Meru trek - Miriakamba route
Duration: 4 Days
Distance: About 15 km's
Habitat: Forest
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! You now drive back to Arusha at the hotel for resting and overnight.
Day 07:
After breakfast,check out at the hotel then drive to the airport for other descriptions.
Mount Meru
Mount Meru is the second highest mountain in Tanzania at 4,565 m. and the fifth highest in Africa. It is best to allow three days for climbing Meru since it involves a 3,500 m altitude trek. Advance permission from the park warden at Momela Gate must be granted before the ascent and it is necessary to take your own food and supplies. Huts are made available to climbers on the mountain and firewood is supplied.
Aside From being a rewarding and picture square trek in its own right, but it is also ideal for acclimatization for a Kilimanjaro trek. A trek may involve hiking through the forest and grassland on the mountain's lower slopes, followed by a breathtaking ridge-walk to the summit.
Meru Trek Notes:
- Tours can ideally be started from Arusha town
- Drive to the park gate and walk through game-filled parkland up to Miriakamba Hut, at 2470m.
- Take in the views; including Kilimanjaro from Miriakamba Hut.
- The path passes through fine forests and heather to the Saddle Hut, at 3500m, 3 hours walking. An ascent of Little Meru is possible in the afternoon
DAY 1: Start from Momella Gate {1'500 m.} in late morning, the track soon passes some open grassland, and have some game viewing. You can see Buffalo, Warthog, Elephants, etc. and then continue as a steady climb through montane forest. You can have your lunch at the famous "Fig tree". After lunch the trek continues through less dense forest, where there are a lot of birds and monkeys including the black and white colobus. By mid afternoon, there are the first closer views of the towering cliffs and the Ash Cone. MIRIAKAMBA HUT (2'514 m.), situated in idyllic grassy glade, is reached in time to enjoy the last of the afternoon sun and beautiful views over the surrounding plains towards Kilimanjaro. It takes about 4 to 6 hours walking. Ascent is 1'014 m.
DAY 2: The walk from MIRIAKAMBA HUT to the saddle below Little MERU is a short day but a steep sustained climbing all the way. Starting through attractive, open and lush montane forest, the path continues beyond the halfway point of Elephant ridge and carries on uphill through the giant heather and other moorland vegetation to reach SADDLE HUT {3'570 m} and lunch. The afternoon is free to rest and enjoy the views.
For energetic ones, can make the short climb to the nearby summit of LITTLE MERU {3'820 m} for superb views just before sunset. It takes about 3 – 5 hours walking. The ascent is 1'056 m.
SADDLE HUT is similar to MIRIAKAMBA but water is collected from a stream about 10 minutes away.
DAY 3: An early start at around 0200 hrs to climb steeply to RHINO POINT
{3'800 m} the path continues along an undulating ridge of ash and rock to reach Cobra Point {4'350 m.} at around sunrise. The views are stunning: the cliffs of the Crater rim, the Ash Cone rising from the crater floor, Kilimanjaro floating on the morning clouds, and the Rift Valley if the weather is clear. The summit of Socialist Pak {4'566 m} is an hour more on a superb but often steep path. The route back to Rhino Point in the sharp morning light along a narrow ridge between the sloping outer wall of the crater and the sheer cliffs of the inner wall is one of the most dramatic and exhilarating walks in Africa.
Brunch and a well-earned rest is taken at SADDLE HUT before continuing the descent to Miriakamba Hut {2'514 m}. It takes 10 to 12 hours. Ascent 996 m. Descent 2'052 m.
NB: In icy conditions or in strong winds, it may be impossible for anyone to progress beyond Rhino Point. Sunrise from here is equally as spectacular as from Cobra Point.
DAY 4: A fast descent 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. Momella Gate is reached by late morning. It takes about 2 to 3 hours walking. Descent 1'014 m.