Meru Express 3days/2nights

Welcome to Tanzania. Serengeti Pride Safaris' Driver will meet you at the airport and transfer the
group to the lodge in Arusha. – Planet lodge

Excursions are usually paid in cash, USD, at the time of the excursion.
1) Local village or forest walking tour, sometimes combined with the local village's weekly
outdoor market visit (these are true local “pop-up” markets where Tanzanians buy
everything from produce to shoes- very colourful and a real local experience, but availability
depends on the day of the week): $40 USD if one person; $25 USD per person if more
people. Includes transportation. Depart at 9:00 AM; lasts about 3 hours (unless arranged
differently).
Note: On certain days of the week, there is no nearby market open, so the central market in Arusha city
is substituted. (Note that on Fridays, the central market in Arusha city is the best local market option)
2) Arusha National Park game drive (this is a scenic but small local park with Mount Meru
as the centrepiece), with a ranger-led walk to a waterfall if available, $350 USD if one
person; $250 USD per person if more people. Depart at 9:00 AM; lasts 5-7 hours.
3) Mulala women’s cooperative visit. Meet at the Lodge reception desk at 10:00 AM. Wear
good walking shoes or wear sandals, and bring hiking boots. Also bring water, sunscreen,
insect repellent, and a sun hat. $45 per person
To aid our acclimatisation and to learn more about the local people, we will visit to Mulala
women’s cooperative on the slopes of nearby Mt Meru with a short guided hike over 6,000 ft. In
the late afternoon/evening, the head guide/leader will give us a climb briefing and answer any
questions. We will also do an equipment check with each person to be sure that everyone is fully
prepared. Please meet at the Planet Lodge reception desk at 5:00 PM for the climb briefing and
gear check. Please have your climb gear laid out on your lodge room bed to assist with the
individual gear checks (guides will go to your rooms).

At 8.00 am, you will be collected for MTCDC and transferred to Arusha National
Park. We will complete our registration formalities at the Ngongongate Entrance gate, and then
Drive to Momela gate, where you will meet your climbing crew plus the Park escort rangerYour hiking starts from here. There is abundant wildlife in the forest, that why you will be
accompanied by an armed Park ranger. The forest section is especially scenic with strangler Fig
trees and possible buffalo grazing around open, short grass areas and giraffe browsing over the
acacia trees. In the late afternoon, you reach a viewpoint before heading on to Miria Kamba Hut for
dinner.
Elevation: 8248 ft
Hiking 6-8 hours

After breakfast, you set off from Miriakamba Hut, initially in the Forest Zone, but in a few
hours as you will reach Saddle Hut for lunch in the Alpine Desert Zone. In the afternoon, and if
the weather permits, you will take a short acclimatisation hike to the summit of little Meru ( alt:
12,532ft. The view here is stunningly beautiful, then descend back to Saddle hut for Dinner.
Elavation: 11,713ft
Hiking: 4-5 hours

You will rise early, and your hard work is rewarded at dawn as the sun rises in the East.
Kilimanjaro is normally clearly seen from here, and the sheer cliffs of the crater fall dramatically
1000 feet or more. After taking photos at Socialist Peak ( Alt: 14,978ft), you will return to our
base camp at Saddle Hut for a quick refuel. After some brunch, you will start your long hike all
the way back to Momella gate. Your driver will be waiting for you here, and then transfer you back to
MTCDC for that well-deserved shower.