TREKKING ON MOUNTAIN MERU

At 4566m Mt. Meru is Tanzania’s second highest mountain. Although frequently over looked by trekkers, it’s a spectacular volcanic cone and well worth climbing. A trek to the summit takes you through grassland and lush forest on the lower slopes to an exhilarating walk along the knife edge of the crater rim. As with Kilimanjaro, it’s a serious trek and acclimatization is important.

INFORMATION.

Routes:
The Momela route is the only route up Meru. It starts at Momela gate on the eastern side of the mountain and goes to the summit along the northern arm of the horseshoe crater. The route can be done comfortably in four days (three nights), although trekkers often do it in three days by combining Stages 3 and 4; it’s briefly described later.
            There are two large bunkhouses (Miriakamba and Saddle Huts), conveniently spaced for a three or four day trek. At Saddle Hut there’s also a newly constructed bunkhouse block with individual four-day rooms. However, all the bunkhouses operate on the high season often fill up. For this reason, it’s a good idea to carry a tent though even if you camp-whether by choice or necessity-you’ll still need to pay hut fees.

Costs:
Most companies that organize Kilimanjaro treks also organize treks on Mt. Meru.Organised treks are obligatory, and you can do things quite easily on your own. The main costs for an independent trek are park entrance, hut and guide fees. Also add in the costs of food (which you should get near the park) and transport. As paying park fees and arranging guides and porters can take a couple of hours it’s worth making arrangements the night before.

Guides and Porters.
A guide is mandatory and can be arranged at Momela gate. TheUS$15 daily fee is paid to the national park rather than to the guide himself. Unlike on Kilimanjaro, guides on Meru are armed rangers whose purpose is to assist you in case you meet some of the park’s buffaloes or elephants, rather than to show you the way (although they know the route),so it’s advisable to stay within reasonable range of your guide.
            Porters, whose services are optional, are also available at Momela gate for approximately US$5 per porter per day, though most trekkers go up with only a guide. The fee is paid at the gate and given to the porters after the trip. You also have to pay park entrance and hut fees for porters (Tsh1500, Tsh800 per night).Porters carry rucksacks weighing up to 15kg, not including their own food and clothing.
            Guides on Mt. Meru receive a fixed monthly salary for their work as rangers, and apparently get no additional payment from the park for guiding. In fact, without tips a guide has little extra incentive to take you to the summit, so it’s worth calculating tips as part of your fixed costs. Make it clear to the guide that you will tip, but that payment is conditional on him guiding you at an appropriate pace to summit. We’ve heard all-too-frequent reports of poorly motivated guides rushing their clients on the early stages of the climb, with the result that the trekkers themselves are forced to bail out before reaching the top. As a guideline, for a good guide who has gone with you to the summit, plan on about Tsh10,000 per day per group. Porter tips for a standard trek average about Tsh5000 per porter.

Momela Route
Stage 1: Momela Gate to Miriakamba Hut(10km,four to five hours,1000m ascent.) There’s a choice of two routes from Momela gate. The more interesting one is a track going through the forest towards the crater floor and then steeply up to Miriakamba, and makes a good descent route. Some guides prefer to go up and down the shorter route, and it may require some persuading to take the forest route.

Stage 2: Miriakamba Hut to Saddle Hut (4km, two to three hours,1050m ascent).
From Miriakamba the path climbs steeply up through pleasant glades between the trees to reach Topela  Mbogo (Buffalo Swamp) and Mgongo Wa Tembo(Elephant Ridge), from where there are good views into the crater and up to the cliffs below the summit. It continues through some open grassy clearings and over several stream beds (usually dry) to Saddle Hut to Little Meru(3820m) and to Rhino Point, both of which offer impressive views of Meru’s Ash Cone.

Stage 3: Saddle Hut to Meru Summit and Descent (5km, four to five hours, 1000m ascent; 5km, two to three hours, 1000 descent)
This stage, along a very narrow ridge between the outer slopes of the mountain and the sheer cliffs of the inner crater, is one of the most dramatic and exhilarating sections of trekking anywhere in East Africa. During the rainy season, ice and snow can occur on this section of the route, so take care.
            From Saddle Hut, the path goes across a flat area, then steeply up through bushes before giving way to bare rock and ash. Rhino Point is marked by a cairn and pile of bones. From Rhino Point the path drops slightly then rises again to climb steeply around the edge of the rim over ash scree and bare rock patches. Continue for three to four hours to reach Meru summit.
            If the sunrise is your main interest but you’re not keen on attempting this section in the dark, the views at dawn are just as impressive from Rhino Point ,about an hour from Saddle Hut.

Stage 4: Saddle Hut to Momela Gate (9km, three to 5 and a half hours, 2000m descent)
From Saddle Hut, retrace the Stage 2 route to Miriakamba (1 and half to 2 and half hours.) From Miriakamba, you can either return through the forest (2 and a half to 3 hours), or take shorter route down the ridge directly to Momela gate (1 and a half to 2 and a half).