4 Days Mount Meru Trekking | Conquer Tanzania’s Second-Highest Peak
Duration: 4 Days | Price: From $1,179 USD | Difficulty: Challenging
Tour Overview
Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights
Location: Mount Meru, inside Arusha National Park
Trek Level: Moderate
Maximum Elevation: Socialist Peak (4,566 m)
Mount Meru, the second-highest mountain in Tanzania, is a hidden gem for trekking enthusiasts. Unlike the busier Kilimanjaro routes, this adventure offers serenity, rich wildlife encounters, and stunning volcanic landscapes. Rising majestically inside Arusha National Park, Mount Meru provides trekkers with lush rainforests, scenic ridges, and an exhilarating climb to Socialist Peak, where breathtaking views of Kilimanjaro and the surrounding plains await.
Throughout the journey, you’ll be guided by professional mountain guides and accompanied by an armed ranger for safety, ensuring a unique blend of wilderness trekking and summit adventure. Along the lower slopes, giraffes, buffalos, antelopes, and zebras roam freely, giving this trek a special safari-like feel before you rise into the alpine heights.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha – Momela Gate – Miriakamba Hut
Your adventure begins in the morning with a transfer from Arusha or Moshi to the Momela Gate of Arusha National Park. After registration and a short briefing, you’ll meet your team of guides, porters, and the armed ranger who will accompany you on this journey.
The trek starts gently through lush montane forest, where the trail is alive with bird calls and the rustling of wildlife. Keep your eyes open—you may spot giraffes grazing in the distance or troops of colobus monkeys swinging through the trees.
The trail gradually climbs as you pass through meadows and woodland, giving your first glimpses of Mount Meru’s majestic slopes and the surrounding park. By late afternoon, you’ll arrive at Miriakamba Hut (2,514 m), where a warm meal and rest await.
Hiking Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 4–6 hours
Accommodation: Miriakamba Hut
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Miriakamba Hut – Saddle Hut
After a hearty breakfast, the trail becomes steeper as you leave the forest behind and enter moorland terrain. The air becomes crisper, and sweeping views open up of the Meru Crater and the dramatic volcanic ash cone at its heart.
As you ascend, the vegetation changes to heather and giant lobelias, making the scenery even more spectacular. By midday, you’ll reach Saddle Hut (3,570 m), perched between the slopes of Mount Meru and Little Meru.
In the afternoon, an optional acclimatization hike to Little Meru (3,820 m) is highly recommended. This short trek not only improves your chances for a successful summit but also rewards you with panoramic views of the vast plains stretching out toward Kilimanjaro.
Evening is spent relaxing at Saddle Hut, preparing for the big summit push.
Hiking Distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 3–5 hours
Accommodation: Saddle Hut
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Saddle Hut – Socialist Peak – Miriakamba Hut
Summit day begins in the dark, just after midnight, as you set off with headlamps glowing under a sky full of stars. The trail climbs steeply past Rhino Point (3,800 m), where the jagged crater rim comes into view. From here, the ascent continues along a rocky ridge, adding to the sense of adventure.
As dawn breaks, you’ll arrive at Socialist Peak (4,566 m)—the highlight of your trek. Few moments in life compare to standing on the summit of Mount Meru, watching the first rays of sunlight illuminate Kilimanjaro in the distance and the immense crater spread beneath your feet.
After celebrating and taking photos at the peak, you’ll begin your descent back to Saddle Hut for a well-deserved meal and short rest. The trek continues down through alpine terrain until you return to Miriakamba Hut for the night.
Hiking Distance: 5 km ascent / 13 km descent
Hiking Time: 10–14 hours (challenging day)
Accommodation: Miriakamba Hut
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Miriakamba Hut – Momela Gate – Arusha/Moshi
After breakfast, enjoy a final descent through the forest, where the morning light filters through the canopy and wildlife sightings are common. The trail takes you back to Momela Gate, where your team will bid you farewell.
At the gate, you’ll receive your climbing certificate before being transferred back to Arusha or Moshi, marking the end of your unforgettable Mount Meru trekking experience.
Hiking Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 2–4 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Price Includes & Excludes
Included | Not Included |
---|---|
2 nights at Hotel (before & after trek) – full board | International & domestic flights |
Transfers from/to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) | Tips for guides, porters & cooks (recommendation: $10–15 per day) |
All park entry fees and Mount Meru trekking permits | Travel insurance (strongly recommended) |
Professional English-speaking mountain guide | Alcoholic & soft drinks |
Armed park ranger escort during the trek | Mountain gear rental (available on request) |
Services of porters and cook | Extra hotel nights in Arusha/Moshi (before or after the trek) |
All meals during the trek | Optional excursions (Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, safaris, etc.) |
Accommodation in mountain huts (Miriakamba & Saddle Huts) | Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, etc.) |
Clean, purified drinking water throughout the hike | |
First aid kit and emergency evacuation support | |
Pre-trek briefing and gear check |
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The best time depends on what you want to experience Tanzania. The dry season (June to October) is ideal for wildlife viewing, while the green season (November to May) offers lush landscapes and fewer crowds.
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