Scott - Aug 24, 2022 6:50 pm Date Climbed: May 19, 2022
Little Meru
May 17
Today Kim and I started our climb of Mount Meru. On the way to the trailhead (Momella Gate), we saw baboons, warthogs, zebras, buffalo, and dik dik. There was a blue monkey at the trailhead as well. Because of the danger from the wildlife, an armed ranger was required to accompany us for the hike up to Saddle Hut. You must book with a guiding service too; we went with Gladys.
We took the forest trail to the hut. Along the way we saw colobus monkeys, warthogs, blue monkeys, lots of birds, red dikas, and a giraffe which was on the trail. We had to wait for the giraffe to move before we could hike farther up the trail. We passed through the famous and spectacular fig tree arch along the way. The only real obstacle were the aggressive ants which bite hard as you pass through their territory. The hike was a pretty one through the rainforest.
We made good progress to the Miriakamba Hut where we spent the night.
May 18
We left the hut at 8 AM and headed for the Saddle Hut. This time we heard lots of colobus monkeys, but didn't see them. We did see a lot of birds though. We started in the rainforest, but the forest got more open as we headed higher and the plant life was really interesting. We started in the clouds, but eventually broke through them to find sunshine above the cloud deck. We also saw our first views of Kilimanjaro and had some good views of the highest summit of Meru as well.
We reached the Saddle Hut at about noon and took a rest before climbing Little Meru. The views were really spectacular as we were above the clouds and had some fantastic views of Kilimanjaro and Meru.
May 19
Toady we woke up at midnight in preparation for our climb of Mount Meru. The skies were mostly clear and the moon was close to full so it was a bright night where we didn't need a headlamp.
We headed up the mountain at 1 AM. We made pretty good progress up to Rhino Point (where there are some rhino bones on the summit), where the route became much more difficult. There are three sections of the route where there route had chains to hold on to, if you choose.
The route is pretty slow going and we reached the top at 6:45 AM, which was just after sunrise. The views across the clouds to Kilimanjaro were really spectacular. After enjoying the summit we headed down and we were at Saddle Hut by 11:00 AM.
After lunch we headed down to Miriakamba Hut seeing two types of antelope along as well as redbucks. bushbucks, and sunes along the way. There were many birds as well. We also saw a leopard track. We arrived at the Miriakamba Hut around 4:30 PM.
We asked the ranger if he knew the story behind the rhino bones on the summit of Rhino Point. He said yes and it was a very sad story. Rhino Point was actually named for two horn like formations seen on the mountain from the Miriakamba Hut. When the last known rhino in the park was poached, one of the rangers carries some of the bones up to Rhino Point and left them there as a memorial.
May 20
It was a beautiful morning. We were on the trail by 7:45 AM.
We took the shorter Ikitoni Trail back to the gate. In the forest we saw lots of hornbills, baboons, colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, sune, bushbucks, and many other birds. We took the shorter trail down through the Ikitoni Plain, taking a side trip to the spectacular Tululusia Falls where some of us (including me) took a cold shower.
After the waterfalls, we headed to the plain. In this clearing are of of animals such as baboons, many giraffes, zebras, warthogs, cape buffalo, egrets, etc. There were lots of animal skulls along the way as well and we saw a cool looking large caterpillar. We also saw several elephants near the gate.
Overall, the climb to Mount Meru was really spectacular even though it is mostly overlooked by trekkers in favor of Kilimanjaro.
flow - Jan 30, 2012 9:10 am Date Climbed: Jan 28, 2012
Little Meru, 3.801m
From Saddle Hut
eza - Nov 19, 2011 12:34 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2001
Our first african summit
Climbed Little Meru from Saddle Hut, the day before our first climb to Meru. We were acclimatizing for a further Kili attempt, but found Meru National Park a wonderful place.
WouterB - Feb 21, 2011 8:32 am Date Climbed: Feb 7, 2011
Good weather and nice acclimatization
Summited without packs in about 35minutes from the huts.
Indeed a sweet and fun little easy summit only 45 min from saddle camp, don't even bring your pack, just your camera. Had some incredible views from up top here.
Peak Freak - Mar 24, 2009 12:27 am Date Climbed: Mar 5, 2009
Normal route
Great little 45 min hike from Saddle Hut.
mpa - Jan 11, 2009 11:20 am Date Climbed: Dec 18, 2008
Normal route
Nice acclimatization peak.
eza - Sep 17, 2008 9:22 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2008
Second time
Back to Tanzania after seven years, and as the first time we climbed Little Meru as an afternoon hike from Saddle Hut
Scott - Aug 24, 2022 6:50 pm Date Climbed: May 19, 2022
Little MeruMay 17
Today Kim and I started our climb of Mount Meru. On the way to the trailhead (Momella Gate), we saw baboons, warthogs, zebras, buffalo, and dik dik. There was a blue monkey at the trailhead as well. Because of the danger from the wildlife, an armed ranger was required to accompany us for the hike up to Saddle Hut. You must book with a guiding service too; we went with Gladys.
We took the forest trail to the hut. Along the way we saw colobus monkeys, warthogs, blue monkeys, lots of birds, red dikas, and a giraffe which was on the trail. We had to wait for the giraffe to move before we could hike farther up the trail. We passed through the famous and spectacular fig tree arch along the way. The only real obstacle were the aggressive ants which bite hard as you pass through their territory. The hike was a pretty one through the rainforest.
We made good progress to the Miriakamba Hut where we spent the night.
May 18
We left the hut at 8 AM and headed for the Saddle Hut. This time we heard lots of colobus monkeys, but didn't see them. We did see a lot of birds though. We started in the rainforest, but the forest got more open as we headed higher and the plant life was really interesting. We started in the clouds, but eventually broke through them to find sunshine above the cloud deck. We also saw our first views of Kilimanjaro and had some good views of the highest summit of Meru as well.
We reached the Saddle Hut at about noon and took a rest before climbing Little Meru. The views were really spectacular as we were above the clouds and had some fantastic views of Kilimanjaro and Meru.
May 19
Toady we woke up at midnight in preparation for our climb of Mount Meru. The skies were mostly clear and the moon was close to full so it was a bright night where we didn't need a headlamp.
We headed up the mountain at 1 AM. We made pretty good progress up to Rhino Point (where there are some rhino bones on the summit), where the route became much more difficult. There are three sections of the route where there route had chains to hold on to, if you choose.
The route is pretty slow going and we reached the top at 6:45 AM, which was just after sunrise. The views across the clouds to Kilimanjaro were really spectacular. After enjoying the summit we headed down and we were at Saddle Hut by 11:00 AM.
After lunch we headed down to Miriakamba Hut seeing two types of antelope along as well as redbucks. bushbucks, and sunes along the way. There were many birds as well. We also saw a leopard track. We arrived at the Miriakamba Hut around 4:30 PM.
We asked the ranger if he knew the story behind the rhino bones on the summit of Rhino Point. He said yes and it was a very sad story. Rhino Point was actually named for two horn like formations seen on the mountain from the Miriakamba Hut. When the last known rhino in the park was poached, one of the rangers carries some of the bones up to Rhino Point and left them there as a memorial.
May 20
It was a beautiful morning. We were on the trail by 7:45 AM.
We took the shorter Ikitoni Trail back to the gate. In the forest we saw lots of hornbills, baboons, colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, sune, bushbucks, and many other birds. We took the shorter trail down through the Ikitoni Plain, taking a side trip to the spectacular Tululusia Falls where some of us (including me) took a cold shower.
After the waterfalls, we headed to the plain. In this clearing are of of animals such as baboons, many giraffes, zebras, warthogs, cape buffalo, egrets, etc. There were lots of animal skulls along the way as well and we saw a cool looking large caterpillar. We also saw several elephants near the gate.
Overall, the climb to Mount Meru was really spectacular even though it is mostly overlooked by trekkers in favor of Kilimanjaro.
flow - Jan 30, 2012 9:10 am Date Climbed: Jan 28, 2012
Little Meru, 3.801mFrom Saddle Hut
eza - Nov 19, 2011 12:34 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2001
Our first african summitClimbed Little Meru from Saddle Hut, the day before our first climb to Meru. We were acclimatizing for a further Kili attempt, but found Meru National Park a wonderful place.
WouterB - Feb 21, 2011 8:32 am Date Climbed: Feb 7, 2011
Good weather and nice acclimatizationSummited without packs in about 35minutes from the huts.
MScholes - Jul 24, 2010 12:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2010
Clear and SunnyIndeed a sweet and fun little easy summit only 45 min from saddle camp, don't even bring your pack, just your camera. Had some incredible views from up top here.
Peak Freak - Mar 24, 2009 12:27 am Date Climbed: Mar 5, 2009
Normal routeGreat little 45 min hike from Saddle Hut.
mpa - Jan 11, 2009 11:20 am Date Climbed: Dec 18, 2008
Normal routeNice acclimatization peak.
eza - Sep 17, 2008 9:22 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2008
Second timeBack to Tanzania after seven years, and as the first time we climbed Little Meru as an afternoon hike from Saddle Hut
Rafa Bartolome - Sep 15, 2008 4:47 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2008
Foggy summitWe climbed Little Meru in the previous day to the attack to Meru with fog on the summit. It's a good peak to aclimatizacion very advisable.