Mount Meru is part of the Arusha National Park located 45 km from Arusha town. The Park contains the 4556m high mountain, Ngurdoto Crater, the Momella soda lakes, as well as thick cloud and montane forests, acacia woodlands and grasslands. The climb is actually a bit tougher than Kilimanjaro, so it's not a walk in the park; it is a challenge. In other words; all the elements are present to make this a trip you will not easily forget!
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1:
* Afternoon: Arrival on Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA).
Check in Kia Lodge. After such a long flight, why travel any further where there's a good lodge right next door to the airport? After all, it's not as if Kia is a busy airport with airplanes keeping you up at night. If time permits, please do enjoy the hotel garden (tip; there's a myriad of birds to be found at the bird bath on the hill in between the pool and the lodge entrance). Welcome to Africa!)
Night.
* Night: Dinner in Kia Lodge. The restaurant is a separate building with glass doors that are usually all open so you have a view n the garden and the campfire outside. Meals are buffet style, international cuisine with some African dishes (that you definitely should give a try as well). Overnight stay Kia Lodge. Don't stay up too long! Tomorrow the adventure really begins.
Day 2:
* Morning: Breakfast. Transfer to Mommela gate where the Climb starts. Here, you will get acquainted with your guide, who will brief you on all you need to know about the climb you are about to take.
* Afternoon: Pick-nick lunch en route. Walk for about four hours to Miriakamba hut. We start near the Momella soda lakes, and on our way, we'll see mainly Montane forests and acacia woodlands. Arusha National Park is home to elephants, huge herds of buffalo, bushbuck, giraffe and duiker. The Park is the also the best place to observe the unique black-and-white colobus monkeys.
* Night: Dinner at Miriakamba hut. You'll have worked up quite an appetite by now. Overnight stay in Miriakamba hut (Alt. 2500m).
Day 3:
* Morning: Breakfast in Miriakamba hut. We take our time to get started today. Further walk up the mountain. The hike up Mt. Meru is more physically demanding than Kilimanjaro, so we go slow and enjoy the sight around us.
* Afternoon: Pick-nick lunch en route. Walk for about 2 hours to Saddle hut. By now, you'll see that the vegetation has changed a great deal. Note that if you want to, you can do the whole trip to Saddle hut before noon. You can then do an optional climb to Little Meru Peak in the afternoon.
* Night: Dinner and Overnight stay in Saddle hut, (Alt. 3500m).
Day 4:
* Morning: Breakfast in Saddle hut. Today, we leave early!
Walk for about three hours to the summit (Alt. 4566m). We rest at the summit for a while to enjoy the view. Then we go back down.
* Afternoon: Pick-nick lunch en route. Further descend down, all the way to Momella gate. It's a long walk, but all downhill so that's OK. We will be tired by the time we reach the gate. Fortunately, there's a car picking us up at the gate, for the transfer to the Kigingoni lodge. So you can rest your feet now! Check in Kigingoni lodge. Kigongoni Lodge is located on an historic 70-acre coffee farm near Arusha, amid natural forest. Sitting on a hilltop with lush gardens, the lodge offers breathtaking views of Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru.
* Night: Dinner and Overnight stay in Kigingoni lodge.
Day 5:
* Morning: Breakfast in Kigingoni lodge. Relax and enjoy the garden and the swimming pool.
* Afternoon: Lunch in Kigingoni lodge. Check out in Kigingoni lodge.
Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight home or to Zanzibar.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
The tour cost provide only airfare within the local areas inside Tanzania.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Tanzania
Mountain/Rock Climbing
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