Mount Meru & Kilimanjaro
Acclimatise on Mount Meru before climbing Kilimanjaro via the Rongai Route

Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro are Tanzania's two highest summits. They are located about 50 miles apart and both can be climbed in an enjoyable two week trip. Before climbing Kilimanjaro we warm up with an ascent of Mount Meru. This is Tanzania's second highest peak, and is a very enjoyable climb in its own right, entirely suitable for mountain walkers. We spend three nights on the mountain, staying in relatively comfortable mountain huts, and sleeping at a maximum altitude of 3600 metres, before climbing to the summit at 4600 metres. This gives us valuable acclimatisation prior to moving onto Kilimanjaro.

Suitably warmed up and acclimatised, we move on to Kilimanjaro. We climb the mountain by the remote Rongai Route, spending 4 nights camping on the mountain before making our summit attempt from the Kibo Camp.

Grade
Strenuous

Duration
14 days

DAY 1 Depart London
We depart from the UK for our flight to Kilimanjaro.

DAY 2 Arrive Kilimanjaro
We arrive in the morning and are met at the airport by our local staff. We then transfer by private minibus to our accommodation in Arusha. The remainder of the day will be free for relaxing.

DAY 3 Trek to Miriakamba Hut
After breakfast we drive to the Mount Meru National Park gates and sign into the Park. We also meet the local game warden who will accompany us for the duration of our climb. In addition to a local guide, it is compulsory for us to be accompanied by a game warden. There are many buffalo and other wild animals in the area and the warden comes suitably equipped with an ancient Enfield rifle. We trek across open grasslands and will almost certainly see buffalo, giraffe and colubus monkeys. After a couple of hours the trail begins to climb and we ascend through pleasant woodland to the Miriakamba Hut. The hut has spacious dormitory accommodation, and there is a separate cooking area where our staff will prepare our evening meal.

DAY 4 Trek to Saddle Hut
We continue to ascend through fairly dense forest until we emerge onto a broad ridgeline where we have great views down into the ash cone of Mount Meru's crater. We can also look up towards the line of rocky cliffs which rise up to the summit. The forest becomes more sparse until we finally reach the Saddle Hut at 3700m. Like the Miriakamba Hut, the accommodation is spacious and bunks are provided. In the late afternoon we can climb up to the summit of Little Meru (3820m) for views of the main peak, and also across to Kilimanjaro itself.

DAY 5 Climb Mount Meru
We depart for the climb to the summit of Mount Meru in the very early hours of the morning. It will still be dark and we will be using head torches to find our way. We cross the small ridge of Rhino Point and embark on the long and at times rocky ascent to the summit of Mount Meru. When dawn finally breaks we will be quite close to the summit, and if we are in good time we will be able to witness sunrise over Kilimanjaro. After taking our summit photographs we descend back to the Saddle Hut for a late brunch. We then pack up all our equipment and descend back down to the Miriakamba Hut where we stay for the night.

DAY 6 Drive to Marangu
We descend back to the Park Gates where we are met by our private vehicles. We then drive out to Arusha where we collect any baggage we have left and have lunch. We then drive through the town of Moshi to our hotel in the village of Marangu, situated to the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro, with the remainder of the day free to relax.

DAY 7 Trek to First Camp
After completing the necessary registration formalities at Marangu National Park gate, we transfer by Landrover to Rongai. The climb begins from the attractive wooden village of Nale Moru (1,950 m.) on a small path that winds through fields of maize and potatoes before entering pine forest. The track then starts to climb consistently, but gently, through attractive forest that shelters a variety of wildlife, including the beautiful Kilimanjaro Colobus Monkey. These monkeys are black with a long ‘cape’ of white hair and a flowing white tail. The forest begins to thin out and the first camp is at the edge of the moorland zone (2,600 m.) with extensive views over the Kenyan plains.

DAY 8 Trek to Kikelewa Caves
The morning walk is a steady ascent up to the ‘Second Cave’ (3,450 m.) with superb views of Kibo and the Eastern Icefields on the crater rim. After lunch, we leave the main trail and strike out across the moorland on a smaller path towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi. Our campsite is in a sheltered valley with giant senecios near Kikelewa Caves (3.600 m.)

DAY 9 Trek to Mawenzi Camp
A short but steep climb up grassy slopes is rewarded by superb all-round views and a tangible sense of wilderness. We leave vegetation behind shortly before reaching the next camp at Mawenzi Tarn (4,330 m.), spectacularly situated in a cirque directly beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. The afternoon will be free to rest or explore the surrounding area as an aid to acclimatisation.

DAY 10 Trek to Kibo Camp
We cross the vast lunar desert of the ‘Saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo Hut campsite (4,700 m.) at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night!

DAY 11 Summit Kilimanjaro
We will start the final, and by far the steepest and most demanding, part of the climb by torchlight around 1 a.m. We plod very slowly in the darkness on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to reach the crater rim at Gillman’s Point (5,685 m.) We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the three hour round trip to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m.), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent to Kibo Hut (4,700 m.) is surprisingly fast and, after some refreshment, we continue the descent to reach our final campsite at Horombo (3,720 m.).

DAY 12 Trek to Marangu
A steady descent takes us down through moorland to Mandara Hut (2,700m.), the first stopping place on the Marangu route. We then continue descending through lovely sub tropical forest to the National Park gate at Marangu (1,830 m.).

DAY 13 Depart from Kilimanjaro Airport
The morning and afternoon will be free. In the evening we transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for the flight back to London Heathrow Airport.

DAY 14 Arrive back in London
The flight arrives back into London Heathrow in the morning.