Leaving early in the morning from your accommodation in Arusha or Moshi and driving to Momella gate in Arusha National Park. Driving takes about 3 hours from Moshi and about 1 hour from Arusha. At the gate, you will clear your trekking permits, meet up with your porters, guide, cook, and game ranger, and start climbing. You will pass open grassland which will give you a good opportunity to see buffaloes, warthogs, and other grazers. You will cross the Ngare Nanyuki River and continue climbing through the mountain forest. There you will have a chance to see many different kinds of birds and black and white colobus monkeys. Finally, you will reach Miriakamba Hut where you will stay overnight.

The second day of climbing is quite short but demanding. You will start early in the morning and ascent steeply through a lush mountain forest full of birds to reach the halfway point of Elephant Ridge. There you can see the crater. After 3 to 5 hours of climbing you will reach Saddle Hut where you will have lunch. In the afternoon you will have another hike to Little Meru (3794 m) for superb views before sunset. Then you will return to Saddle Hut overnight. It is good to go to sleep early so that you get enough rest for the next day’s hiking.

You will start climbing between 1 to 2 at night. The route is very steep towards Rhino Point (3850 m) and from there towards the summit along a very narrow ridge. You will reach the Mount Meru Summit, Socialist Peak, (4566 m) right at sunrise. The scenery there is stunning; you will see Mount Kilimanjaro at close distance. After taking photos on the summit you will descend back to Saddle hut. Note: On icy conditions or strong wind it is not necessarily possible to pass the ridge between Rhino Point and summit. Your guide will decide if the conditions are not good enough to continue.

You will leave about at 8.00 in the morning and descend to Momella gate. You can choose a longer or shorter route down. On the longer way down you have a very good chance to see wildlife and the ash cone. Once at the gate, it’s time to tip your porters, guide, cook, and game ranger. After that, your transportation back to Accommodation will be waiting for you.