3 Days / 2 Nights Mount Meru

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3 Days / 2 Nights . Tanzania . Multi-Environment Adventure

is the second highest mountain in Tanzania and the fifth highest in Africa. Meru is the only great isolated stratovolcano in East Africa that is still active. A massive eruption 7,800 years ago shattered Meru's upper slopes and formed an oblong 8 km/5 mi wide caldera that is open to the east. The main summit is on the caldera's western edge, perched above a dramatic and still active Ash Cone inside the caldera. Meru is just below the permanent snowline, so there are no glaciers or snowfields on its slopes. It is best to allow 4 days for climbing Meru, since it involves a large elevation gain, but you can do the trek in 3 or 5 days. There are huts available to climbers on the mountain and firewood is supplied. Your ascent involves hiking through grassland and forest on the mountain's lower slopes where you can see animals grazing. Higher, you hike and scramble along the breathtaking crater rim to the summit. Aside from being a rewarding and picturesque trek in its own right, Meru is also great acclimatization for a Kilimanjaro climb. You need advance permission from the park warden at Momella Gate before you start your ascent.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport. You will be met at the airport and transferred to the Springlands Hotel or similar hotel in Moshi for your overnight.

Transfer from Moshi to Arusha National Park, check in with park personnel, and in the late morning, walk under the Momella Gate to begin your trek. You soon pass some open grassland where you can view buffalo, warthogs, and elephants. Then, you continue a steady climb through montane forest. You can pause for your lunch at the famous Fig Tree. After lunch you, continue through less dense forest, where you can see birds and monkeys, including the black and white Colobus. By mid afternoon, you have closer views of Meru’s towering cliffs and Ash Cone. The Miriakamba Huts are situated in an idyllic grassy glade, and you will reach it in time to enjoy the afternoon sun and beautiful views over the surrounding plains between Meru and Kilimanjaro. If you are lucky, a giraffe may walk through camp.

Day 2
It is often clear in the morning, so if you want a view of Kilimanjaro, get up early. From the Miriakamba Huts, you climb steeply to the crater rim, which is called Elephant Ridge at this point. Then, you follow a steep path through attractive open lush Montane Forest to reach the giant heather in the Moorland near the saddle between Little Meru and Meru. A hot lunch will be ready for you when you arrive at the Saddle Huts. Your afternoon is free to rest and enjoy the views, but energetic trekkers can make the short climb to the nearby summit of Little Meru (3,820 m/12,533 ft) for superb views just before sunset.
Day 3
Start early at 2 AM, and climb steeply for an hour to Rhino Point (3,800 m/12,467 ft). In icy conditions or in strong winds, it may be unreasonable to progress beyond Rhino Point, but sunrise from here is equally as spectacular as from Cobra Point. If the weather is fine, descend slightly and continue along or near a rough undulating ridge of ash and rock to reach Cobra Point (4,350 m/14,271 ft) near sunrise. The stunning views include the cliffs of the crater rim, the Ash Cone rising from the crater floor, Kilimanjaro floating on the morning clouds, and the Rift Valley. Hike for another hour on a superb but often steep path into the unfolding day to reach the summit of Meru. The view from the top of this steep-sided peak can make you feel quite unique and suspended. Your hike back to Rhino Point in the still sharp morning light between the crater’s sloping outer wall and sheer cliffs of the inner wall is one of the most dramatic and exhilarating walks in Africa. Enjoy brunch and a well-earned rest at the Saddle Huts before continuing your descent to the Miriakamba Huts where you will spend the night if you are on the 4-day itinerary. If you are on a 3-day itinerary, you will descend all the way to Momella Gate on Day 3.

Important Travel Information

Is This Trip For You?

If you arrive at the Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha. We recommend at least one rest day before starting your trek. If you are transferring from Nairobi, this can act as your rest day. If you have time, enjoy a guided walk through the local rice fields and rainforest, do a little shopping in the town of Moshi, relax at the swimming pool, or get a massage.

Your guide will provide a briefing the evening before your trek, and you must separate one bag for the trek from your other luggage. Rental equipment is available. Extra luggage can be stored in a locked storage room at your Moshi hotel at no charge.

Mount Meru is the second highest mountain in Tanzania and the fifth highest in Africa. Meru is the only great isolated stratovolcano in East Africa that is still active. A massive eruption 7,800 years ago shattered Meru’s upper slopes and formed an oblong 8 km/5 mi wide caldera that is open to the east. The main summit is on the caldera’s western edge, perched above a dramatic and still active Ash Cone inside the caldera. Meru is just below the permanent snowline, so there are no glaciers or snowfields on its slopes. It is best to allow 4 days for climbing Meru, since it involves a large elevation gain, but you can do the trek in 3 or 5 days. There are huts available to climbers on the mountain and firewood is supplied. Your ascent involves hiking through grassland and forest on the mountain’s lower slopes where you can see animals grazing. Higher, you hike and scramble along the breathtaking crater rim to the summit. Aside from being a rewarding and picturesque trek in its own right, Meru is also great acclimatization for a Kilimanjaro climb. You need advance permission from the park warden at Momella Gate before you start your ascent.

Travel Companions

Groups are limited to 5-7 people. We will combine groups up to this limit if they are starting the same route on the same day. However, we can also arrange for private groups at no extra cost. We will try to add single travelers to a group if at all possible, but we cannot guarantee it. We can accommodate large groups of any size.

Guide(s)

We have guides that speak English, Spanish, French and German. Porters will also go on the trip to carry your luggage, food, and other equipment. You will only have to carry a day pack with your daily essentials.

Tips for guides and porters on Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru:

You will be given an envelope at the Springlands Hotel after your trek for your tip money. You can use U.S. dollars, Euros, TZ shillings, or a combination of these. It helps if you have small bills to tip everyone individually. There is no need to take money on the mountain with you.
The typical tip is $15/day for guides, $10/day for assistant guides and cooks, $7/day for porters. This is from the whole group, not per hiker.
Expect 1 guide per 8 hikers, 1 assistant guide per 3 hikers, and 1 cook per 8 hikers:
Expect porters as follows:
- 2 porters per hiker on the 5-day Marangu Route (minimum of 4 porters)
- 3 porters per hiker on a 6 or 7-day trek (minimum of 5 porters)
- 4 porters per hiker on the 8-day Lemosho Route (minimum of 8 porters)
- Sometimes extra porters are required based on the weight of your luggage.
Budget $200 per hiker for tips for a 6-day trek.
Gifts: Guides and porters also appreciate your warm clothing, shoes, and packs. You may want to bring some older clothing items for this purpose.
Celebration: You are also welcome to invite your guides back to the Springlands Hotel for drinks and/or dinner (on you) as a thank-you in addition to their tip.

Transportation

With the exception of airfare, all Zara trips include all transportation costs and arrangements within the destination country. This includes all transfers and the equipment for all activities listed.

Money

The local currency is Tanzanian shillings. U.S. dollars, Euros, and credit cards may be accepted by larger stores and hotels, but the exchange rate is better with shillings. ATM's are only available in larger towns like Moshi and Arusha. Yahoo Currency Converter

Recommended Gear List

Climber’s Packing List Notes

The pack that the porters carry is limited to 15 kg (35 pounds)

Overweight or extra luggage will require an extra porter at $5/day

Store electronics in sealed water-proof bags (double sealed if possible)
Wrap clothing in plastic bags
In the day pack, take along water, sunglasses, camera, binoculars, rain pants, and jacket at a minimum.
Add any other items you might need during the day, since you may not see your porters until the end of the day.
Zara Tours is interested in purchasing second-hand gear for rentals.
You may want to bring some older items of warm clothing as gifts for your guides and porters or donations to the Mount Kilimanjaro Porters Society.
You can leave extra luggage in a locked storage room at the Springlands Hotel for no charge.
You can leave valuables in a safe deposit box at the Springlands Hotel for $1/day.
See the Zara Equipment list for details on what is provided by Zara Tours.

Baggage

Day pack, for you to carry
Large duffel bag or backpack, for porters to carry
Plastic bags

Clothing You want your inner layer to be wicking – no cotton
Your next layer should be insulating and warm, and your top layer should be water proof but breathable.
You will need clothes for hiking during the day, lounging in the evening, and for sleeping.
Layers are important as temperatures vary greatly.
Kilimanjaro may be near the equator, but it gets cold up there!

Shorts, for first and last day only
Pants, for hiking and for lounging in the evenings
Short-sleeved or t-shirts
Long-sleeved shirts, for hiking and for lounging in the evenings
Long underwear
Fleece jacket or wool sweater
Fleece pants
Down jacket or ski parka (for temperatures well below freezing plus wind)
Rain jacket, needed in hot rainforest and cold snow
Rain pants, needed in hot rainforest and cold snow
Underwear
Sport bras, for women

Cold Weather Accessories

Mittens and/or gloves (waterproof, one thin pair, one thick pair that can be layered)
Wool or pile hat
Balaclava or neck gaitor
Hand and foot warmers (chemical activated)

Footwear

Be sure to break in your shoes before the hike!
Trekking shoes for hiking during the day, preferrably warm, waterproof, and with ankle-support – not too light and not too heavy
Tennis shoes or sandals for lounging in the evening
Gaiters
Hiking socks for warmer conditions
Wool socks for colder conditions
Sock liners to wick away moisture

Sleeping

Sleeping bag (Rated -25 degrees C/-10 degrees F or colder is recommended)
Sleeping pad and repair kit
Tents are supplied by Zara at no charge
Foam sleeping pads are provided by Zara at no charge (Thermarest is highly recommended, however)

Other

Water bottles and Camelback (2-3)

Get 3 liters of bottled water before the trip (available at the Springlands Hotel).
Your guides will boil water for you along the route, or use steripens for water sanitization.
To prevent water from freezing on summit day, keep your water source inside your jacket.
For Camelbacks, blow air back into the bladder after each sip and drink often.
Gatorade or other drink mix helps with taste and minerals.

Water filter or iodine purification tablets
Sun hat with brim
Sunglasses
Bandana
Money ($400 or more in cash and/or travellers cheques, including some small U.S., Euro, or Tanzanian bills)
Ski or trekking poles
Headlamp or flashlight
Camera, film, tripod
Video camera, tapes
Batteries

Bring extra sets for headlamp/flashlight and camera as cold weather shortens their life

Binoculars
Notebook, journal, pencil, and pen
Pocket knife
Electricity adapter
Energy bars, hard candy, snacks, and comfort foods
Playing cards, games, books, frisbee, football, kite
Chocolate or pens for village children, momentos for guides, porters, and other climbers
Umbrella, particularly useful in the rainy season, can be purchased in the market for around $2
Plastic bags and zip-lock bags for waterproofing
Sewing kit
Salt, pepper, and spices for bland food
Business cards
Alarm clock
Calculator (for currency conversion)
Swim suit for hotel swimming pool

Toiletries

Toilet paper (and baggie to carry used paper while on trail)
Small towel
Soap
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Handi-wipes (moist towelettes for cleaning)
Hand sanitizer
Lotion
Glasses, contacts, solution (take contacts out each night to prevent blurred vision)
Comb, mirror

Documents

Passport
Yellow fever certificate
Tanzania Visa
Medical insurance
Address book
Vaccination records
Airline tickets
Cash, travellers cheques, credit cards
Maps, guidebooks
Make copies of passport, TZ visa, airline tickets/schedule, and travellers cheques numbers.
Leave a copy with someone at home and put a copy in a separate place in your luggage.

First Aid

Ibuprofin, Aceteminophen, or Aspirin
Throat losenges
Bandaids
Moleskin
Sunscreen (SPF 15+)
Lip balm with sunscreen
Insect repellent
Disinfectant, Antiseptic cream
Bandages and tape
Diahrea medicine
Antihistemines
Ace bandage
Melatonin (1-3mg) or other sleep aid
Malaria pills (talk to your doctor)
Antibiotics (talk to your doctor)
Prescription drugs (talk to your doctor)
Diamox (talk to your doctor)

Gifts for Guides, Porters, Locals

Shoes
Any warm clothing
T-shirts
Hats
Nerf football, frisbees
Candy
Pens

Packing for your flight to Africa

U-shaped neck pillow (blow-up)
Books/magazines
Toiletries
Snacks
Water
Walkman and music
Eye shades, ear plugs
Melatonin or other sleep aid
Critical climbing gear (in case baggage is delayed)

Meeting/Departures Location

ZaraTours
P.O. Box 1990
Moshi
Tanzania, United Republic of

See Location on a Google Map

Cancellation Information

Cancellation of a booking or failure to join a tour will result in a retention of funds by ZaraTours Inc. as follows: Upon receipt of written cancellation by any member of the tour indicated on this reservation 30 days or longer prior to departure, 20% of the reservation of the canceling party will be retained by ZaraTours and the balance of the package price refunded. If a cancellation is received at least 14 days and up to 29 days prior to departure, 50% of the package price will be retained by ZaraTours Inc. If a cancellation is received less than 14 days prior to departure, 100% of the total package price will be retained by ZaraTours Inc. and all outstanding payment will become payable immediately. Should the canceling party be able to find a replacement for themselves no less than 14 days prior to departure and the replacement completes this booking form individually, no retention of funds will take place. However, should no replacement be found by 14 days prior to departure, a 100% cancellation penalty will apply to the canceling party. ZaraTours Inc. and its agents reserve the right to terminate, at their discretion and with immediate effect, the participation of any person on the tour.

Check Availability

May 2013