjaro turn different hues of orange and red - Spectacular!
The Saddle huts are very similar to those at Miriakamba, apart from having 4-12 bunk bedrooms rather than large dormitories. Water is not always readily available but our team will provide enough water for drinking, washing and food preparation.
-
Day 3:
Unlike most of the budget companies who start at 2am, we prefer to depart at 5am
in time to watch the sunrise at from Rhino Point (12,700 feet)! Climbing
in the dark is freezing (even a bit dangerous) and you won't be able to film or
take pictures. More and more companies are now realizing there are better ways
to climb Meru and they are following our lead!
It is a steep hour-long climb to Rhino Point. As the sun rises behind Mt. Kilimanjaro , we will depart Rhino Point on a slightly downhill path before reaching the narrow ridge of the crater to the summit itself at Socialist Peak which we should reach by 10am. We normally spent about 30 minutes at the summit. By now it should be getting warmer and you will need sunglasses and sunscreen!
If the weather is clear, we can see the volcano Oldoinyo Lengai to the west, and below us the town of Arusha and the plains of the Maasai Steppe. We should be back at Saddle Hut by 1pm where we enjoy a rest and lunch before continuing the 2 hour descent to Miriakamba Hut for the night. About 9-11 hours in total.
Please note: The ridge between the summit and Rhino Point is not suitable for anyone suffering from vertigo. In icy conditions or in strong winds, it may be impossible to progress beyond Rhino Point
-
Day 4:
We take the direct route down from Miriakamba to the Gate through open grassland and mixed forest, with good
chances of seeing wildlife. This trail has excellent views back towards the
crater and over the plains of the National Park. We should reach Momela Gate by
late morning (2-3 hours) where we are picked up by our vehicles after your
certificate ceremony!