Mount
Meru Climbing (4 Days)
Few
people climb Mt. Meru . This is to its advantage, as one is more
likely to see forest animals and, big game on the lower slopes.
You walk through forests aflame with red-hot pokers, dripping
Spanish moss and carpeted with clover before rising to open heath
spiked with giant lobelias. The dramatic and exhilarating walk
along the rim of the horseshoe crater, before the final ascent,
makes this highly recommended for climbers interested in a challenge,
spectacular views and wildlife.
We
collect our guests from their hotel in Arusha and drive to Momella
gate (1,500m), where the trekking begins. We follow the track
through the forest and through the wild fig tree arch to a small
clearing, where we may see buffalo grazing, before continuing
across the Jekukumia River and on for lunch at Njeku viewpoint,
with the Momella lakes and the plains beyond. Return to the track
and continue to Miriakamba hut for our evening meal and overnight
stay. (Full board).
Day
2: After
breakfast, we walk through the glades and forest, filled with
black and white Colobus monkeys, to Mgongo wa Tembo (Elephant
Ridge). We will reach Saddle Hut
3-4
hours later and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, continue to the
summit of Little Meru for impressive views of the crater, the
top of the ash cone and sheer cliffs of the crater's inner wall.
Your evening meal and overnight will be a Saddle Hut. (Full board).
Day
3: Rise
early and walk along the very narrow ridge to the summit (4,566m)
watching the sunrise dramatically from behind Kilimanjaro. The
return, via Rhino point, provides spectacular views of the Rift
Valley, the volcanoes of Kirumbeni and Lengai and the town of
Arusha . Our evening meal and overnight stay will be at Miriakamba
Hut. (10-12 hours). (Full board).
Day
4: On
our final day, return to Momella Gate (2 hours.) where our vehicle
will be waiting. We will then have a game drive in Arusha National
Park and a picnic lunch before we return to Arusha town to connect
with onward arrangements required (breakfast and lunch only).
