Utaalam Guides Ultimate Trek
Utaalam Guides believe our thirteen day Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro trek is the ultimate Tanzania trek.
The first section of the trek will take you and your team to the summit of Mount Meru (4,562m). Mount Meru is located within the Arusha National Park, 70km west of Kilimanjaro, and is a wonderful adventure and a trekking destination in its own right. On this combined trek it will also provide important acclimatization in advance of Kilimanjaro. Summiting Mount Meru gives the chance to become familiar with trekking on Tanzania’s volcanoes; understand and further test your kit; and to experience camp life.
The second section of the trek takes our new Lemosho / Northern Circuit route and summits Uhuru Peak (5,895m) on the rim of the Kibo crater – the highest point on Kilimanjaro, and the top of the world’s highest single free-standing mountain!
A true highlight of the trek is the opportunity to spend a night at Crater Camp (5,729m) on the floor of Kilimanjaro’s Kibo crater – alongside glaciers and the crater’s ash pit. A truly unforgettable experience.
We can tailor the itinerary to meet your exact requirements – please let us know if you want to spend more time in a location, or to discuss a different route on Kilimanjaro.
Day 1 ; Arusha hotel to Momela gate to Miriakamba huts
Distance 13.8 km : Altitude gain 906 m
Entering the Arusha National Park at the Momela Gate (1,597 m) the first day of your trek will take you along forest trails to the Miriakamba huts (2,503 m).
Accommodation at Miriakamba huts is provided by the park authority and include sleeping huts, an eating area, and toilets. Utaalam Guides team will provide meals and all services.
The dense forest around the camp is rich with wildlife. It is important never to wander from the camp unless accompanied by your Utaalam Guides leader, and a National Park Ranger .
Day 2 ; Miriakamba huts to Saddle huts
Distance 6.1 km : Altitude gain 1,057 m
Continuing from Mikiakamba huts (1,597 m) the trail becomes considerably steeper, zig-zagging its way up the mountain, and occasionally relying on steps and earthworks put in place by the park authority to minimise environmental impact and improve the general trekking experience.
The trail levels out a bit after Mgongo wa Tembo (3,086 m), a picnic area and view point, also known as the Elephant’s Back. However, there is still climbing before reaching Saddle huts (3,566 m) for a cooked lunch!
During the afternoon there is an opportunity to trek to Little Meru (3,820 m), returning to Saddle hut for dinner and an early night. The Little Meru side trek is highly encouraged as it provides excellent acclimatization for the next day’s summit push.
Day 3 ; Saddle huts to Mount Meru Summit to Mikiakamba huts
Distance 5.5 km total ascent and descent 11 km : Altitude gain 1,006 m : Altitude lost 2,063 m
This is summit day, and it begins during the night at around 2 a.m.
The early start provides for a sufficiently long day, and the best weather conditions at Socialist Peak (4,565 m), the summit of Mount Meru.
Once you have spent some time on the summit the trek descends the same route to past Saddle hut, and on to Mikiakamba hut for a third night and final night on Mount Meru.
Day 4 ; Mikiakamba huts to Momela gate and Arusha hotel
After a good night’s rest to recover from the summit day you will continue on the Momela gate.
There will be time to explore the wildlife and nature of this beautiful park, and to stretch and recover from the summit.
From Momela gate our driver will take you back to the hotel in Arusha where you can enjoy hot showers, clean clothes, and perhaps a celebratory Kilimanjaro beer!
Day 5 ; Arusha hotel to Lemosho gate to Mti Mkubwas
Distance 4.8 km : Altitude gain 390 m
The first day on Kilimanjaro begins at the Lemosho gate (2,389 m) where park authorities ensure all required licences and permits are in place for a safe and proper climb.
This half-day hike is through dense jungle forest with an average daytime temperature of 18-25 degrees centigrade. The annual rainfall is this region is between 2000 mm and 3000 mm – by comparison Edinburgh, Scotland averages 670 mm; and Miami, Florida averages 1,570 mm.
The forest provides a habitat for a great deal of wildlife. Among the different species of flora and fauna commonly seen are Black and White Colobus monkeys; Blue Monkeys; many birds and insects; forest floor ants, and different species of forest birdsong within the canopy.
The trail gently and smoothly through the forest, making for a relaxing and enjoyable day. Made especially so by the previous days on Mount Meru.
Your first night on Kilimanjaro will be spent camped at Mti Mkubwas (2,785 m), also known as Big Tree Camp, and Forest Camp.
Day 6 ; Mti Mkubwas to Shira 1 camp
Distance 7.9 km : Altitude gain 713 m
After breakfast the trek departs from Mti Mkubwas (2,785 m) and continues to climb towards the tree line where you leave the forest zone and enter the spectacular moorland/heather zone . The giant heather plants and volcanic earth are incredible.
The second night on Kilimanjaro is spent at Shira 1 camp (3,504 m).
Day 7 ; Shira 1 camp to Moir camp
Distance 9.8 km : Altitude gain 656 m
The day begins with a gentle four km walk across the Shira plateau through the giant heather plants.
In sharp contrast to the forest zone, the average annual rainfall in the moorland/heather zone is close to 500 mm.
Your guide will take you to view the dendrosenecio kilimanjari plant which grows only here high on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. An amazing opportunity for nature lovers.
Moir camp (4,160 m) offers a quieter camp than the alternative Shira 2 camp. Moir camp is reached by ascending steeply from the Shira plateau.
Moir camp is wild and rugged and beautiful. You will really be aware of being in the mountains.
After arriving at the camp there will be a short but very important acclimatization excursion. This short walk gains a further 200 m of exposure before returning to the camp for dinner.
Day 8 ; Moir camp to Pofu camp
Distance 10.2 km : Altitude lost 122 m : (Ascent 247m / Descent 369 m)
Pofu camp (4,033 m) is lower than Moir camp (4,160 m) but there is still some climbing up and down on the trek.
The distance covered is longer than previous days, however the height gained and lost is lower.
The views of Kilimanjaro and into nearby Kenya are spectacular.
It is not uncommon to find tracks left by antelope (“Pofu” in Swahili) – the Taurotragus oryx can weigh up to 900 Kg.
Day 9 ; Pofu camp to 3rd Cave camp
Distance 6.8 km : Altitude lost 97 m
3rd Cave camp (3,936 m) is also lower than Pofu camp (4,033 m).
The trek continues to move round the mountain on this short day again entering the moorland/heather region.
Weather dependent there are incredible views of Mawenzi peak (5,149 m).
The trail also interesctswith the Rongai trail
Day 10 ; 3rd Cave camp to School camp
Distance 4.8 km : Altitude gain 781 m
School camp (4,717 m)
This is a short day but very important for acclimatising – allowing your body time to adjust and become more familiar with the slow and regular walking pace that is so very important on summit day.
This zone receives only 250 mm of rainfalleach year and is classified as a semi-desert. The temperature ranges from 30 degrees centigrade during the day down to below feezing point at night and in the early hours of the morning.
School camp is the last high camp for those who decide not to stay at crater camp. Utaalam Guides are confident that this ultimate Kilimanjaro trek will have prepared you well for the altitude and the physicality of the climb and that climbers will be ready for the summit and a night at crater camp. You can always discuss with your guide changing the itinerary if you decide not to spend a night at crater camp.
Day 11 ; Summit Day – School camp – Uhuru Peak – Kibo Crater
Distance 6 km : Altitude gain 1178 m : Altitude lost 166 m
This is it. The big day. The summit push.
The summit assault begins with a breakfast at around five o’clock in the morning.
The trail begins before sunrise with a steep climb to the intersection with Kibo huts route (1.9 km) before continuing on to the half-way point at Hans Meyer Cave (5,259 m).
The trail then zig-zags its way up for 3 or 4 hours to Gillman’s Point (5,785 m) on teh crater rim. This is a challenging section as you will feel the effects of the altitude as you move upwards over the arid ground.
From Gillman’s Point the walk around the crater rim is truely amazing. It will be a welcome relief to have completed nearly all of the ascent at this point. Following the crater rim you will descend very slightly to reach Stella Point (5,745 m), before ascending to the summit at Uhuru Peak (5,895 m).
On a clear and bright day there are incredible views to the Southern icefield on the left, and the crater itself on the right.
After celebrating your summit success you will continue to follow the crater rim before descending to the crater floor and setting base at Crater Camp (5,729 m).
The crater floor is approximately 2.5 km across and surrounded by up to 350 m high crater walls. This is truely the most incredible campsite.
Permanent glaciers sit around the whole side of the crater. Your guide will take you across the flat crater floor on a 1.5 hours walk to the Ash Pit.
During the dry season, the sun is intense and the winds can be strong and fierce and cold – night temperatures regulary drop to -10 Centigrade and the wind chill fctor will make it feel considerably colder. You will really appreciate your warmest clothing.
Day 12 ; Kibo Crater to Mweka camp
Distance 12 km : Altitude gain 166 m : Altitude lost 2,789 m
After breakfast then mostly walk back to Stella Point and then from here cut straight ski-run down which are optional of the gentle descent on the right-hand side this descent is quite steep down when you take a shortcut way down to Barafu camp to escape zig-zag way going up and sometimes easy way down but not only that if you are not experiencing that before to descent along the loose sands or snows. Do not hesitate to ask your guide for more help which could be accompanied or follow the zig-zag way down slowly safe.
after two hours of descent from Stella point the first camp arrived is Barafu camp: 4, 662m then descent will continue to High camp: 3,827 m lunch stop place before proceeding down to Mweka camp:3,106 m nearing the montane forest again.
Day 13 ; Mweka camp to Mweka gate to Arusha hotel
Distance 9.1 km : Altitude lost 1,473 m
Finally from this camp walking will begin on the very pretty forest trail alive with birdsong and flowers and authorities have decided to build steps on the steep parts which we are sure is good for combating erosion through cloud forest then around 2 hours you will find yourself walking on the start of the 4WD track down to the gate which takes 45 minutes away.
Sign out Mweka gate then drive to Moshi town center for lunch about 40 minutes drive to the restaurant before the drive back to Arusha hotel come after the next plan which depending on your holiday whether is safaris or Zanzibar holiday …..
Get in touch with Utaalam Guides to discuss your Tanzania adventure.
If our team are climbing in the mountains, or out on a tour then it might take a day or two before we reply. But, we reply to all enquiries.
If you are ready to book an adventure, or if you simply want more information about what services Utaalam Guides offer, please get in touch.
You can also use the WhatsApp link to chat directly with a lead guide who can answer your questions.
+255 789 294 619
+255 756 568 661
