Maasai Village Walking and Cycling Tour, Canoe Tour and Mount Meru

Day One: Arrival

Welcoming you To Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Pick up from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Overnight at Rafiki Backpackers on Bed and Breakfast basis.

Day two: Drive from Moshi to Sanya Juu

Depart from Moshi in the morning and drive to a little village called Sanya Juu. Expect to see a lot of greenery here since you are not too far from the slopes of Kilimanjaro. From here you will cycle to Maasai Lodge. During your ride you will see lots of savannah land and some rough roads here and there. This experience is unique in that you will be able to view both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru together! You will pass three different villages; The Chaga village, Maasai village and the Meru village. This little adventure will give you a true local and traditional African feel. Overnight at Maasai Lodge (or similar).

Day Three: Spend day at Maasai Lodge

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at Maasai lodge. Thereafter you have the option of taking a scenic long walk along the endless golden Savannah and experience the thrill of ‘Spear Throwing’. Thereafter you return to the lodge for lunch. Afternoon spent at leisure. The evening will be a full-on African experience at the lodge. Listen to Maasai songs, eat some goat meat and try the traditional soup that contains local herbal medicines. Overnight at Maasai Lodge (or similar).

Day Four: Cycling to Momella Hillside Retreat:

After a good breakfast in the morning, cycle to Momella Hillside retreat, on the Northern side of Mt. Meru. This is an exhilarating experience, in that, you are not moving as fast as a car would. You can therefore enjoy the scenery and peace and quiet of nature while you cycle. The afternoon will be spent hiking around the area, and after this you can enjoy a quiet evening at the beautiful Hillside Retreat (or similar).

Day Five: Game drive at Arusha National Park:

Have breakfast and head to Arusha National Park.  During your game drive, expect to see the giraffe,cape buffalo,zebra, warthog, the black-and-white colobus monkey, the blue monkey, flamingo, elephant, lion and many other African animals. After the game drive, have a picnic lunch and walk through the spectacular landscapes of the park. Overnight at Hillside Retreat (or similar).

Day Six: Canoeing:

After breakfast, head to Arusha National Park. If you have never been on a Canoe, you are in for a treat! Experience a scenic tour in a beautiful lake inside the National Park. This is a chance to get up-close with the buffalo, giraffes, bushbucks, and waterbucks. Picnic lunch at National Park. Overnight at Hillside Retreat (or similar).

Day seven: Hillside to Miriakamba Hut

We will leave for Mt. Meru in the morning. Our expedition begins with a drive to Arusha National Park once again. Once we have completed the necessary park formalities, our trek will officially commence close to the Ngarenanyuki River. Our first waypoint is the Miriakamba. You will be accompanied by an armed ranger and a professional mountain guide throughout the duration of the walk. During the walk you will encounter a vast amount of wildlife including buffalo, waterbucks, giraffes, warthogs, zebras and gazelles. Your guide will identify the different bird species you come across. There is a possibility that you will see leopards or elephants but they tend to be more reserved compared to the ones in the Serengeti. We will stop at the Miriakamba Hut where we will spend the night and enjoy an appetising dinner.

Day eight: Miriakamba Hut to Saddle Hut to summit

We will start the day with an energy dense breakfast and then we will follow the steep path to the Saddle Hut. The trek to little Meru can be completed once you arrive at the Saddle Hut. We will return to the Saddle hut and have dinner. Due to the fact that you will wake up at midnight to hike to the summit of Mount Meru, it is recommended that you attempt to fall asleep shortly after dinner.

Day nine: Saddle Hut to Momela Gate to Moshi

We will begin the final leg of our journey to the peak of Mount Meru around midnight. Your headlamp will assist you in the early hours of the hike. Reaching the summit is the most difficult part of the journey due to the fact that the trail is exceedingly steep. We have allocated some time for photos and a moment to comprehend what you have achieved. The scenic view of the mountains as you descend to the Momela Gate is simply mesmerizing. We will briefly stop at the Saddle hut for lunch. The final hours of our journey will be spent trekking to the Momela Gate. You will have a chance to hike amid the Meru cloud forest. This trail tends be slippery so it is important to step consciously. A Viva Africa Tours vehicle will transport you from the Momela gate back to where you began. You will have the opportunity to purchase sodas and Mount Meru climbing shirts to prove that you conquered the trek. Overnight at Rafiki Backpackers and Guesthouse.

Day ten: Moshi to Kilimanjaro Airport

A driver will bring you to Kilimanjaro Airport, from where you will connect your flight. Meru Climbing Gear: Packing your duffel bag/backpack for Mount Meru can be a challenging task. However, the good news is that most of the equipment can be rented in Moshi. We advise that you check your wardrobe / trekking gear to ensure you have the necessary gear. If you do not, we advise you purchase the necessary equipment so that you can travel in optimum comfort to the summit of Mount Meru. On the first day, you will need to wear light clothes, but on the day you summit Mount Meru you will need to wear winter clothes. Packing Checklist for Meru

Poncho Water proof gloves Gloves liner Hiking trousers Water proof trousers Hiking socks 1 pair per day Hiking boots Water bottle Camel back water bag Day pack Rucksack Rucksack cover Hiking poles Sun screen

Head torch Spare batteries Warm hat  Sunglasses  Sun hat  Scarf or balaclava  T shirt Thermals top and bottom 3 pairs  Sleeping bag  Sleeping bag liner  Fleece Down jacket  Water / wind proof jacket  Gaiters

Tipping Guidelines 

Tip is not included in your tour price. Please find below our guidelines for tipping your mountain crew. The tip is shared amongst all climbers.

Mountain Guide - $20.00 per day

1 Porter / Waiter - $7.00 to $10.00 per day

1 Mountain Cook - $15.00 per day