Elevation Gain: 920m/3,020ft

In the morning you will be transferred to Arusha National Park to register before setting off with your guide and ranger, required because there is an abundance of wildlife in the forests! Walking through the grasslands towards the acacia forest on the southern route, you may spot giraffe and buffalo. After roughly 2 hours you will reach the Maio Falls, where you can enjoy a break, then continue through ‘fig tree arch’. After approximately 4-5 hours of trekking, you will reach a spectacular viewpoint, before heading on to the huts.

Overnight Miriakamba Hut

• Morning trek along a steep track reaching “Mgongo wa Tembo” (elephant back) after approximately 2 hours. Low lying clouds often shroud the rainforest in mist, creating a moody atmosphere.
• Take in the scenery before heading to Saddle Hut.
• The vegetation changes from rainforest to heather and moorland. After lunch you may choose to hike Little Meru (3,820m), taking approximately 1½ hours.
• This is great for acclimatization and, weather permitting, will reward you with fantastic views over Arusha National Park and Kilimanjaro.
• A warm meal and early night await you back at the huts.

Overnight Saddle Hut

Elevation Gain: 1,050m/3,450ft

Early  morning trek from around 2 a.m. following the path through scrubland to Rhino Point at 3820m .

From here the route gets more demanding as we follow the narrow crater ridge until we reach the summit after approximately 4-5 hours.

From Socialist Peak we will watch the sunrise over Kilimanjaro and have time to explore Meru’s crater and ash cone.

We then descend by retracing our steps back down to Saddle Hut and onwards to Miriakamba Hut and finally Momella Gate.

Transfer to your hotel for a well-earned shower and celebration.