Day 1: Momella Gate to Miriakamba Hut
(10km, 4-5 hours, 700 metres ascent)

Giraffes

The first day of the trek follows the often well-used trails, through the forest and a small brook, towards the crater floor. The route passes the plain savannah of the Arusha National Park, with lots of buffalos and some giraffes, before it climbs steeply up to Miriakamba Hut.

Typically the ten kilometers can be done within three hours, but the altitude sickness should be kept in mind and furthermore it's worth to walk slowly and to turn around several times at this day of the trek as the Kilimanjaro may appear in the clouds.

Miriakamaba Hut consits of three huts with 48 beds which are divided into rooms for four people. The huts are well-tended, but not mandatory clean as the trekkers themselves are responsible for housekeeping. The park rangers carry on a small business where water, soft drinks and beer can be purchased.

Day 2: Miriakamba Hut to Saddle Hut
(4 km, 2-3 hours, 1050 metres ascent)

Myth trees

The first section of the route from Miriakmaba Hut to Mgongo Wa Tembo, a favorite lunch stop, is the most beautiful part of this trek. A wodden staircase helps to manage the steep climb through the exotic flora with strange myth trees and wondrous flowers.

With every step the air is getting thinner and this one reason why the short four kilometers from Miriakamba Hut to Saddle Hut take about two or three hours but the second day is not for a long time over yet since there is the possiblity of an acclimatisation walk to Little Meru (3820m).

Day 3: Saddle Hut to Meru Summit and Return to Miriakamba Hut
(5 km, 4-5 hours, 1000 metres ascent/ 5 km, 4-5 hours, 2050 metres descent)

View to Kilimanjaro

The long walk to the summit starts early in the morning so the rocky path is frozen which makes the climb more easy. Furthermore on a cloudless day an awesome view to the sunrise behind the big Kilimanjaro makes it worth to wake up early.

At the beginning the route is very smooth but after the Rhino Point the path becomes more challenging and from time to time the hands are needed to pass the bigger rocks before the way to the summit turns back into a well-used trail. Breathing gets faster, the heart rate increases and the walk becomes slower while the eyes concentrate on the next rise. There are many short and long rises until a last and very steeply wall of big rocks leads to the desired summit. The peak of Mount Meru, the so-called Socialist Peak, is no place for bigger groups as there is only place for few people at the highest point of Mount Meru. With a little luck the Meru Ash Cone and the Kilimanjaro can be seen. The way down is grouped into two stages. After the descent back to the Saddle Hut and a long break there is an other descent back to Miriakamba Hut.

Day 4: Saddle Hut to Momella Gate
(10km, 2-3 hours, 700 metres descent)

Tululusia Fall

The last day is hard on the knees, because of the long descent from Miriakamba Hut, but the beautiful landscape outweigh the pain. Close to the end of the Mount Meru Trek, just a few minutes off the path to the Momella Gate, there is a nice waterfall - the so-called Tululusia Fall - that should not be missed.

In the Savannah of the Arusha Nationalpark there is enough time to visit the giraffes - this is one of the last chances in Africa to watch animals in the great outdoors by feet without any game drive jeep.

Back at Momella Gate it's time to distribute tips to the ranger, your guide, the cook and the porter and to collect the certificates for Mount Meru and Little Meru.