10 Days Combined Mount Meru + Kilimanjaro Trekking

Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport – Transfer to Arusha

• Accommodation: Arusha.
• Duration: 1hr Drive (55km).

On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our Safari Guide will welcome you for the meet and greet before the transfer to the Hotel. On the way to the Hotel he will explain to you about our people, culture and history of Arusha and Tanzania in general. After checking in at the hotel, you will have to take shower and wait for the full briefing regarding Mount Meru Climbing.

Arusha is the beating heart of the wild – the last port of civilization before heading out into the rich jungle of Arusha National Park for climbing Mount Meru. The markets of Arusha burst with color, and throng with locals picking up their weekly wares. The numerous cafes sell dark and deliriously good coffee from the plantations, and close by the infamous National Park lures visitors in to explore her evocative Maasai culture and exotic flora and fauna. We suggest you relax on the arrival day and go on shopping in your last day. Overnight stay on bed and breakfast basis.

Day 2: Arusha-Momella Gate (1500amsl) to Miriakamba Hut (2,500amsl)

• Accommodation: Mariakamba Hut
  
• Duration: 5-6 hours of hiking
• Zone: Rainforest

Your 4 days Mount Meru Climbing starts, as from pick-up from your hotel after breakfast and transferred to Momella Gate of Arusha National Park (1,500amsl). After clearing entrance formalities, you begin your hike, guided by a park ranger. Your trekking to Miriakamba passes open grassland, providing an opportunity to spot buffalo, warthogs and other grazers. Continue with your hiking as you gain steady climb through montane forest. You will have a break near a giant Fig Tree arch where you will enjoy your packed lunch. After lunch, proceed with your climb through less dense forest, where there are an abundance of birds and black and white colobus monkeys.

By mid-afternoon, you will be able to see the towering cliffs and the Ash Cone. Reach Miriakamba Hut at 2,500amsl and located in an idyllic grassy glade. You have ample time to enjoy the last of the afternoon sun and beautiful views over the surrounding plains towards Kilimanjaro. (4-6 hours walking). Overnight Stay at Miriakamba Hut and all meals included.

Day 3: Miriakamba Hut (2,500amsl) to Saddle Hut (3,500amsl)

• Accommodation: Saddle Hut
  
• Duration: 4 hours of hiking
• Zone: Moorland

Today your trekking takes you from Miriakamba Hut to the saddle Hut below Little Meru. It is a short climb but a steep. Take a slowly hike through lush montane forest to reach the halfway point of Elephant Ridge (3,050amsl). While here you will enjoy fantastic views of the summit ridge and across the crater floor. Your hiking continues through giant heather and other fascinating moorland vegetation to reach Saddle Hut a 3,500amsl, where lunch will be provided. You have a free afternoon to relax and to enjoy the breathtaking views. If you have more energy left, you can make the short climb to the nearby summit of Little Meru (3,820amsl) for superb views just before sunset. (1.5 hours walking). Overnight at Saddle Hut with all meals included.

Day 4: Saddle Hut (3,500amsl) to Summit (4,566amsl) then back to Saddle Hut (3,500amsl)

• Accommodation: Saddle Hut  
  
• Duration: 8 hours of hiking
• Zone: Moorland

You start early at around 02:00am climbing steeply to Rhino Point (3,800amsl), continue with your trekking along an undulating ridge of ash and rock to reach Cobra Point (4,350amsl). Depending on your speed, you can enjoy sunrise at Cobra Point or the summit. At sunrise, the views here are absolutely stunning: You have the cliffs of the Crater rim, and the Ash Cone rising from the Crater floor, Kilimanjaro floating on the morning clouds and west towards the Rift Valley if visibility is good. A further one-hour trekking on a good but steep path, brings you to the summit of Socialist Peak (4,566amsl). Spend sometimes on the summit and thereafter descend to Rhino Point in the morning light. The descent from the summit to Saddle is through a narrow ridge between the sloping outer wall of the crater and the sheer cliffs of the inner wall, is undoubtedly one of the most dramatic and exhilarating walks in Africa. Enjoy a rest and brunch at Saddle Hut for leisure, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Saddle Hut (3,500amsl) – Momella Gate (1,500amsl)-Hotel in Arusha (1400)

• Accommodation: Hotel in Arusha
  
• Duration: 4 hours of hiking
• Zone: Rainforest

Today is the end of your Mt. Meru trekking as you take the direct route down which takes you through open grassland and mixed forest, with good chances of seeing wildlife. The trail has great views back towards the crater and over the plains of the National Park. Depending on your pace, you should reach Momella Gate by afternoon where you will find your private driver waiting to take you back to Arusha town where you will refreshing-up, followed by late afternoon to relax. Overnight stay in Arusha based on bed and breakfast.

Day 6: Arusha City-Londorosi Gate (3400amsl) to Shira 2 Camp (3,800amsl)

• Distance: ~10km
  
• Trekking time: 4-5hours
  
• Zone: Moorland.

Pick-up from your Hotel heading to Londorosi gate where registration will be done and luggage weighting for the crew, then further drive to Morum (starting point) 3400m, from here we will start walking heading to Shira II Camp Site 3800m with lunch boxes along the way arriving at the camp for leisure, dinner & overnight.

Day 7: Shira 2 Camp (3,800amsl) to Lava Tower (4,600amsl) to Barranco Camp (3,900amsl)

• Distance: ~10km
  
• Trekking time: 7hours
  
• Zone: Moorland/ Alpijne desert zone

On day two you will rise early, pack your gear and prepare for the trek from Shira 2 Camp to Baranco Camp; Leave the camp early morning after breakfast passing through Lava tower 4600m for acclimatization and hot lunch then down to Barranco camp 3900m/dinner and overnight. Today you will be walking through vegetation Alpine dessert.

Day 8: Barranco Camp (3,900amsl) to Karanga Camp (3,995amsl)

• Distance: ~6km
  
• Trekking time: 4hours
  
• Zone: Alpine/ Moorland zone

Day three is a short day hike after the late breakfast you will start climbing the famous wall “Great Barranco wall” 4200m at the top the down-hill to Karanga Camp 3,995amsl via vegetation – Moorland. Thereafter leisure, dinner and overnight at the camp.

Day 9: Karanga Camp (3,995amsl) to Barafu Camp (4,635amsl)

• Distance: ~6km
  
• Trekking time: 4hours
  
• Zone: High alpine zone

Day four on the Shira Route begins after the late breakfast you will start your short day hike to the base camp Barafu (4635amsl) where by hot lunch will be served at the camp and following with early dinner before the big ascent midnight.

Day 10: Barafu Base Camp (4,635amsl) to Uhuru Peak (5,895amsl) and then Mweka Camp (3,100amsl)

• Distance: ~5.5km and then 8km descent
  
• Trekking time: 6 hours to the summit and then 4-5hours to Mweka
  
• Zone: Summit zone/ Vegetation zones

Day five is summit night (and day)! You will be awoken around 23:30 with hot tea and biscuits. Hopefully you have managed to get a few hours’ sleep; don’t worry if you haven’t as most people struggle to sleep before summit night. Do however make sure that all your kit, including warm clothes, headlamp, insulated water reserves and snacks are ready for a sharp departure at 24:00. The trek up Kibo is steep and slow. The trick is to keep your momentum moving forward, one step at a time. It takes about 6 hours to reach the top of the crater rim where you will see the sign for Stella Point (5,739amsl). This is not the summit of Kilimanjaro. You still have another 200amsl of altitude to walk around the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895amsl). We recommend resting briefly at Stella Point and potentially having some hot tea or hot chocolate. Dawn should be approaching. Take a moment to savor where you have got to and then dig deep for the energy to push for the summit. Over 60% of climbers stop at Stella Point but most can make it to the summit if they master the metal strength to push through. Obviously if you are experiencing severe AMS symptoms you should descend immediately. After reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro, a 5.5km ascent, you still have an 8km descent to Mweka Camp (3,100amsl)! The descent can be very grueling on your joints. It is recommend you use trekking poles and potentially wear gaiters to avoid fine glacial scree getting into your boots. Mweka is situated in the upper part of the rainforest zone. The richness of oxygen and moisture in the air will be a very welcome surprise.

Day 11: Mweka Camp (3,100amsl) to Mweka Gate (1,800amsl)

• Distance: ~6km
  
• Trekking time: 3 hours
  
• Zone: Vegetation Mountain Rainforest

Day six is the final day of trekking on the Shira Route. By now you will be exhausted and probably only thinking about a hot shower. The trekking is a pleasant one through the lower rain-forested slopes and down to Mweka Gate (1,800amsl). Although you cover 6km, the trekking only takes 3hours. Assuming you successfully reach Stella Point or Uhuru Peak you will be presented with official certificates – a green certificate for the former and a gold certificate for the latter. It is customary to tip your trekking crew before being transported back to your hotel in Arusha.

Day 12: Departure from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport

If you are flying back home we mostly recommend to book an evening flight so that you can spend in the afternoon doing shopping in Arusha and off-course this is the reason why we booked your last night accommodation in Arusha. This is the beating heart of the wild and the last port of civilization. The markets of Arusha burst with color, and throng with locals picking up their weekly wares. The numerous cafes sell dark and deliriously good coffee from the plantations, and close by the infamous National Park lures visitors in to explore her evocative Maasai culture and exotic flora and fauna. In the late evening, depending on your flight time we will come to pick you up and drop you at Airport.

End of our service.