7 Days 6 Nights Northern Circuit Mount Meru is a big, beautiful mountain in Tanzania, and I want to share my 7-day, 6-night trip climbing it! This adventure was full of fun, animals, and awesome views. It’s not as famous as Mount Kilimanjaro, but it’s super special. Follow my journey day by day!
7 Days 6 Nights Northern Circuit
Day 1: Arusha to Momella Gate
Your adventure starts in Arusha! You are collected from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha by a welcoming driver and transferred to Arusha National Park. You ascend from Momella Gate, which is 2,500 meters. You walk 10 kilometers in 4 to 6 hours on grass plains and green forests. You are with a ranger because wild animals like zebras and buffaloes are around. You camp at Miriakamba Hut, which is a good place to camp. The most exciting part is to notice a racing zebra very fast near the track, and the forest has so nice a fresh and grassy aroma!
- Accommodation:
- Budget: Miriakamba Hut
Day 2: Saddle Hut to Miriakamba Hut
You have breakfast and then you start climbing up from Miriakamba Hut to Saddle Hut at 3,566 meters above sea level. You climb 1,050 meters and walk 4 kilometers for 2 to 3 hours. The path is rocky with boulders, and there are little trees and flowers all around. You stay overnight in Saddle Hut, which looks so far up. The highlight is catching a glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro far in the distance in the sky, a huge mountain shining in the sun.
- Meal plan:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Accommodation:
- Budget: Saddle Hut.
Day 3: From Saddle Hut to Meru Summit and then to Lake Manyara
Today is a big day! You wake up in the middle of the night to climb to the top of Mount Meru. The top is called Socialist Peak, and it is very high—4,566 meters! You use a small light on your head because it is still dark. The climb is hard, but it feels exciting.
You reach the top when the sun comes up. The sunrise is very pretty, with orange and pink colors in the sky, like a painting.
After that, you go down the mountain a long way—from 3,050 meters to 1,516 meters. It is about 14 kilometers and takes 6 to 8 hours to walk down. When you get to Momella Gate, a car takes you to Lake Manyara. You sleep there in a nice place called a lodge.
- Meal plan:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Accommodation:
- Budget: Jambo Campsite
- Midrange: Manyara Serena Lodge
- Luxury: Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge
Day 4: Lake Manyara National Park
Welcome to Lake Manyara National Park! Breakfast is followed by a lovely game drive in a jeep to spot animals. You look out at thousands of pink flamingos flying over the lake, which creates the look of a pink blanket. You look out at the renowned lions climbing onto trees resting on branches and elephants with big tusks slowly walking. You lunch under the shade of a tree by the lake. The best part is when you see a baby elephant playing. It splashes water with its nose, and everyone laughs!
- Meal plan:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Accommodation:
- Budget: Jambo Campsite
- Midrange: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge
- Luxury: Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge
Northern Circuit Mount Meru Climbing
Day 5: Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, you get into a jeep and drive from Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park. On the way, you see big grassy fields with animals eating grass. You go on an afternoon game drive and watch lions, cheetahs, and zebras charging across the savannah. You camp in the night under the stars. The most exciting moment is to see a lion yawn on a rock and reveal its large, shining teeth before your jeep!
- Meal plan:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Accommodation:
- Budget: Seronera Public Campsite
- Midrange: Seronera Public Campsite
- Luxury: Seronera Public Campsite
Day 6: Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
You go for a morning game drive at Serengeti National Park today. You see zebras and wildebeests running together in huge herds, creating dust. Next, you go to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You sleep in a lodge near a big crater. The crater looks like a giant bowl made by a volcano. It is fun to see! The big thrill is watching a cheetah run very fast across the grass after something on the horizon.
- Meal plan:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Accommodation:
- Budget: Simba Public Campsite
- Midrange: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
- Luxury: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater Tour to Arusha Town
Your last day is excellent! You drive down into the Ngorongoro Crater, 2,286 meters above sea level, and the world’s largest unbroken caldera. Its steep walls rise a staggering 610 meters into the air, making it look like a gigantic bowl of Nature. You spot rhinos, hippos, and lions coexisting as if in a zoo but without any cages. You take lunch amidst a lake within the crater. You can also take an excursion to Olduvai Gorge with an additional payment to view a museum that contains fossils of old and 3.7-million-year-old human footprints. You then head back to Arusha town and end up in a comfortable hotel. The most exciting moment is when a big rhino comes by your jeep, powerful as a tank!
- Meal plan:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Accommodation:
- Budget: No accommodation on this day.
Tips for Your Trip
This adventure is so awesome! Wear strong footwear to hike Mount Meru as the rocks are slippery. Bring a camera to photograph flamingos, lions, and the summit. Hydrate well to stay strong climbing and on game drives. Always stick with your guide—they know where to find things and where animals hide. Most importantly, enjoy the stunning vistas and wildlife in Tanzania!
