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Mt. Meru Trekking with Safari & Zanzibar

Big Feigg Tree Arusha National Park
Tanzania Tanzania

Trekking Map

Leoparden Familie in Ngorongoro National Park

This trekking and safari tour with a beach holiday at Zanzibar takes you very close to the highest peaks in Tanzania and the species-rich national parks in the north of the country.

This trekking and safari tour with a beach holiday at Zanzibar takes you very close to the highest peaks in Tanzania and the species-rich national parks in the north of the country. The Mt. Meru Trek takes place in Arusha National Park and takes you on a challenging hike to the summit of Mt. Meru (4,566 m), the second highest mountain in Tanzania. The path leads through a beautiful tropical mountain forest and an impressive moor landscape. The thrilling summit is reached via a narrow, barren ridge that offers breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire Arusha National Park.

Next up is Safari! You’ll start with Tanzania’s little gem, Tarangire National Park, famous for its elephant migration, bird watching and authentic safari atmosphere. The Ngorongoro Crater, with its breathtakingly beautiful backdrop, is the best place in East Africa to see the ‘Big Five’ and will amaze you next.

This varied trip is rounded off with a beach holiday on the island of Zanzibar. Here you can soak up the sun, bathe in the crystal clear warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Snorkeling and diving are among the most popular activities on the island. With numerous impressions you make your way home.

Trip Details

Day 1: Arrive in Arusha – briefing and welcome dinner
Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport. Your driver will be waiting for you outside and you will be taken by private transfer to your booked hotel in Arusha. Your guide will come and give you an introduction to the whole trip. In the evening you are invited to the welcome dinner. Overnight at Hotel Ilboru Safari Lodge, (D).

Day 2: Drive Arusha to Miriakamba Hut (2,514m) – 4 to 6 hours trek
Early morning departure to Arusha National Park Momella Gate (1,500m). After the park entry formalities, we will start our trek, guided by a park ranger who will accompany us for our safety. The route passes through open grassland and offers the opportunity to see buffalo, warthogs and other wildlife. The trail continues as a steady climb through a dense tropical montane forest. We have lunch near a huge Fig Tree Arch. Our hike continues through less dense forests where there are many birds and black and white colobus monkeys. In the late afternoon, weather permitting, we can see towering cliffs and the Ash Cone. We reach Miriakamba Hut (2,514m), set in an idyllic grassy clearing, in time to enjoy the last rays of the afternoon sun and a beautiful view over the surrounding plains towards Kilimanjaro. Overnight at Miriakamba Hut, (B|L|D).

Day 3: Hike Miriakamba Hut (2514m) to Saddle Hut (3570m) – 4 to 5 hours hike
The walk from Miriakamba Hut to the saddle below Little Meru is a short day but a steep climb. We slowly ascend through lush montane forests and reach Elephant Ridge halfway through the hike. From here we enjoy an excellent view of the summit ridge and the crater floor. The trail continues through giant heather and other fascinating moorland vegetation to Saddle Hut (3,570m) where lunch is served. Overnight at the Saddle Hut, (B|L|D).

Day 4: Hike Saddle Hut (3570m), summit Socialist Peak (4566m) and back to Miriakamba Hut (2514m) – 10 to 12 hours
We start early at around 2am and climb steeply to Rhino Point (3,800m). From here the path becomes demanding and requires full concentration and sure-footedness. At sunrise we reach a wavy ridge of ash and rock and we reach Cobra Point (4,350 m). The view is breathtaking: the cliffs of the crater rim, the cinder cone jutting out of the crater floor, Mount Kilimanjaro seemingly floating on the morning clouds, and on a clear day you can see west to the Rift Valley. The summit of ‘Socialist Peak’ (4566m) is an hour further on a good but steep trail which can be slippery in places. After some nice summit photos we descend back down to Saddle Hut. The walk to Rhino Point in the morning light along a narrow ridge will have a different charm than the way there. After a hearty breakfast we descend back to Miriakamba Hut. Overnight at Miriakamba Hut, (B|L|D).

Day 5: Hike Miriakamba Hut (2,514 m) – hotel in Arusha – approx. 3 hours hike
We take the direct route through open grassland and mixed forest with good chances of spotting wildlife. This trail offers excellent views back to the crater and across the plains of the national park. We should reach the Momella gate late in the morning. At the gate we will say goodbye to our amazing crew singing and dancing and will be driven back to Arusha. Overnight at Hotel Ilboru or similar category, (B).

Day 6: Tarangire National Park – Elephant’s paradise and then drive to Arusha – 135 km and 2.5 hrs drive
After breakfast you will be driven to Tarangire National Park. Located slightly off the main safari route, Tarangire is a beautiful, tranquil park in northern Tanzania, covering an area of ​​approximately 2,600 km². It is famous for its elephant trekking, bird watching and authentic safari atmosphere. With the exception of the endangered black rhino, Tarangire National Park is home to all of Tanzania’s major animals – from the tiny dik-dik to the towering African elephants and giraffes, which draw visitors from all over the world. In addition to these popular species, the park is home to three endangered animals found nowhere else in the country: the fringe-eared oryx with its graceful horns, the towering greater kudu, and the tiny Ashy starling. Overnight at Eileen’s Inn or similar category, (B|L|D).

Day 7: Game drive in Ngorongoro Crater – home of the “Big Five” – ​​105 km and approx. 2 hours drive
Early in the morning after breakfast you will be picked up by your private safari guide and drive directly to the gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the almost 600 m deep crater. The caldera has a diameter of up to 19 km and an area of ​​264 km². Its heavily forested rim rises 610 meters above the caldera floor at an elevation of up to 2,286 meters. The Ngorongoro Crater and the surrounding highlands together form one of the most beautiful regions in Africa. The volcanic crater provides a stunning backdrop to some of Africa’s most fertile and richest pastureland. The caldera floor area is mostly open grassland and is the best place in East Africa to see the ‘Big Five’. It is home to a variety of animals including elephant, black rhino, leopard, buffalo, zebra, warthog, wildebeest, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle and the world’s densest population of lion an idyllic picnic spot. After more exciting hours in the park, you will be driven back to the hotel. Overnight at Hotel Ilboru or similar category, (B|L).

Day 8: Transfer to Airport – Flight to Zanzibar Drive to Matemwe – North East Coast
Early in the morning you will be driven to the airport to fly to Zanzibar. Upon arrival you will be picked up and driven to your accommodation in Matemwe where you will spend the next few nights. Experience chalk white sandy beaches, azure blue sea and a fantastic coral reef. Located in the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar consists of the main islands of Unguja, known as Zanzibar and Pemba, and countless smaller islands. The island of Zanzibar is blessed with natural beauty and rich culture. Warm, sunny climate all year round. Its exciting history with Arab sultans, Portuguese seafarers, slave traders and European explorers have shaped the character of this island with its friendly people in a special way. Not forgetting the delicious Swahili cuisine with a wide variety of seafood. Overnight at Magic Boutique Hotel, (B).

Day 9-13: Relaxation on the beach – other activities on the island
You have time to relax here for the next few days. If you want to be active you can take part in numerous excursions including visits to the historic ‘Stone Town’, Jozani Forest, Prison Island and spice plantations. There is also a variety of adventure activities to partake in including hiking, bird watching, windsurfing, kite surfing, sea kayaking and sailing. The island also has fantastic coral reefs that are perfect for diving and snorkeling – and you might even be lucky enough to spot dolphins, green turtles and whale sharks at certain times of the year. Overnight at Magic Boutique Hotel, (B).

Day 14: Transfer to Abeid Amani Karume Airport (ZNZ) – Flight home
Free time before departure. Depending on your flight time, you will be driven back to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) for your international flight home, (B).

We reserve the right to make changes to the program due to special events, force majeure or weather conditions.

Legends: B = Breakfast | L = Lunch | D = Dinner

Our trips start every Saturday:

German guided tour
English guided tour

This tour can also be booked for individual travelers at an additional cost or for your group at dates other than shown here.

Duration: 14 days
Costs: € 2.990 per person
Group size: min. 2 Persons (all the tour dates are guaranteed with a minimum group size of only two persons)
€ 440 for single room supplement

What’s included

  • Transfer from and to the airport
  • All transfers in Tanzania
  • Accommodation incl. breakfast in Arusha and at Zanzibar
  • Hotel overnight stays including 3 meals during the safari tour
  • Transport in a 4 × 4 safari vehicle (guaranteed window seat)
  • Professional, English-speaking safari guide
  • Professional, English speaking local mountain guide
  • Camping team (cook & porter)
  • Three meals and drinking water on the trekking tour
  • All national park fees

Not included

  • All international flights
  • Flight Arusha to Zanzibar
  • Trips at Zanzibar
  • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks other than water
  • Visa fees (US $ 50)
  • Tips
  • Personal expenses
  • Personal travel insurance

Visa
To enter Tanzania, a passport that is valid for at least 6 months and a tourist visa are required. The visa for German citizens can be applied for three to four weeks before departure at the Tanzanian embassy (approx. 50 EUR plus postage). Alternatively, the visa is also available when entering Tanzania (50 USD, to be paid in cash on site). We recommend this option; it is less complicated and cheaper. An exit tax of USD 30 is required for international flights from Zanzibar (payable locally in cash).
These visa and passport regulations are valid for the EU countries and Switzerland. Other citizens would like to inquire at the respective country consulate.

Vaccinations
No compulsory vaccinations, in particular no yellow fever vaccination, are required for direct entry from Germany / Switzerland, Austria to the mainland of Tanzania and Zanzibar. This also applies when entering a yellow fever endemic area in transit; as long as the airport is not left during the stopover and the stay is less than 12 hours. However, you should be vaccinated against tetanus, hepatitis A, diphtheria and polio. Hepatitis B and typhoid vaccinations are recommended for long stays.
We recommend that you consult your doctor in good time. Further information can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

Insurance
A travel health insurance (with rescue costs) is essential for your own safety and a prerequisite for booking our trips. In the event of an accident in the mountains or on safari that requires a helicopter, the helicopter will not take off until full coverage of the costs has been clarified.
We strongly recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance. Flights at bargain prices in particular cannot usually be rebooked or cancelled free of charge. In Tanzania there could also be complications with the weather, your health, etc., which would force you to abandon your trip.
We asked ERGO Reiseversicherung to put together different service packages for you. You can book the right travel health insurance for you at https://www.reiseversicherung.de.

It should be noted that geoDiscovery Tours only recommends that its guests book travel insurance through ERGO and assumes no responsibility for the contractual content between the travel guest and the insurance provider. It is up to each guest to book their travel insurance through ERGO or another provider.

Standard of hotels and accommodations
In Tanzania, the hotels we have booked are good and correspond to mid-western standards. The sanitary facilities are clean and functional. The hotel kitchen is adapted to Western eating habits and the food is safe to enjoy. Sometimes there can be power cuts or sometimes no hot water is available. The hotel staff is generally very friendly and makes every effort to ensure the well-being of each guest. The hotels we have booked are as follows:

Arusha: Ilboru Safari Lodge, Mount Meru Hotel, Mount Meru Game Lodge, Rivertrees Country Inn, Arumeru River Lodge
Moshi/Kilimanjaro: Chanya Lodge, Weru Weru, Kaliwa Lodge, Salinero
Karatu: Eileen’s Trees Inn, Bougainvillea Safari Lodge, Endoro Lodge
Manyara: Lake Manyara Serena Hotel, Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Luxury Lodge
Ngorongoro: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Rhino Lodge
Serengeti: Embalakai Camps, Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge, Serengeti Serena Hotel, Lahia Tented Lodge, Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp, Four Seasons Serengeti, Melia Serengeti
Tarangire: Tarangire Safari Lodge, Tarangire Balloon Camp, Tarangire Simba Lodge, Maramboi Tented Lodge
Zanzibar: Spice Island Hotel & Resort, Maru Maru Hotel, Nungwi Dreams, MMelia Zanzibar, the Z hotel, Kendwa Rocks, Zanzibar Serena Hotel, Zanzibar Magic Boutique Hotel, Kholle House

Tour program
The travel program is optimally coordinated for all of the trips we recommend. However, it can happen that roads are closed or impassable without prior notice, that waiting times of several hours arise due to traffic jams or fuel shortages, that access to sites can be closed for various reasons, or other restrictions such as flight delays or even cancellations due to bad weather, strikes, Health of the participants, a pandemic or unfavourable conditions during trekking make the implementation of the travel program difficult or, in the worst case, impossible. However, our local guides are prepared for such situations and will endeavour to carry out all program points to your satisfaction. The inconvenience is usually limited. Nevertheless, it must be pointed out at this point that, for the reasons mentioned, program changes are possible at any time and are not the responsibility of the organizer. Any resulting costs are borne by the traveller. We ask for your understanding.

Flying in Tanzania
Domestic flights in Tanzania may be postponed for days due to limited airspace or weather conditions, or for technical or other reasons. Under these exceptional circumstances, our team will try – in cooperation with you – to relocate the tour to other regions or to organize road transport. The risk of delay and cancellation of these flights is borne by all participants.
In the event of a delay of several days, all participants are personally responsible for changing their flight home at least 48 hours in advance. We are of course happy to help you.

The domestic flights booked by us are:

  • Air Tanzania
  • Precision Air
  • Flightlink
  • Coastal Aviation
  • Auric air

Please note that our trips are not suitable for people with limited mobility.

Trip Details

  • Duration: 14 days
  • Holiday Type: Hotel accommodation / Hut accommodation
  • Best trekking period: Jan/Feb/Mar/Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov/Dec
  • Difficulty: Demanding
  • Max Altitude: 4.566 m
  • Group size: Min. 2 persons (all the tour dates are guaranteed with a minimum group size of onl two persons)
  • Tour guide: English speaking, trained Tanzanian safari guide
  • Difficulty:
  • Fitness:
  • Price: 2.990,00 €
  • Single room supplement: 440,00 €
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