Mount Meru Day Hike — Miriakamba Hut

Your adventure begins after breakfast at your hotel in Arusha. Early in the morning, our driver and your professional mountain guide will pick you up for a scenic 2-hour drive to Arusha National Park, arriving at Momella Gate for registration and permit formalities. While your guide finalizes the paperwork, the rest of your support crew will prepare for the trek. Once ready, you’ll begin your hike accompanied by an armed park ranger, a requirement in this region due to the presence of wildlife such as buffalo and giraffes. The first stretch takes you through open grassland where you can spot herds of giraffes, warthogs, and sometimes elephants, before gradually entering acacia forest along the southern route. After about 2 hours of hiking, you’ll reach the beautiful Maio Waterfalls, an ideal spot to pause for photos and enjoy a picnic snack. From here, the trail continues upward toward the famous arched fig tree, a natural wonder that the ranger will explain in detail. Continuing the steady climb for another 2 hours, you’ll reach the Miriakamba Hut area (≈2,500 m), which marks the highest point of your day hike. Here you can enjoy panoramic views, take a well-earned rest, and have your packed picnic lunch. After soaking in the scenery, you’ll begin your descent via a gentler outer route, retracing your steps through forest and open plains. Keep your eyes open for colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and colorful birdlife. By late afternoon, you’ll return to Momella Gate, where your driver will be waiting. After a short break, you’ll be transferred back to your lodge in Arusha, arriving in the early evening tired but full of unforgettable memories of Mount Meru.