Day 1: Drive from Arusha city to Arusha national park then Momella gate (1500 m) and hike to Miriakamba Hut (2500m)
You will be picked up from your hotel in Arusha after an early morning breakfast and be driven to the Momella Gate in Arusha National Park. You register to the Tanzania National Park (TANAPA). You will then begin your 4 to 5 hour ascent to Miriakamba Hut. The first day of hiking is similar to a walking safari; expect to encounter giraffes, zebras, antelope, buffalo, and maybe elephants close to the trail. The Ngarenanyuki River and a spectacular waterfall at the base of Mt. Meru will be traversed. The trek leads you to viewpoints from where you can see Mount Kilimanjaro and the renowned Momella lakes.
You will reach the Miriakambu hut in the evening after trekking a distance of 6km. Dinner and overnight stay at this hut.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 2: Hike from Miriakamba hut to Saddle hut (3500m)
Today, after breakfast, you begin your climb along the saddle’s steep ridge. You may see the magnificent Meru crater, the ash cone, and Little Meru along the trip. We may come across wildlife such as Cape Buffaloes and the black and white Colobus monkey. The trek will conclude at Saddle Hut.
After lunch and some relaxation, you will proceed on an acclimatization walk to Little Meru (3,820 m). This is a fantastic hike with some great views of Great Meru and the surrounding area, and it prepares you for a night effort to summit the tall Meru Mountain. On this day, dinner will be served early so that you can get adequate rest before your midnight summit attempt.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 3: Hike from Saddle Hut to Summit (4562) and descent to Momella gate
To maintain the energies, get up around midnight for some tea and biscuits. At roughly 1 a.m., you will begin your summit attempt. The trail climbs steeply from Rhino Point (3800m) to Cobra Point (4350m). In the final hour of the climb, you’ll scramble up a steep ridge between Meru’s crater and inner cliffs. At sunrise, you will reach the peak of Meru (4565m), with breathtaking views of Mt. Meru Ash Tray and Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Enjoy the views from the peak while recording videos and taking images for memories. You’ll then descend to Saddle Hut for a little rest. Before continuing your descent to the Momella gate, you stop for a quick break and brunch at Saddle hut. Your transfer van will be waiting for you at Momella gate to pick you up and take you to the hotel in Arusha for leisure and an overnight stay, bringing this hiking safari to a close.
Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch