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The ascent of Mount Meru before Kilimanjaro helps to ensure success on Kilimanjaro with 10 days on the mountains.
Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru combine to make an excellent trek with plenty of acclimatisation. The ascent of Mount Meru (4566m), Kili’s little sister, makes for a superb training and acclimatising trip before the main ascent of Kilimanjaro. It is a four day round-trip and a wonderful climb in its own right. It is far, far less crowded than any of the routes on Kilimanjaro. You can also expect to see wildlife on the lower slopes and in the Arusha National Park which we pass through after the climb. After a night in Moshi, where you will meet any clients joining just for Kilimanjaro, we head off to the start of the Machame route.
The Machame route approaches from the wetter south side of the mountain, initially through dense, lush montane cloud forest and on up to the eastern side of the Shira plateau to Shira 2 campsite. Shortly beyond here the route merges with Lemosho route as it passes the Lava Tower (4600m) on the acclimatisation day en route to Barranco. From this point on the trail can get very busy, but there is never any need to rush on our itineraries. Descent is via the Mweka route.
All flights are to Kilimanjaro airport, avoiding the overland journey to and from Nairobi. And finally we include ALL PARK FEES in our prices.
The departure date is based on an overnight flight departing the UK in the evening and arriving the following day at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Some same-day flights may be available but the overnight flight allows you to arrive earlier in the day giving you more time to recover from the flight before heading up the mountain.
The Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru trek can be extended with visits to Zanzibar or a safari. Please see our Trip Dossier download tab or contact us for further details.
* A deposit of £400 will be required at checkout.
Extras can be added per-person when you book onto a date
Item | Price | |
---|---|---|
Single Supplement - Kilimanjaro | £120 |
* A deposit of £200 (or the full extra price, whichever is lower) will be required at checkout for each extra added per-person on this trip
Days 1 - 2 | Overnight flight to Kilimanjaro International airport. On arrival in Tanzania you will be met and transferred to the hotel. Situated in a quiet location in the foothills of Kilimanjaro this is a pleasant and friendly hotel with restaurant and bar. |
Day 3 | From Momella Gate at 1500m the route crosses open plains with possible sightings of giraffe, buffalo and warthogs. Climbing steadily the trail enters the forest, in which you will hear the wonderful calling sounds of monkeys and birds amongst other animals. The forest opens out as you arrive at the plateau of Miriakamba. Two huts sleep 48 in bunk beds with spectacular views up to the ash cone, the crater rim cliffs and the summit. 5 hours walking |
Day 4 | Trees give way to giant heathers then moorland as you climb up the East Ridge of the crater rim. There are good views down into the crater floor and of Kilimanjaro floating above the cloud. If time allows we can make a late afternoon ascent of Little Meru 3820m (50 mins). There are two sleeping huts with rooms of 4 beds. Each room has a key to lock when climbing on summit day. 5 hours walking |
Day 5 | We start early at 2am to climb to Rhino Point 3800m, commemorating the last Rhino in Arusha National Park shot by poachers. Rocky undulating ground leads up to Cobra Point 4350m, and with lightening skies continues to the rough summit rocks and the summit. 4566m. The walk around the crater rim is exhilarating, the sheer cliffs on one side, the dramatic views of the Ash Cone and Kilimanjaro in the distance. Descent is by the same route stopping for lunch at Saddle hut then down to stay overnight at Miriakamba. 7 to 9 hours walking |
Day 6 | Descend to Momella gate (3 hours). Enjoy a safari through Arusha National Park before returning to the hotel for a freshen up before heading up 'the big one'. 3 hours walking |
Day 7 | An early start on the first day allows you some time to make any adjustments to your packing before leaving for the park gate. From the gate (1800m) the path climbs with a gradual gradient and a never tiring route in a forest full of flowers. A last ramp leads to the lovely rocky rise and metal constructions of the Machame Hut (3000m). Climb 1200 metres, walking time: 4 to 5 hours. |
Day 8 | A rather short day although the altitude begins to make itself felt. The path rises with a charming route along a lava ridge that offers splendid views of the Kibo and Meru peaks before crossing a number of clearings surrounded by very high, tree-like heathers. A stony stretch with the odd zigzag leads to the edge of the remarkable lava plateau of Shira. We cross this to our camp (3840 metres) near a large cave. Climb 840 metres, walking time: 4 to 5 hours. |
Day 9 | This stage, quite tiring at first, explains why hikers starting from Machame suffer the altitude less on the final stage to the Kibo summit. Zigzagging up and down is, on any mountain, the best way to get acclimatised. We start by reaching an enormous solitary rock and then proceed on wide, desolate, stony slopes towards the Lava Tower and the Arrow Glacier Hut. High up, in the distance are the walls of the Western Breach. Once at the ridge at the base of the Lava Tower (4600m) a rather steep descent leads to the Barranco Hut (3950m), a splendid viewpoint of the Breach Wall and the Heim and Decken glaciers. Climb 760 metres, descend 650 metres, walking time: 7 to 8 hours. |
Day 10 | A long but spectacular day which gives an ever changing vista of the summit. We start by crossing the valley and scrambling up the Barranco wall by a series of easy rock ledges. Once at the top, a broad, rocky ridge traverses around the mountain with wonderful views of the Heim glacier. A short sharp descent past some amazing rock formations leads down into the Karanga Valley followed by a short climb to the Karanga campsite. The final stretch of the approach follows a rocky wind-beaten ridge close under the south flank of Kibo and crosses a large desolate bowl before climbing up onto the obvious ridge to the Barafu Hut (4600 metres) and our camp. Climb 850 metres; descend 200m, walking time: 7 to 8 hours. |
Day 11 | We leave camp just after midnight on a good path that climbs rocky slopes and into the wide gorge to the right of the Rebmann glacier. A section on the more friable ground (nothing like the screes of Gillman's Point on the normal route) precedes the last slopes, sometimes covered with snow. Once out on the crater at Stella Point (5795m) we continue on round to Uhuru Peak (5895m). To descend, we drop back scree slopes to Barafu for a rest and an early lunch and then continue down for a further four hours to Mweka Camp, delightfully situated in the trees, and celebrate! Climb 1295 metres; descend 2795 metres, walking time: 10 to 14 hours. |
Day 12 | A fully refurbished trail takes you down through the forest to the park gate (1500m) and the bizarre sight of vehicles! After bidding farewell to the guides and porters we transfer you to the hotel where you can get a meal and have a wash and brush up before transferring to the airport to catch an early evening flight home. Descend 1600 metres, walking time: 3 to 4 hours. |
Day 13 | Arrive back in the UK. |
It is essential for a trip of this type that you are adequately insured. When researching insurance options, please ensure the policy covers you for the following:
Adventure Peaks partners with Global Rescue to offer the world’s leading travel protection services. Medical and security emergencies happen. When they do, we rely on Global Rescue to provide our clients with medical, security, travel risk and crisis response services. Without a membership, an emergency evacuation could cost over $100,000. More than one million members trust Global Rescue to get them home safely when the unexpected happens. We highly recommend our clients enroll with Global Rescue, in particular for peaks over 7000m:
https://partner.globalrescue.com/adventurepeaks/
We are aware the following provide insurance:
Expeditions and Treks under 7000m - Campbell Irvine Direct : http://www.campbellirvine.com/AdventurePeaks
HCC Medical Insurance Services: LLC sales@hccmis.com Tel: 1-800-605-2282
Travelex Ins. Services: www.travelexinsurance.com Tel: 1-800 228 9792
True Traveller Ins: www.truetraveller.com Tel: 0333 999 3140 for treks including over 4500m
Austrian Alpine Club (UK) www.aacuk.org.uk Tel: +44 (0)1929 556870
Rothwell & Towler: www.world-first.co.uk Tel: 0345 908 0161 (under 6400m)
J S Insurance: www.jsinsurance.co.uk Tel: 0844 848 1500
Snowcard: www.snowcard.co.uk Tel: 01295 660836
The B.M.C.: www.thebmc.co.uk Tel: 0161 445 6111 (call and speak to Jim. Please note the BMC cannot cover Mt Damavand)
Dogtag: www.dogtag.co.uk Tel: 0800 036 4824 (Check excess etc)
HCC Medical Insurance Services: LLC sales@hccmis.com Tel: 1-800-605-2282
Travelex Ins. Services: www.travelexinsurance.com Tel: 1-800 228 9792
True Traveller Ins: www.truetraveller.com Tel: 0333 999 3140 for treks including over 4500m
Austrian Alpine Club (UK): www.aacuk.org.uk Tel: +44 (0)1929 556870
AXA Worldwide Travel Ins: www.axainsurance.com Tel: +44 (0)844 874 0360
Ingle International: www.ingleinternational.com Tel: (USA) 1.800.360.3234
Insure for Less: www.insure4less.com.au (Australian clients)
You do not have to use any of the above, but if you make your own insurance arrangements documentary evidence of your own policy is required.
Please forward the details of your Insurance as soon as you have it: we need the insurance company’s name, their 24 hour emergency telephone number and your insurance policy number – admin@adventurepeaks.com
The local guides were absolutely fantastic and went above and beyond to ensure that I successfully made it to both summits. The food and general organisation were also superb.
The camp on the Shira plateau is wonderful. We arrived in heavy fog only for it to lift right before sunset, giving us an amazing view over the clouds to Mount Meru.
Overall the trip was very good. All info sent out before the trip was very professional and clear. While in the country there was a few questions that could have been an issue, but handled superbly by the UK guide. The porters/kitchen staff were all so helpful.
Highlights: reaching Stella Point and then the summit after a 6/7 hour plod, then it hitting home and getting quite emotional realising what we had achieved a few hours later after falling into the tent for an hour 'recovery nap'...and meeting and making six new friends, it's amazing how close you all get after a few meals in a tiny mess tent. Looking forward to the already planned cycle trips, climbing sessions and walks in the lakes with the group.
I thought the in-country and British guides were excellent and made the trip very enjoyable, fun and safe - they were all very experienced, especially Gary who I cannot fault, he was great!
I really like that Adventure Peaks is a small independent company, and the training weekend in the Lake District was brilliant. All food and accommodation was superb and overall I loved the trip.
The in-country guides were brilliant!!!!! They were very helpful, welcoming, fun to be around and some of them (especially the assistant guides) had very good knowledge of flora and fauna, the food was fantastic and quite astounding considering where we were and the facilities the cook had! The accommodation in Arusha was lovely and so nice to come back to after trekking, and the accommodation on the safari was even better, just a fantastic way to end the trip and so relaxing, we were very grateful for it! Our safari guide (Steven) was absolutely brilliant, and so knowledgeable about all of the animals and history - he made the safari even more fantastic and I cannot thank him enough.
Gary was incredible and made the trip both fun and safe, I cannot thank him enough. He was so approachable and didn't make me feel silly for any small worry, especially considering myself and my partner had never been to altitude before and therefore were experiencing symptoms for the first time. I trusted his judgement on the mountain and I was incredibly thankful to have Gary there keeping me safe - for that he is worth his weight in gold. He was always positive, and encouraging, with an interest in the flora and fauna which I personally really liked because I am also interested in these. He was obviously very experienced and I was extremely glad to have him there, not to mention the fact that he was really good fun and kept everyone's spirits up. He really did make the trip brilliant!
Ngorongoro crater was my favourite day, the animal life was incredible and our guide was fantastic! I also loved Mt Meru, more than Kilimanjaro, it was a stunningly beautiful mountain, and I would have liked some more time to complete this at a slightly more leisurely pace in order to be able to take it all in.
Gary Daines was our English Guide on Meru and Kili. I understand that this was the first time that Adventure Peaks have worked with Gary. I would like to make clear: Gary is an absolute credit to Adventure Peaks. As a company director myself, that uses subcontracted staff, I know how difficult it can be to find the right people to represent your business in a positive and professional manner. Let me say that with Gary, you have a friendly, knowledgeable, supportive and professional mountain guide. I cannot recommend him highly enough! He made our trek a delight. Five stars!
The choice of hotel in Arusha was perfect. The choice of hotel for the safari extension was even better! I highly recommend both places for organising future trips.
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