Overview

The More Relaxed Way Up Meru

Mount Meru is Tanzania's second-highest peak and one of my favorite climbs to guide, overlooked by most visitors headed straight for Kilimanjaro, but spectacular in its own right: a dormant volcano inside Arusha National Park, with a dramatic crater rim, real wildlife on the lower slopes, and none of the crowds that can build up on the bigger mountain. This 4-day itinerary follows the same route up as the 3-day version, the only difference is how the descent is paced.

On the 3-day climb, you summit and walk all the way back down to the gate in the same push. Here, you spend an extra night at Miriakamba Hut after summiting, splitting the descent across two calmer days instead of one long one. It's the itinerary I recommend if you'd rather sleep before finishing the walk out, or if you're using Meru as an acclimatization climb ahead of Kilimanjaro and want the extra rest to bank the benefit.

Map of the Mount Meru route to Socialist Peak

The Mount Meru Route · 4 Days 1,500m → 4,566m Socialist Peak

Itinerary

Day by Day

Day 0

Arrive in Tanzania

You'll be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to Arusha town, where I'll meet you to brief you on the days ahead. Rest up that night, we start early the next morning.

Day 1

Arusha to Momella Gate to Miriakamba Hut

Elevation: 1,500m → 2,500m (4,921ft → 8,250ft)
Distance: 10km / 6.2mi
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Rainforest

After an early breakfast, we drive to Momella Gate in Arusha National Park, where the porters organize the loads while you and I register with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA). The first stretch of hiking feels a lot like a walking safari, keep an eye out for giraffes, zebras, antelope, buffalo, and sometimes elephants near the trail. Because of that wildlife, an armed ranger hired through the park joins us for this stage and stays with the group for the rest of the hike. Along the way we pass the Ngarenanyuki River and a waterfall at the base of the mountain before reaching Miriakamba Hut, where a hot dinner and washing water will be waiting.

Day 2

Miriakamba Hut to Saddle Hut

Elevation: 2,500m → 3,570m (8,202ft → 11,712ft)
Distance: 8km / 5.0mi
Hiking Time: 3-5 hours
Habitat: Heath

We keep climbing through the rainforest until it opens into heath, giant heather and other moorland plants lining the trail. Along the ridge of the saddle you get your first real views of the Meru crater and the Ash Cone inside it. Once we're settled at Saddle Hut, there's an optional side hike up Little Mount Meru, good for the view and it helps your acclimatization ahead of summit night.

Day 3

Summit Day: Saddle Hut to Socialist Peak to Miriakamba Hut

Elevation: 3,570m → 4,566m → 2,500m (11,712ft → 14,980ft → 8,202ft)
Distance: 16km / 9.9mi
Hiking Time: 9 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert

We're up and moving around midnight for the summit push. The trail is steep on the way to Rhino Point, then Cobra Point, before it settles onto the ash-and-rock ridge that leads to Socialist Peak, Meru's summit. From up there, on a clear morning, you get Kilimanjaro laid out in front of you and the sunrise behind it, one of the best views in the region. Instead of continuing all the way down to the gate the same day, this itinerary brings us back only as far as Miriakamba Hut, so you get a proper rest after a long night and morning on the mountain.

Day 4

Miriakamba Hut to Momella Gate

Elevation: 2,500m → 1,500m (8,202ft → 4,921ft)
Distance: 10km / 6.2mi
Hiking Time: 2-4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest

A short, easy final morning, back down through the rainforest to Momella Gate. A vehicle will be waiting to take us back to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi for a shower and a proper rest.

Price