Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arusha - Momella Gate to Miriakamba Hut

   • In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel, and after a 45-minute drive, you will arrive at the Arusha National Park Gate. At the national park gate, your guide will complete the obligatory entry forms, and whilst he does so, you can peruse the information boards of the national park. Once the formalities have been completed and the hiking team consisting of porters from the surrounding villages is formed, you will be driven a little further to Momella Gate. An armed park ranger will accompany you while you start your hike and get a first glimpse of the wonderful giraffes and buffalos. Once you have left the buffalo herds and giraffes behind, you will enter the acacia forest and follow the Southern Route. After a steady 2-hour climb, you will reach Maio Falls and some picturesque meadows that are perfect for a picnic.
   • After a rest, you will climb and soon reach the well-known ‘Arched Fig Tree’. Here, your park ranger will tell you about the formation of this tree and how it gained its shape, forming an arch over the path. After another 1:30- 2 hours, you will reach the Miriakamba Hut. Evening meal and overnight stay at the Miriakamba Hut.

2. Day 2: Miriakamba Hut to Saddle Hut

   • In the morning, you will leave the Miriakamba Hut behind and follow a steep track with wooden steps upwards. Due to the gain in height, it will be noticeably cooler than the previous day and due to this, the hike will seem to get easier. The clouds also often hang in the rainforest and dip the lush vegetation in a moody atmosphere. After approximately 2 hours, you will reach the vantage point "Mgongo wa Tembo" (Elephant back) at an elevation of 3200m, where you will enjoy a well-earned break.
   • After another hike in which the vegetation changes from rainforest into an airy bushland, you will reach Saddle Hut (3550m) mid-day for a relaxing lunch break. During the afternoon, you can take a side trip to Little Meru (3820m), which takes approx. 1 hour or 1:30 hour, and from where you can have wonderful views of Arusha National Park and of Kilimanjaro (approx. 80 km away). Back at the hut, a warm dinner awaits you before you have the final preliminary talk in preparation for the following day’s climb to the summit.

3. Day 3: Saddle Hut - Summit then Miriakamba Hut

   • After an early start with tea and biscuits, you will leave for the summit at 02:00 a.m. By torchlight, you will follow the trail through bushland to the so-called Rhino Point (3821m), where the path turns into a more challenging trek with occasional light climbs. You will follow the north ridge to the summit, where you walk on the ground alternating between lava ash and rock.
   • After approx. 4 - 5 hours, you will have the summit and the Tanzanian flag in your sights. From the summit, you can enjoy the sun rising above Kilimanjaro and the fantastic view of Mount Meru’s crater with its steep sides and the “Ash Cone” in the middle. The descent follows the same route back to Saddle Hut (3550m), where you will take a well-deserved long break and recuperate with hot soup and tea. Once refreshed, you will continue with the descent. During the early afternoon, you will reach Miriakamba Hut (2500m) - tired but happy. At this Miriakamba hut, you can relax and think about the last stage you have completed. Evening meal and overnight stay at Miriakamba Hut (2500m).

4. Day 4: Miriakamba Hut to Momella Gate

   After breakfast, you will follow a two or 3-hour trek over the so-called Northern route back to Momella Gate. The descent is shorter than the ascent, but there is still the chance to see elephants, buffalos, giraffes, and the black and white Columbus monkeys. At the gate, you will say farewell to your hiking crew, and your driver will take you back to Arusha.