Tanzanian Volcano Trek

Conquer Africa's Summits......

The fringes of the Great Rift Valley hold some of the best volcanic landscapes in Africa. This exciting major trek combines Africa's highest peak, Kilimanjaro, with the extinct volcano of Mount Meru as well as the craters and lush volcanic Maasai cattle trails of the Ngorongoro Highlands. Wildlife encounters add a twist to the trekking.

South of the equator, the game-filled plains of northern Tanzania are not only home to millions of migratory animals; they also give rise to some of the most spectacular volcanic scenery on the African continent. Rising from the Maasai grasslands of the Ngorongoro Highlands, several extinct volcanoes provide a new and exciting opportunity for trekking; each crater having its own unique attraction!

Throughout this strenuous trek, we mainly camp at basic sites, though dormitorystyle huts are used on Mt. Meru. Porters carry our equipment. Cooking is done for you, so all you need carry is your day sack! The tour is led by an Explore Tour Leader assisted by several experienced mountain guides. This trip maximises your time to acclimatise giving everyone the best chance of reaching the top of Kili.

The Tanzanian Volcano Trek is rated Grade C/D Grade D for Kilimanjaro ascent.

Grade C (Strenuous) is a trek for the more serious hill walker and a higher level of physical fitness is required. Walking days are normally 6- 8 hours and may involve up to 900m or more of ascent and descent. You should be prepared for several consecutive days walking, often at higher altitudes, so stamina is important.

Grade D (Tough): requires that you are very fit and previous trekking experience is strongly recommended. Grade D includes long walks with steep uphill and downhill gradients. The duration and difficulty of the walking increases gradually allowing greater acclimatisation before the summit attempt of Kilimanjaro. Overall this trek is graded strenuous to tough.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Trip Highlights
Great Rift Valley - Spectacular geological feature.

Arusha N.P. - Walk through game-filled plains.

Mount Meru - Ascend Tanzania’s second highest peak.

Kilimanjaro - Climb Africa’s highest mountain.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Join tour Arusha
Arrive in Arusha and transfer to the hotel for a relaxing afternoon

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)

Day 2: Drive to Arusha National Park; trek to Miriakamba Hut
This morning we drive to Momela Gate, our entry point into Arusha N. Park and the start of our ascent of Tanzania’s second highest mountain, Mt. Meru (4562m). Escorted by one park ranger/guide and accompanied by porters who carry our bags, food and equipment we set off on foot. Keeping a close eye out for Maasai giraffe, elephant and buffalo, we follow the ‘Momela Route’ which today provides a gradual ascent of about 1000m over open grassland, through rainforest and across a mountain stream until we reach the Miriakamba Huts, 2515m (about 4 hours walking).

Overnight Hut (H) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Trek to Saddle Hut
We pass ‘Buffalo Swamp’ heading up a steep trail through rainforest during the first section of today’s walk. Then, breaking our ascent at Mgongo Wa Tembo (swahili for Elephant Ridge) viewpoint (3200m), we enjoy stunning views over the entire Meru Crater floor. The giant heathers, characteristic of the moorland zone we are about to enter, start to appear in the forest. Our path continues steeply over moorland and we rise above cloud level and reach Saddle Hut, 3570m (about 3-4 hours walking). Later this afternoon after time to rest there is an option to hike to the summit of ‘Little Meru’, (3801m), for impressive views of Meru summit, the horseshoe crater and the sheer cliffs of the crater’s inner wall (about 1.5 hours walk).

Overnight Hut (H) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Trek to Mt. Meru summit then descend to Miriakamba Hut
Departing for the summit in the early hours of the morning we begin our optional predawn ascent, providing excellent preparation for our attempt on ‘Kili’ in the forthcoming days. Crossing ‘The Saddle’ we climb up to ‘Rhino Point’, then skirt the rim of Meru Crater. Trail conditions vary from walking on bare rock to scree and ash. While the steepness of the trail varies until we finally reach the Tanzanian flag marking the summit (4562m). After time to absorb the fantastic views over 1500m down into the crater and ash cone below, we’ll hopefully be treated to the sun rising from behind Kilimanjaro, silhouetting Africa’s highest peak in the predawn mist. We follow the same route back down to Saddle Hut for a well-earned rest (between 4-6 hours ascent and 2-3 hours descent). Later in the day we’ll descend further to the Miriakamba Huts. (About 2-3 hours walking).

Overnight Hut (H) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Trek to Momela Gate then drive to Moshi
Our last day walking in Arusha NP takes us gently into the Meru Crater and across its floor, then down a forest track through rainforest frequented by giant East African Yellow-Wood trees (Podocarpus). We'll keep a close eye out for the resident troops of black and white colobus monkeys who live high in the forest canopy and can frequently be seen gracefully jumping from tree to tree. We arrive back at Momela Gate and will then drive to Moshi to prepare for our attempt on Kilimanjaro. (About 4 hours walking).

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Drive to Nale Moru; walk to Simba Camp
This morning we will drive to the village of Nale Moru for the starting point of the Rongai route. Porters will assist throughout the trek carrying all of our luggage. You only need carry what you will need for the day – waterproofs, a camera, water bottle and a packed lunch. The first stage of the trek is through farmland and pine forests You may have chance to see the beautiful Kilimanjaro Colobus monkey, elephant or buffalo en route. Our first camp will be at the edge of the moorland zone at around 2600m (About 4 hours walking).

Overnight Basic Camping (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Walk to Kikelewa camp via ‘Second Cave’
Leaving the pine forest behind we carry on with a steady ascent walking though moorland. There are superb views of the Eastern icefields on the crater rim of Kibo, the highest of the three volcanoes which form the mountain. We will have lunch at the ‘Second cave’ at 3450m. In the afternoon we will leave the main trail and strike out across moorland on a smaller path towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi, the second of Kilimanjaro’s volcanoes. We will set up campt today in the sheltered valley near Kikilewa caves at 3650m (About 8 hours walking).

Overnight Basic Camping (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Trek to Mawenzi Tarn
This morning we have a short but steep ascent up grassy slopes which is rewarded by a superb view of the Kenyan plains to the north. We leave vegetation behind shortly before reaching our next camp at Mwenzi Tarn (4330m) directly below the towering cliffs of Mawenzi. This afternoon you have chance to rest or explore the surrounding area to aid acclimatisation. (About 3-4 hours walking).

Overnight Basic Camping (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Trek to Kibo Camp
We leave our campsite and cross the lunar desert of the ‘saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo After a couple hours trekking, reach this spectacular place, with the summit of Kilimanjaro in the backround and our trail to the high camp stretched out before our eyes. Upon reaching our camp the remainder of the day will be spent resting in preparation of the final ascent after a very early night!(4700m) (About 4 - 6 hours walking).

Overnight Basic Camping (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Summit day and descent to Horombo camp
We start the final, and by far the steepest and most demanding part of the climb, around midnight. We will walk very slowly in the darkness on a switchback trail through losse volcanic scree to reach the crater rim at Gilman’s point(5685m).We will have a short rest to admire the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi, before pushing on to the final ascent to Ulhuru Peak (5896m) approximately 3 hours round trip. We will pass spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit areas. The descent to Kibo hut is surprisingly fast and after some refreshment we continue our descent to our camp for the night at Horombo (3720m). (13- 15 hours walking)

Overnight Basic Camping (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Walk to Marangu gate and drive to Moshi
Today we have a steady descent through moorland and a lush forest at Mandara (2700m) down to the gate at Marangu.(1830m)Here we will say goodbye to our porters and drive back to Moshi, arriving late afternoon.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Tour ends Moshi
Included meals: Breakfast

Other Details

Accommodation Details

3 nights Standard Hotel (H+)
3 nights Hut (H)
5 nights Basic Camping (C)