8:00 AM – Departure from Arusha
A private driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Arusha (or Kilimanjaro International Airport if arriving early) for a scenic drive to Momella Gate in Arusha National Park (1 hour, approximately 40 km) in a luxury van (1 vehicle per 6-7 people).

9:30 AM – Registration & Start Hike (4-5 Hours, 10 km, 1,000m Ascent)
At Momella Gate (1,500m/4,921ft), complete registration with the Tanzania National Park Authority. Meet your armed ranger (required due to wildlife), professional guide, cook, and porters. Begin your ascent through open grasslands, spotting buffalo, warthogs, zebras, and giraffes at a safe distance. The trail transitions into a lush montane forest, passing the Ngarenanyuki River and a waterfall. Look for black-and-white colobus monkeys and over 200 bird species, like the silvery-cheeked hornbill, thriving in May’s greenery.

2:30 PM – Arrival at Miriakamba Hut & Gourmet Lunch
Arrive at Miriakamba Hut (2,500m/8,202ft), a comfortable dormitory-style hut with solar-powered lighting, bunks, and latrines. Enjoy a gourmet lunch, featuring vegetable-stuffed flatbreads and fresh mango salad, with views of the plains and Kilimanjaro on a clear day.

4:00 PM – Acclimatization Walk & Relaxation
Take a short acclimatization walk to a nearby viewpoint, spotting the Meru Crater Plain and, if lucky, elephants in the forest. Return to the hut to relax, sipping Tanzanian coffee while taking in the serene forest surroundings.

7:00 PM – Dinner & Overnight
Dine on a 4-course meal with paired wines, such as grilled chicken with peanut sauce, in the hut’s dining area. Overnight in Miriakamba Hut, resting for the next day’s climb.

7:30 AM – Breakfast
Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hut, featuring fresh fruits, pastries, and hot dishes, with forest views.

8:30 AM – Hike to Saddle Hut (3-4 Hours, 4 km, 1,050m Ascent)
Ascend through a grassy pastoral landscape into a forest where elephants may be spotted. The trail steepens past the Mgongo wa Tembo (Elephant’s Back) viewpoint, offering vistas of the crater plain and ash cone. Enter an alpine landscape with giant heather and moorland vegetation, arriving at Saddle Hut (3,570m/11,712ft). This hut is more basic but still has bunks, latrines, and solar lighting.

12:30 PM – Gourmet Lunch
Settle into Saddle Hut and enjoy a gourmet lunch, such as spiced lamb with couscous, with views of Kilimanjaro’s Kibo peak on a clear day.

2:00 PM – Acclimatization Hike to Little Meru (1-1.5 Hours, 250m Ascent)
Take an acclimatization hike to Little Meru (3,820m/12,533ft), a short but rewarding climb offering panoramic views of Arusha National Park, the Meru Crater, and Kilimanjaro. This helps with altitude adjustment for the summit push.

4:00 PM – Relaxation
Return to Saddle Hut to rest, sipping tea while taking in the alpine scenery. Your guide will brief you on the summit attempt, advising early sleep due to the midnight start.

6:30 PM – Dinner & Overnight
Dine on a 5-course meal with paired wines, like fresh fish with coconut sauce, in the hut’s dining area. Overnight in Saddle Hut, preparing for the summit day.

12:00 AM – Summit Push (4-5 Hours, 5 km, 1,000m Ascent)
Wake up for a light snack and tea, then begin the summit ascent in the dark, guided by headlamps. The steep trail crosses the saddle to Rhino Point (3,800m/12,467ft), followed by a traverse across a rock face to the crater rim. The final section to Socialist Peak (4,566m/14,980ft) is rocky and can be slippery—surefootedness is essential. Reach the summit at sunrise (around 6:00 AM), witnessing the sun rise behind Kilimanjaro, casting an orange-red glow over the plains and Meru Crater. Note: In icy or windy conditions, the guide may decide not to proceed past Rhino Point for safety.

7:00 AM – Descent to Saddle Hut (2-3 Hours, 5 km, 1,000m Descent)
After photos and a brief rest, descend back to Saddle Hut, retracing your steps along the crater ridge, enjoying daylight views of the ash cone and surrounding landscapes.

10:00 AM – Brunch & Rest
Enjoy a hearty brunch at Saddle Hut, featuring eggs, pastries, and fresh juices, then rest briefly to recover from the summit climb.

12:00 PM – Descent to Miriakamba Hut (2-3 Hours, 4 km, 1,050m Descent)
Continue descending through the alpine zone back to the lush forest, arriving at Miriakamba Hut by mid-afternoon. Spot wildlife like buffalo or baboons along the way, with the armed ranger ensuring safety.

3:00 PM – Relaxation
Relax at Miriakamba Hut, sipping a cocktail while reflecting on your summit achievement, with the forest’s sounds as your backdrop.

7:00 PM – Dinner & Overnight
Celebrate with a 5-course dinner with paired wines, such as roasted beef with tamarind sauce, in the hut’s dining area. Overnight in Miriakamba Hut, enjoying a final night on the mountain.

7:30 AM – Breakfast
Have breakfast at the hut, savoring the morning views of the forest and plains below.

8:30 AM – Descent to Momella Gate (4-5 Hours, 14 km, 1,000m Descent)
Descend via the Northern Route, a scenic trail through the forest and open grasslands. Pass the Kitoto Viewpoint for final views of the plains and Kilimanjaro, and spot wildlife like giraffes or buffalo. The trail can be slippery in May’s wet conditions, so step cautiously. Arrive at Momella Gate (1,500m/4,921ft) by early afternoon, where you’ll say goodbye to your crew after tipping (suggested USD 20-30/day for the guide, ranger, cook, and porters).

1:30 PM – Gourmet Picnic Lunch
Enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch at the gate, featuring fresh sandwiches and tropical fruits, as a final treat before departing.

2:30 PM – Return to Arusha
Board your luxury van for the 1-hour drive back to Arusha, arriving at your accommodation or Kilimanjaro International Airport by late afternoon, concluding your Mount Meru climb.