5 Days Mt. Meru – ETS 2.5

Day 1 Arrival/Arusha
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met by a driver/guide and transferred to the Ilboru Safari Lodge just north of nearby Arusha for your night stay. The lodge is located on the slope of Mt. Meru, at a higher altitude than Arusha city, in order to begin your acclimatization before ascending to the higher altitudes of Mt. Meru.

Day 2 – Game viewing/Meru trekking
Depart 9:00 am from Arusha for Momella Gate where trek begins. On the way, stop over for game watching at Serengeti Ndogo (Small Serengeti). From Momella Gate ascend to Miriakamba Hut (2,500 m 8250 ft, approximately 3 hours). Overnight at Miriakamba Hut.

Day 3 – Meru trekking
From Miriakamba Hut, ascent to Saddle Hut (3,500 m 11700 ft, approximately4 hours). Afternoon trek to the summit of Little Meru (3,820 m 12450 ft, about 45 minutes), then return to Saddle Hut. Dinner and overnight stay at Saddle Hut.

Day 4 – Meru trekking/Summit
Leave at 3:00 am from Saddle Hut after breakfast for ascent to the summit of Mount Meru (4,565 m 15016 ft, 4-6 hours). We will walk around the rim of Meru Crater; then, crossing the alpine desert, we return to Saddle Hut for lunch. After lunch we will descend several hours to Miriakamba Hut for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5 Meru trekking/Arusha/Departure
In the morning we will descend through the forest three hours to Momella Gate where you will collect your well-earned certificate and board a vehicle. We return to a Hotel in Arusha for a hot shower and overnight, after the climb; or early dinner and transfer to the airport for a flight home. There is an option for a safari or shopping extension the next day, as well as an extension of your African experience with one of the available options.
Note: The climb can be reduced by one day by combining Days 4 and 5, making for a long but achievable descent.