Day 0: Arrival Day
All meals included
Direct arrival at Kilimanjaro airport then transferred for you to reach your base lodge in time for a pre-climb briefing (time to be confirmed) with your Mountain guide. Driving time: 1-2 hours. Game drive: None. Activities included: None. Activities excluded: None. Commonly seen animals: None. Occasionally seen animals: None. Rarely seen animals: None.
Accommodation:
Meru view lodge
Day 1: Arusha to Arusha National Park (Momella gate) to Miriakamba Hut
All meals included
You will be transferred by road from Arusha (10:00am) to Momella gate inside of Arusha National Park. After registration you trek today through the grassland and into the rain forest with your guide and armed ranger (shared by all groups for everyone's safety whilst you hike near wildlife). You may encounter some wild animals such as buffalo, giraffes, zebras or antelopes and plenty of bird and plant species on your way to Miriakamba hut. Driving time: 0.5 hours. Trekking time: 4-6 hours. Trekking distance: 14km / 8.5mi. Start altitude: 1640m or 5380ft. End altitude: 2515m or 8250ft. Highest altitude: 2515m or 8250ft. Altitude gain: +875 or +2870ft. Commonly seen animals: Buffalo, Giraffes, Zebras, Antelopes, Bird species, Plant species.
Accommodation:
Miriakamba Hut
Day 2: Miriakamba Hut to Saddle Hut to Little Meru peak (optional)
All meals included
Today's hike is steep and leaves the rain forest behind and takes you into the heather & moorland zone ascending through the changed landscape along the edges of the saddle between the Meru peaks as you start to get views of the Crater and Ash Tray. After arriving at the Saddle Huts you can hike further to the peak of "Little Meru" for additional acclimatization before your summit attempt. Trekking time: 3-4 hours. Trekking distance: 11km / 7mi. Start altitude: 2515m or 8250ft. End altitude: 3565m or 11695ft. Highest altitude: 3800m or 12470ft. Altitude gain: +1285m or +4220ft / -235m or -775ft.
Accommodation:
Saddle Hut
Day 3: Saddle Hut to Socialist Peak to Miriakamba Huts
All meals included
In the early morning (around 00:00am) you begin your final ascent to the summit of Meru through the alpine zone. The trek is a steep hike over loose volcanic scree taking you to Rhino Point (3800m or 12470ft) then to Cobra point (4350m or 14270ft) before reaching the ridge of ash and rock till the Socialist Peak (4566m or 14980ft) which is Tanzania's second highest and Africa's 4th highest mountain top where you may enjoy sunrise before descending back through the trail all the way down to the rain forest zone with your night at Miriakamba huts. Trekking time: 12-15 hours. Trekking distance: 18km / 11mi. Start altitude: 3565m or 11695ft. End altitude: 2515m or 8250ft. Highest altitude: 4566m or 14980ft. Altitude gain: +1001m or +3285ft / -2051m or -6730ft.
Accommodation:
Miriakamba Hut
Day 4: Mirikamba Huts to Arusha National Park (Momella gate) to Arusha
All meals included
Your final day on Meru is a quick descent through the same rain forest as on the first day until Momella gate where our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Arusha town. Usually, the crew will leave you at Momella gate and it's a perfect opportunity to say goodbye and a great location to hand your optional tip to the crew as a token of your appreciation. Driving time: 1 hour. Trekking time: 3-5 hours. Trekking distance: 7km / 4.5mi. Start altitude: 2515m or 8250ft. End altitude: 1640m or 5380ft. Highest altitude: 2515m or 8250ft. Altitude gain: -875m or -2870ft.
Accommodation:
Meru view lodge
Day 5: Tarangire National Park
All meals included
Today pick up at 0800hrs and proceed to Tarangire National Park for a game drive. Later drive to your lodge for overnight. Driving time: 2-3 hours to Tarangire / 0.5 hours to lodge. Game drive: Late morning (time permitting), afternoon. Activities included: None. Activities excluded: Walking safari, night game drive. Commonly seen animals: Elephant, Giraffe, Buffalo, Zebra, Wildebeest, Lion, Warthog, Impala, Waterbuck, Ostrich, Dik-dik, Vervet Monkey, Baboon, Yellow-billed Stork, Lesser Kudu. Occasionally seen animals: Leopard, Hyena, Jackal, Python, Mongoose, Reedbuck, Hartebeest, Marabou Stork, Lovebird, Greater Kudu. Rarely seen animals: Cheetah, African Wild Dog, Eland, Bat-eared Fox, Honey Badger, Caracal, Aardwolf.
Accommodation:
Lake Burunge Tented Lodge
Day 6: Tarangire National Park to Arusha
All meals included
Final day game drive inside Tarangire National Park. Later drive to Arusha for overnight stay. Driving time: 0.5 hours to the park /2-3 hours to Arusha. Game drive: Morning, afternoon (time permitting). Activities included: None. Activities excluded: Walking safari, night game drive, hot air balloon safari. Commonly seen animals: Elephant, Giraffe, Buffalo, Zebra, Wildebeest, Lion, Warthog, Impala, Waterbuck, Ostrich, Dik-dik, Vervet Monkey, Baboon, Yellow-billed Stork, Lesser Kudu. Occasionally seen animals: Leopard, Hyena, Jackal, Python, Mongoose, Reedbuck, Hartebeest, Marabou Stork, Lovebird, Greater Kudu. Rarely seen animals: Cheetah, African Wild Dog, Eland, Bat-eared Fox, Honey Badger, Caracal, Aardwolf.
Accommodation:
African View Lodge
Day 7: Leisure and departure day
All meals included
Today after your lazy breakfast and check out, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro airport to catch your flight back home. End of our services. Driving time: 1 hour to Kilimanjaro airport. Game drive: None. Activities included: Airport transfer. Activities excluded: None. Commonly seen animals: None. Occasionally seen animals: None. Rarely seen animals: None.