For those looking at climbing Mount Meru, here is a recommended itinerary that my family and i did early January 2005. We did the climb and safari in Tanzania through African Sermon Safaris:
MOUNT MERU CLIMBING SAFARIS
Mount Meru is located in Tanzania and is the fifth highest mountain in Africa. It is a great mountain to climb and offers spectacular scenery, including views of Mount Kilimanjaro. The mountain is unspoilt and less congested as compared to it's Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya counterparts.
MOUNT MERU CLIMB
Duration: 4 Days/3 nights
Location: Mount Meru, Arusha, Tanzania
Day 1: Arusha/Mariakamba Hut
Mt.Meru Park Gate - Mariakamba: 4-5 hours
Drive from Arusha to the Mt. Meru park gate where you will be met by our game ranger and porters. Hike for the few hours to Mariakamba Hut at 8,500 ft. From here you may wish to take an evening walk on the slopes to view wildlife at one of the watering holes in the crater. Dinner and overnight rest at Mariakamba Hut, L,D
Day 2: Mariakamba Hut - Saddle Hut
Mariakamba - Saddle Hut: 3-4 hours
After breakfast hike to upto 11,500 ft to arrive at Saddle Hut. If time permits you can climb a little further on Mount Meru for a scenic view of the 'Roof of Africa', Mount Kilimanjaro. This will also be part of more acclimatization. Overnight at Saddle Hut, B,L,D
Day 3: Saddle Hut - Summit - Mariakamba Hut
Saddle Hut - Summit: 4-6 hours
An early rise to hike all the way to the summit before the afternoon clouds cover the summit. From the summit, descend back to the 11,500 ft Saddle Hut in time for lunch. After lunch, hike down to Mariakamba Hut for dinner and overnight, B,L,D.
Day 4: Mariakamba Hut - Arusha
Breakfast at the camp and a leisurely morning. Descend to the park gate to connect with your waiting transfer vehicle back to your Arusha Hotel, continue with other programs or depart, B.
You may consider contacting African Sermon Safaris. Here is their address:
African Sermon Safaris
P.O. Box 51322 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: +254 20 317656, Fax: +254 20 317656,
Cell phone: +254 722 884748
Website: www.continentalsafaris.com
E-mail: tours@continentalsafaris.com or africansermonsafaris@yahoo.com
We hiked Meru in December 2017 mostly based on the information found on Summitpost. As of 2011, when this page was last updated many things have changed, so you have to be aware of the followings:
- it is not allowed to climb Mt. Meru without a guide any more; so the situation is similar to Kilimanjaro
- in order to enter Arusha National Park to climb Mt. Meru you need to book through a Tanzanian tour-operator. They will ask for the voucher at the gate!
- taxes MUST be payed by card!!! Cash is not accepted at any at the National Park gates. To do this you have 2 options:
1. you give the amount to the tour-operator in cash in advance, they put it on their TANAPA (TANZANIA NATIONAL PARKS) issued cards and they pay the taxes at the gate
2. you use your own cards: VISA and MasterCard are accepted, and to be fair work quicker than the TANAPA cards
- guide and ranger are not the same thing! Both are compulsory. The guide is hired by your group through the agency. The armed ranger is assigned on spot by the park - depending on the size of the groups, several groups share one ranger. Each group separately pays the ranger-tax, regardless of the number of groups sharing the same service
- no other personnel is compulsory: porter or cook; BUT if you choose not to go with the whole circus, be prepared that you should also provide (food) for your guide! (Not for the ranger)
- as of 2018 the minimum days imposed for climbing Mt. Meru has been raised to 4. This is the no. of days you have to pay for when entering the park, no mater how fast you move
- taxes and park-fees change every year - generally speaking become more and more expensive; from the following link you can download the latest edition:
http://www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz/index.php/2016-02-03-12-27-41/2016-02-03-12-30-25
- taxes mentioned in the document do not include VAT; VAT must be added at the end
- once payed all taxes and fees, you are empowered to use the huts at the 2 campsites without any additional costs: 4 person bedrooms with confy beds (no blankets, so bring sleeping bag), clean and modern bathrooms, dining area, water source;
- in 2017 we payed the followings: 45$/person/day - conservation fee; 30$/person/day (not night!!) - hut fee; 20$/person - rescue fee; 15$/group/day - ranger fee; 2$/person/day - conservation and camping fee for all accompanying personnel (guide, porter, cook, driver) + VAT
- not verifiable (couldn't find any legislation or park-rule on the internet) information, but it looked like everyone sticks very strictly to it: 1/2 guide per client ratio
Loveafrica - Sep 23, 2005 4:30 am - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentFor those looking at climbing Mount Meru, here is a recommended itinerary that my family and i did early January 2005. We did the climb and safari in Tanzania through African Sermon Safaris:
MOUNT MERU CLIMBING SAFARIS
Mount Meru is located in Tanzania and is the fifth highest mountain in Africa. It is a great mountain to climb and offers spectacular scenery, including views of Mount Kilimanjaro. The mountain is unspoilt and less congested as compared to it's Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya counterparts.
MOUNT MERU CLIMB
Duration: 4 Days/3 nights
Location: Mount Meru, Arusha, Tanzania
Day 1: Arusha/Mariakamba Hut
Mt.Meru Park Gate - Mariakamba: 4-5 hours
Drive from Arusha to the Mt. Meru park gate where you will be met by our game ranger and porters. Hike for the few hours to Mariakamba Hut at 8,500 ft. From here you may wish to take an evening walk on the slopes to view wildlife at one of the watering holes in the crater. Dinner and overnight rest at Mariakamba Hut, L,D
Day 2: Mariakamba Hut - Saddle Hut
Mariakamba - Saddle Hut: 3-4 hours
After breakfast hike to upto 11,500 ft to arrive at Saddle Hut. If time permits you can climb a little further on Mount Meru for a scenic view of the 'Roof of Africa', Mount Kilimanjaro. This will also be part of more acclimatization. Overnight at Saddle Hut, B,L,D
Day 3: Saddle Hut - Summit - Mariakamba Hut
Saddle Hut - Summit: 4-6 hours
An early rise to hike all the way to the summit before the afternoon clouds cover the summit. From the summit, descend back to the 11,500 ft Saddle Hut in time for lunch. After lunch, hike down to Mariakamba Hut for dinner and overnight, B,L,D.
Day 4: Mariakamba Hut - Arusha
Breakfast at the camp and a leisurely morning. Descend to the park gate to connect with your waiting transfer vehicle back to your Arusha Hotel, continue with other programs or depart, B.
You may consider contacting African Sermon Safaris. Here is their address:
African Sermon Safaris
P.O. Box 51322 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: +254 20 317656, Fax: +254 20 317656,
Cell phone: +254 722 884748
Website: www.continentalsafaris.com
E-mail: tours@continentalsafaris.com or africansermonsafaris@yahoo.com
mark.elodmiklos - Jan 22, 2018 7:40 am - Hasn't voted
New rules and taxesHey everybody!
We hiked Meru in December 2017 mostly based on the information found on Summitpost. As of 2011, when this page was last updated many things have changed, so you have to be aware of the followings:
- it is not allowed to climb Mt. Meru without a guide any more; so the situation is similar to Kilimanjaro
- in order to enter Arusha National Park to climb Mt. Meru you need to book through a Tanzanian tour-operator. They will ask for the voucher at the gate!
- taxes MUST be payed by card!!! Cash is not accepted at any at the National Park gates. To do this you have 2 options:
1. you give the amount to the tour-operator in cash in advance, they put it on their TANAPA (TANZANIA NATIONAL PARKS) issued cards and they pay the taxes at the gate
2. you use your own cards: VISA and MasterCard are accepted, and to be fair work quicker than the TANAPA cards
- guide and ranger are not the same thing! Both are compulsory. The guide is hired by your group through the agency. The armed ranger is assigned on spot by the park - depending on the size of the groups, several groups share one ranger. Each group separately pays the ranger-tax, regardless of the number of groups sharing the same service
- no other personnel is compulsory: porter or cook; BUT if you choose not to go with the whole circus, be prepared that you should also provide (food) for your guide! (Not for the ranger)
- as of 2018 the minimum days imposed for climbing Mt. Meru has been raised to 4. This is the no. of days you have to pay for when entering the park, no mater how fast you move
- taxes and park-fees change every year - generally speaking become more and more expensive; from the following link you can download the latest edition:
http://www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz/index.php/2016-02-03-12-27-41/2016-02-03-12-30-25
- taxes mentioned in the document do not include VAT; VAT must be added at the end
- once payed all taxes and fees, you are empowered to use the huts at the 2 campsites without any additional costs: 4 person bedrooms with confy beds (no blankets, so bring sleeping bag), clean and modern bathrooms, dining area, water source;
- in 2017 we payed the followings: 45$/person/day - conservation fee; 30$/person/day (not night!!) - hut fee; 20$/person - rescue fee; 15$/group/day - ranger fee; 2$/person/day - conservation and camping fee for all accompanying personnel (guide, porter, cook, driver) + VAT
- not verifiable (couldn't find any legislation or park-rule on the internet) information, but it looked like everyone sticks very strictly to it: 1/2 guide per client ratio