Itinerary
- Day 1
Arusha National Park
From Arusha town, you'll head into Arusha National Park and pass through Momella Gate to start your trek. The first part takes you across open grassland where you might spot buffalo, warthogs, and elephants moving around. After that you'll climb gradually into montane forest, and by lunchtime you'll reach the famous Fig Tree for a break. The afternoon continues through lighter forest sections where black and white Colobus monkeys and various bird species hang around. You'll see Meru's cliffs and an Ash Cone getting closer as you walk, then arrive at Miriakamba Huts before evening settles in.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at the famous Fig Tree), Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Momella Gate through open grassland and montane forest to Miriakamba Huts (10 km, 4-6 hours)
- Wildlife viewing: buffalo, warthogs, elephants, birds, black and white Colobus monkeys
- Lunch at the famous Fig Tree
Landmarks Arusha National Park Momella Gate Mount Meru - Day 2
Miriakamba Huts to Saddle Huts
An early morning wake-up gives you a shot at seeing Kilimanjaro on the horizon. From Miriakamba Huts, you'll climb steeply to Elephant Ridge where the crater rim comes into view, then take a steep path through thick montane forest before reaching giant heather plants in the moorland (around 8 km total, taking 3-5 hours). Hot lunch happens at Saddle Huts. Your afternoon opens up for rest and soaking in the views, or if you're feeling energetic, you can make the short trip up to Little Meru's summit for sunset views from a higher vantage point.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Hot lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Miriakamba Huts to Elephant Ridge and through montane forest to Saddle Huts (8 km, 3-5 hours)
- Hot lunch at Saddle Huts
Optional Activities
- Short climb to Little Meru summit (3,820 m/12,533 ft) for sunset views
Landmarks Elephant Ridge Little Meru - Day 3
Saddle Huts - Mount Meru Summit
You'll start at 2 AM for a steep push to Rhino Point (3,800 m/12,467 ft), which takes about an hour. If conditions cooperate, you'll keep going along a rough ridge to Cobra Point (4,350 m/14,271 ft) as sunrise happens, where you can see into the crater, spot Kilimanjaro, and look out over the Rift Valley. Another hour brings you to Mount Meru's summit at 4,565 m, and the walk along the crater's outer and inner walls is genuinely dramatic. After brunch and some rest at Saddle Huts, you'll descend either back to Miriakamba Huts for the night (if you're doing the 4-day version) or all the way down to Momella Gate (if it's a 3-day trek).
- Meals
- Breakfast, Brunch (Brunch at Saddle Huts), Dinner
Included Activities
- Summit attempt: Climb from Saddle Huts to Rhino Point, Cobra Point, and Mount Meru summit (5 km up, 10-12 hours total)
- Brunch at Saddle Huts
Landmarks Rhino Point Cobra Point Mount Meru Kilimanjaro - Day 4
Miriakamba Huts to Arusha
The descent moves quickly through open grassland and mixed forest using a different route than you came up (10 km, taking 2-4 hours), and you'll have good opportunities to see wildlife from this angle. Views back toward the crater and across the national park plains stay with you the whole way down. By late morning you'll reach Momella Gate, where you'll thank your guides and porters and make sure to tip them for their work. A vehicle gets you back to your hotel in Arusha so you can relax after the trek. If you want to keep going, arrangements can be made for onward trips to Zanzibar or other spots around Tanzania and Kenya.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Descent from Miriakamba Huts to Momella Gate through open grassland and mixed forest (10 km, 2-4 hours)
- Transfer from Momella Gate to Arusha hotel
Optional Activities
- Trip to Zanzibar beaches
- Safari to Serengeti National Park
- Safari to Ngorongoro Crater
- Safari to Lake Manyara National Park
- Safari to Tarangire National Park
- Safari to Selous game reserve
- Safari to Mikumi National Park
- Safari to Ruaha National Park
Landmarks Momella Gate Arusha National Park
