Tanzania highlights - Climb Meru and Kilimanjaro, then go an a relaxing Safari through Tanzania's national parks

Best travel season:

January to March / June to September

Trip duration:

16 days

From/To:

Kilimanjaro Airport / Moshi (JRO)

Trek duration:

10 days

Accommodation:

Tent / Hotel / Tented Camp / Safari Lodge

Difficulty:

Moderate - Demanding

Group size:

8 - 12 travellers

Tour leader:

Local English-speaking mountaing guide

Tour leader

Local English-speaking mountaing guide

And additional assistant-guides according to group size. This allows us to split the group in case of differing walking speeds or altitude sickness on summit days...

Price:

€ 960,-

Mt. Meru and Kilimanjaro summit climb and Safari adventure

Start your trip with an acclimatisation climb of Mount Meru, Kilimanjaro’s little brother.

The quiet peak in Arusha National Park, an insider tip among Tanzania connoisseurs, offers beautifil landscapes and varied scenery.

Breathtaking views of Kilimanjaro and the diverse flora and fauna en route to the summit of Mt. Meru are highlights of your trip.

Well acclimatized to altitude, you'll trek the scenic Machame route ("Whisky Route") along the southern circuit, hiking through all of Africas climatic and vegetation zones.

Summit Uhuru Peak, Kilimanjaros highest point and rooftop of Africa.

Reward yourself with a relaxing Safari after the climb and visit the famous national parks Lake Manyara and Tarangire as well as the unique Ngorongoro Crater.

Watch Africa‘s wildlife up close: elephants and giraffes, lions, cheetahs as well as the huge herds of buffalos, wildebeests and zebras.

TRAVEL TO MOUNTAINS is "partner for responsible travel" of the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC) and the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP). This partnership guarantees fair wages, good working conditions, proper equipment for local teams and provides training classes (www.kiliporters.org).

Detailed Itinerary

DAY

1

Individual arrival in Tanzania

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Moshi. You'll be picked up at the airport and transfered to our comfortable hotel in Moshi. Relax at the swimming pool in the beautiful garden to recover from the flight. In the evening, you’ll be welcomed by our local mountain guide and given a briefing about the days ahead.

Accommodation:	Hotel, Moshi
Meals:	D

DAY

2

Start climbing Mt. Meru, trek to Miriakamba Hut

After breakfast you’ll be driven together with the porters to Momella Gate (approx. 1500 m), the starting point of the trek in Arusha National Park. At the gate, you’ll meet the armed park ranger who will accompany you for the next four days. Despite the proximity to densely populated areas, encounters with wildlife such as buffaloes and giraffes are not unusual in Arusha NP. The park ranger protects both the human visitors and the animals living in the park from unpleasant encounters. Today‘s hike takes you through wooded savannah, dense bush land and mountain forest to Miriakamba Hut (approx. 2600 m). You’ll spend your first night on the mountain there.

INFO

One park ranger often looks after more than one of the small trekking group, which may lead to delays at the start of the trek. Unfortunately, neither we nor our local partner can influence this, since this is organised by the National Park Authority. But rest assured: There is enough time to cover the first stage and we kindly ask you to remain patient.

Ascent:	1100 m
Walking Time:	approx. 4 h
Accommodation:	Hut, Miriakamba (2600 m)
Meals:	B L D

DAY

3

Hike through mountain forest and moorlands to Saddle Hut

Beautiful landscape and flora will accompany your climb to the saddle between Little Meru and Mount Meru. The aptly named Saddle Hut sits on a wide col (approx. 3600 m).
To receive optimum acclimatization and as a preparation for summiting Mount Meru the next day, we’ll climb Little Meru (3900 m) in the afternoon. The ascent takes about one hour and will reward you with beautiful panoramic views of Mt. Meru's main summit and the wide plain at our feet, all the way to mighty Kilimanjaro standing in the east..

Ascent:	1000 m + 200 m
Walking Time:	4 - 5 h + 1 h
Accommodation:	Hut, Saddle Hut (3600 m)
Meals:	B L D

DAY

4

Summiting Mount Meru – Kilimanjaro’s little brother

Early in the morning before sunrise, we‘ll start the long ascent of the main peak of Mt. Meru. We’ll soon leave the moorlands behind us and follow a small trail through the lava and the desert-like scree to the summit of Mt. Meru, at 4566 m the third highest peak of Tanzania. A few places will be slightly more difficult to negociate, but our local guides will be pleased to help you.
Kili’s little brother offers fantastic views of the surrounding savannah and especially the imposing massif of Kilimanjaro in the distance to the east. You will also be fascinated by the massif of Mount Meru itself: its large, horseshoe-shaped crater and the ash cone, the small secondary crater.
After a long rest at the summit, we’ll descend to Mirikamba Hut, where we’ll spend a second night for better acclimatization - and to go easy on our joints before the upcoming climb of Kilimanjaro!

Ascent:	1000 m
Descent:	1000 m
Walking Time:	10 - 12 h
Accommodation:	Hut, Miriakamba (2600 m)
Meals:	B L D

DAY

5

End of trek at Momella Gate and transfer to the hotel in Moshi

Today‘s long descent to the park entrance is quite a challenge, but it’s also fun because you’ll be walking through many vegetation zones and may encounter wildlife.
We’ll reach Momella Gate around noon and say goodbye to our park ranger. After a scenic return drive through Arusha National Park, we’ll check into our comfortable hotel in the afternoon.
Before dinner, you’ll be given the briefing about acending Kilimanjaro.

Drive:	80 km / approx. 2 h
Descent:	2000 m
Walking Time:	approx. 4 h
Accommodation:	Hotel, Moshi
Meals:	B L D

DAY

6

Day of rest at the hotel

A day to relax and regain strength for the next ascent. Pamper yourself in our comfortable hotel and enjoy a swim in the pool. Another option can be an interesting visit of the town of Moshi by yourself.

Accommodation:	Hotel, Moshi
Meals:	B D

DAY

7

Start climbing Kilimanjaro along Machame route

After breakfast, transfer to Machame Gate, where the last formalities are completed before we can head off onto the trail. The equipment needs to be packed and weighed by the staff, and only after these procedures can you start hiking. Machame route is the most beautiful and above all the most varied route up Kilimanjaro. On the first day you’ll be walking on a good trail that takes you through tropical rainforest to the tree line at about 3000 m. Even though ypu'll be well acclimatized after summiting Mount Meru, it is important to walk slowly during the first days on the trek to receive as much acclimatisation as possible while ascending. After 5 to 6 hours of easy walking, you‘ll reach the first camp at Machame Hut (3050 m.a.s.l.) in the afternoon. Far above, Kibo, the main summit of Kilimanjaro, is waiting for you.

Drive	30 km / approx. 1 h
Ascent:	1200 m
Walking Time:	5 - 6 h
Accommodation:	Tent, Machame Camp (3050 m)
Meals:	B L D

DAY

8

Trek to Shira Caves (3840 m)

Quickly, we‘ll leave the tree line behind us. The trail becomes a little steeper, giving you better views of the landscape. We’ll hike along a ridge through heather and moorland. Again and again, you‘ll have fantastic views of the vast volcanic massif. Again "pole pole", "slowly slowly", is the motto of the day and our local porters remind us again and again to walk slowly. Walking too fast on the first few days will take its revenge, at the latest when trying to reach the summit. In the afternoon, we‘ll reach the next camp near Shira Caves (3840 m) at the edge of the barren volcanic landscape on the vast Shira Plateau.

Ascent:	900 m
Walking Time:	5 - 6 h
Accommodation:	Tent, Shira Plateau (3840 m)
Meals:	B L D

DAY

9

Beautiful Barranco Valley (3900 m)

Today is not only a mountain day in a class of its own, it also gives us optimum acclimatisation to the altitude. After a few steps, we‘ll leave the last traces of vegetation behind and hike through lava ashes on the barren Shira Plateau. A detour climb to the "Lava-Tower" takes us up to an altitude of 4500 m, an ideal sidetrip to acclimatise even more for the coming next days. Near the basalt tower, we‘ll have a comfortable lunch break and enjoy the panorama that has just opened up around us: Our view sweeps over the southern and western slopes of Kilimanjaro, down to the plain far below us and the 4500 m high Mt Meru, the neighbouring volcano. After lunch, we’ll descend into wild Barranco Valley. Rushing mountain streams accompany us through senecia and lobelia forests. We‘ll set up camp in the immediate vicinity of Barranco wall, which we will climb across the next day (3900 m).

Ascent:	900 m
Descent:	700 m
Walking Time:	6 - 7 h
Accommodation:	Tent, Baranco (3900 m)
Meals:	B L D

DAY

10

To Barafu Huts (4600 m)

Negotiating the 300 m high Barranco wall is this morning's main feat. It rises east of Barranco camp and looks almost insurmountable. A well laid out and enjoyable trail, however, will help us traverse the wall - it’s even surprisingly easy!
After lunch break, we’ll continue to ascend to Barafu Huts, our last camp before summit day. At 4600 meters, the air is getting really thin now and the acclimatisation of the last few days pays off.
After an early dinner, we’ll retire to our sleeping bags soon since the night will be a short one and tomorrow will be a tough day.

INFO

Having climbed Mount Meru and beeing therefore well acclimatized to Altitudes up to 4500 Meters, we can skip intermediate Karanga camp and hike from Barranco camp all the way to Barafu camp in one long day.

Ascent:	1050 m
Descent:	400 m
Walking Time:	6 - 7 h
Accommodation:	Tent, Barafu (4600 m)
Meals:	B L D

DAY

11

Summit Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa (5895 m)

At midnight we will be woken up and after a short breakfast, we‘ll finally start climbing towards the summit of Kibo, headtorches lighting the way. Over scree and lava, the well-trodden trail winds its way up to the crater rim in short hairpin bends. After 5 exhausting hours and 1200 m of ascent in increasingly thin air, we’ll finally reach the crater rim. You made it to Stella Point and are at 5800 m! You’ll have a rest here, drink some warm tea and enjoy the first warming rays of sunshine that also bring the panorama to life. But still, there are another 100 m of altitude difference that separate us from Uhuru Peak, at 5895 m the highest point of Africa. We’ll slowly follow the trail along the crater rim, passing nearby huge and impressive glacier fields, until we reach the summit of Kibo after about an hour more hiking. The incomparable panorama lets us forget how exhausted we are and the immense joy about a successful summit ascent takes over!
The descent back to camp is a long one but it goes by surprisingly fast if you skip and slide down scree fields. It’s with relief that we’ll breathe the thicker air again. In Barafu, we'll be welcomed by our kitchen staff and served a strengthening lunch. But today’s efforts are not yet completely over: In the afternoon the trail takes us all the way down to Mweka Hut, the last camp we stay at (3100 m).

Ascent:	1500 m
Descent:	2800 m
Walking Time:	12 - 15 h
Accommodation:	Tent, Mweka (3100 m)
Meals:	B L D

DAY

12

End of the trekking at Mweka gate

We’ll descend along Mweka route quickly through all vegetation zones and walk directly down to Mweka Gate where we'll arrive at around noon. Our Kilimanjaro climb ends here and we will say goodbye to our porter team before driving back to our hotel and wrap up the trekking tour – happy and relaxed.

Descent:	1400 m
Walking Time:	approx. 3 h
Accommodation:	Hotel, Moshi
Meals:	B L D

DAY

13

Safari in Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, we’ll set off for the safari trip. Your English-speaking driver is also a certified and experienced wildlife guide and will be proud to show you all the animals. From Moshi, you‘ll drive east to Lake Manyara National Park, which is famous for its many bird species. Hippos, elephants and lions (including the famous tree lions) also call the watery landscape their home. In the late afternoon, you’ll take a short drive to the crater rim of Ngorongoro Crater and check in at our very beautiful safari lodge. The rooms have an impressive view of the huge crater.

Drive:	4 - 5 h
Accommodation:	Lodge****, Ngorongoro
Meals:	B L D

DAY

14

Explore unique Ngorongoro Crater

In the morning, you‘ll take a drive on the crater floor and watch the many different species of animals that have evolved in this protected environment.
Ngorongoro Crater is a unique microcosm and almost all animals of Africa can be observed, including rhinos and leopards. In the morning you can watch wildlife, maybe you’re lucky and even get to witness a predator hunting. In the afternoon, you’ll head towards Tarangire National Park.

Drive:	1 - 2 h
Accommodation:	Lodge****, Karatu
Meals:	B L D

DAY

15

Safari in Tarangire National Park

Today will be filled with a great safari trip in Tarangire National Park. The huge elephant herds are impressive, but you can also observe giraffes, hippos, lions and wildebeests. In the late afternoon, you‘ll return to Moshi and spend one last evening in our beautiful hotel.

Drive (National Park):	4 - 5 h
Accommodation:	Hotel, Moshi
Meals:	B L D

DAY

16

Flight home or onward travel

A day to relax and put your feet up. The gorgeous gardens of our hotel invite you to linger. Airport transfers depending on flight times.

Meals:

B

B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner

Difficulty rating - altitude acclimatisation - preparation

Overall difficulty

Moderate to Demanding

Technical difficulty

Easy to Moderate

No alpine difficulties, but sure-footedness is required. Most of our trek follows good and well-kept trails without technical difficulties.
Climbing Mt. Meru is a little more "alpine" than climbing Kilimanjaro but still not difficult in technical terms. On summit day, you will need good surefootedness since the trail is narrow and steep in places. Moreover, you’ll climb in darkness most of the time.
When climbing Kilimanjaro via Machame route, you‘ll mostly walk on wide trails. Ascending Barranco Wall requires good sure-footedness and in some places, you’ll need to use your hands to grab a hold. Summit day will be started predawn, wearing head torches, and you’ll walk in serpentines up steep scree. For the long days up and down the mountain, walking poles are recommended!
It is possible to skip down loose scree fields to take shortcuts. (Bring and wear gaiters to keep pebbles out of your boots.)

Fitness and stamina

Demanding

Daily ascents of up to approx. 1200 m in altitude difference. Daily descents of up to approx. 700 m in altitude difference. Walking times can add up to a daily 6 to 8 hours.
Summit days are very long (day 3 for Mt. Meru, day 10 for Kibo). Walking times on Kibo summit day will add up to approx. 15 hours; there will be a 1400 m ascent plus a 2800 m descent. You do need a very good level of fitness - it’s truly a must.

Altitude acclimatisation

The high altitude of almost 6000 m is the biggest challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro and makes optimum altitude acclimatisation absolutely essential. Climbing Mt. Meru (4566 m) is not only a great mountain experience but also ideal for acclimatisation for climbing Kilimanjaro. The elevation of the summit of Mt. Meru (4566 m) is the same as the highest camp (Barafu) on Kilimanjaro, which makes the ascent of Kibo much easier. In order to minimize the risk of altitude sickness, it is necessary to ascend very slowly during the first few days. Our experienced guides will give you advice on how to acclimatise best.

Please make this process easy for your body by

• starting the journey in good health and well-rested,
• avoiding any unnecessary efforts during the first days of the trek,
• walking relatively slowly, especially when ascending,
• drinking lots of liquids (water),
• trusting and following the instructions and advice of your guide.

We advise against taking medication (e.g. Diamox) as a prophylaxis for altitude sickness. Due to the strongly dehydrating effect, such medication tends to be counterproductive rather than helpful.

Requirements and preparation

If you are mountain walker with a good level of fitness and follow a regular exercise regime of (endurance) sports, climbing Kilimanjaro after climbing Mt. Meru will be perfectly possible for you. You should be used to day hikes of 1000 m to 1200 m of ascent/ descent in the Alps and should not shy away from longer tours of 1500 m of ascent/ descent either.
For the summit stage, you’ll need - in addition to physical endurance - mental strength to manage the long and strenuous ascent. We recommend starting regular training about 3 to 4 months prior to your trip to Kilimanjaro, at least 2 to 3 times a week. Endurance training is the best way to prepare yourself: Regular running (jogging), cycling, swimming and long mountain hikes carrying an average daypack (approx. 6 to 10 kg) are best for developing cardiovascular fitness and stamina.

08.08. - 19.08.2020

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PLEASE NOTE: Prices quoted are land only and do not include international flights. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until the departure is showing 'Guaranteed' or 'Almost full'.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What's included

Local, English speaking mountain guide
Local cook and porter team - approx. 12 kg (Mt. Meru) and 15 kg (Kilimanjaro) luggage allowance per traveller
Experienced safari guide-cum-driver, trained in zoology, for the safari
5 nights in a beautiful hotel complex with pool - twin share and half board, prior, between and after the climbs resp. the safari
Accommodation in mountain huts on Mt. Meru and camping in spacious 2-person tents on Kilimanjaro
Full board on the mountains - excellent catering by our experienced chefs: substantial breakfast - (mostly packed) lunch - filling dinner
Accommodation in beautiful four-star lodges in and arouind the national parks during the safari
Packed lunches incl. 1 l of bottled water per person during the game drives
Game drive by 4WD safari vehicles
All transports and transfers according to the itinerary - including airport transfers from/to Kilimanjaro Airport
All necessary national park fees and climbing permits
All safari park fees according to the itinerary

What's not included

International flight to Tanzania
Visa (approx. USD 50,-) - the visa can be obtained upon arrivel at the airport.
Travel insurance - you can take travel insurance and/or trip cancellation/interruption insurance through Travel to Mountains.
Beverages
Personal expenses
Tipping
Costs incurred for programme changes due to clients actions/decisions
Surcharge for single room supplement: € 180,- - if available, a room can be shared with another solo traveller of the same sex.
Tent for single use on Kilimanjaro upon request (surcharge)
All other costs not listed under "What’s included"

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