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Mt Meru Extension


Mt Meru is one of Africa's most beautiful volcanoes and an excellent acclimatisation trek for Mt Kilimanjaro




At 4566 metres, Mount Meru is the second-highest mountain in Tanzania. Its impressive volcanic cone is the culmination of one of East Africa’s most picturesque and rewarding climbs. Dramatic scenery abounds as we trek through a myriad of terrains, from grasslands to lush forests where we cross bubbling streams to the knife-edge ridge of the crater rim. The summit of Socialist Peak provides stunning views of Ash Cone, thousands of feet below, as well as Mount Kilimanjaro to the west on a clear day. Don’t let the relatively short length of the climb fool you as Mount Meru is a challenging mountain, the ascent is steep and dramatic at times and the rewards are incredible. Located inside Arusha National Park, Mount Meru is also one of the only mountains that combines your trekking with a wildlife viewing experience!



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Tour Highlights

  • Ash Cone from Mt Meru's summit

Inclusions

  • A specialist local mountain guide, services of porters/cook on mountain climb, arrival transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport, transfer to join Kilimanjaro trek, accommodation, transport and entrance fees.

  • On foot
  • Private vehicle
  • Trek

  • This trip spends four days in Arusha National Park.

  • 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

Mt Meru Extension

Day 1
Kilimanjaro Airport - Mount Meru Game Lodge
Meals Privided:
On arrival in Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Please note this is an arrival day and you may arrive at any time. The Mount Meru Game lodge is located within beautiful grounds of well manicured gardens bounded on one side by the Usa River and on the other by the animal sanctuary. The sanctuary is a safe haven for eland, ostriches, waterbucks, zebras, buffalo, small carnivores such as monitor lizards, small wildcats and an enormous variety of birdlife. In the evening there is a briefing on the trek. At this time you will also receive your own personal trek bag. This trek bag will contain a kit bag that your porter will carry, an appropriate sleeping bag, sleep sheet, down jacket and sleeping mat. You will need to transfer your other possessions into this bag. You will be able to leave your normal travelling bag and any excess luggage at our Mount Meru Lodge to be collected upon your return. Following the briefing you may choose to enjoy a sundowner on the terrace, soaking up the relaxing atmosphere and enjoying the anticipation of the trek and exciting challenge you have ahead of you.
Day 2
Miriakamba Hut
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you will meet up with your guide and porters after breakfast at the hotel, and transfer the short distance to the Momela Gate of Arusha National Park (1500m). The guide is an armed park ranger, employed by the national park, and will ensure that we don’t get too close to the resident wildlife. You will be expected to carry a day pack with water, snacks, your camera and wet weather gear whilst your trek pack will be carried by porters. We complete entrance formalities before beginning our hike through open grasslands where we may have the opportunity to see elephant, buffalo and warthogs as well as other plains game. Rising steadily, the track takes us through montane forests before we set down for lunch near Fig Tree Arch. After lunch, the terrain clears to a less dense forest where there is abundant birdlife and we are able to spot the distinct black and white colobus monkeys high up on the canopy. By mid-afternoon, the Ash Cone and the towering cliffs of the upper reaches come into view. We reach Miriakamba Hut (2514m) in time to enjoy the last of the afternoon sun and beautiful views over the surrounding plains towards Kilimanjaro. (4-6 hours walking).
Day 3
Saddle Hut
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we trek to the saddle just below Little Meru (3820m). It’s a relatively short day in terms of trekking, however we constantly ascend throughout the day over steep terrain. Climbing slowly but constantly we make our way to the Buffalo Swamp and onto Elephant Ridge, located at the halfway point of the climb. We take time to enjoy excellent views across the crater floor and up to the summit ridge. From here we enjoy excellent views of the summit ridge and across the crater floor. Before continuing to Saddle Hut (3570m) where lunch will be provided. After a rest, we take a short but important acclimatisation climb to the nearby summit of Little Meru (3820m) reaching the peak just in time to watch a glorious African sun setting over the plains.
Day 4
Summit Day - Miriakamba Hut
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Summit day begins with a 2am wake-up call as we begin the steep ascent to Rhino Point (3800m) and on to Cobra Point (4350m). We reach the point in time for sunrise, and the sweeping views of the Crater Rim and the Ash Cone are quite simply unforgettable and on a clear day we may see Mount Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak above the clouds. The final part of the climb is along a spectacular narrow ridge line between the sheer inner cliffs and the sloping outer wall of the crater. Upon reaching Mt Meru’s summit, Socialist Peak, (4566m) we take in the incredible 360 degree panoramas: From the Great Rift Valley to the west to the might of Mt Kilimanjaro 80km to the north-east. We take a more leisurely pace back to Rhino Point and on to Saddle Hut where we stop for rest and refreshments. Our final descent for the day is Miriakamba Hut, which completes our 10-12 hour day of trekking. (NB: Due to the steep and dramatic nature of the final trek along the ridge line, some people may choose to remain at Rhino Point instead of continuing to Socialist Peak.)
Day 5
Machame/Marangu
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
After breakfast we trek the remainder of the way down the mountain, through the forests and grasslands of the lower plains. Here we may again see some of Tanzania’s famous wildlife before reaching Momella Gate in the late morning. A transfer takes us to Mount Meru Game Lodge where we have a welcome rest before collecting the remainder of our luggage and continuing on to our next great challenge – Mount Kilimanjaro!

IN A NUTSHELL

5 days
$1,095

TOUR INFORMATION

Start End Price
07/03/201311/03/2013 $1,095
13/12/201217/12/2012 $1,095
06/12/201210/12/2012 $1,095
29/11/201203/12/2012 $1,095
20/09/201224/09/2012 $1,095
13/09/201217/09/2012 $1,095
06/09/201210/09/2012 $1,095
30/08/201203/09/2012 $1,095
23/08/201227/08/2012 $1,095
20/12/201224/12/2012 $1,095
27/12/201231/12/2012 $1,095
03/01/201307/01/2013 $1,095
28/02/201304/03/2013 $1,095
21/02/201325/02/2013 $1,095
14/02/201318/02/2013 $1,095
07/02/201311/02/2013 $1,095
31/01/201304/02/2013 $1,095
24/01/201328/01/2013 $1,095
17/01/201321/01/2013 $1,095
10/01/201314/01/2013 $1,095
16/08/201220/08/2012 $1,095
09/08/201213/08/2012 $1,095
02/08/201206/08/2012 $1,095
02/02/201206/02/2012 $1,095
26/01/201230/01/2012 $1,095
19/01/201223/01/2012 $1,095
12/01/201216/01/2012 $1,095
05/01/201209/01/2012 $1,095
29/12/201102/01/2012 $1,095
22/12/201126/12/2011 $1,095
08/12/201112/12/2011 $1,095
09/02/201213/02/2012 $1,095
16/02/201220/02/2012 $1,095
23/02/201227/02/2012 $1,095
26/07/201230/07/2012 $1,095
19/07/201223/07/2012 $1,095
12/07/201216/07/2012 $1,095
05/07/201209/07/2012 $1,095
28/06/201202/07/2012 $1,095
21/06/201225/06/2012 $1,095
14/06/201218/06/2012 $1,095
01/03/201205/03/2012 $1,095
01/12/201105/12/2011 $1,095
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