Mt. Meru Park Gate – Mariakamba: 4-5 hours
Drive from Arusha to the Mt. Meru park gate where you will be met by our game ranger and porters. Hike for a few hours to Mariakamba Hut at 8,500 ft. From here you may wish to take an evening walk on the slopes to view wildlife at one of the watering holes in the crater. Dinner and overnight rest at Mariakamba Hut, L,D.
Emerge from the giant heather zone and hike through fine open moorland to the Shira Camp by the Shira Cave at 3,840m. Trek up to the Shira Plateau while keeping in mind that this track is skinny, narrow, and exposed to direct heat while being extremely dusty. Herds of eland up here (& occasional lions) and there are fascinating geological features in the old volcanic caldera which can be viewed during a half-hour optional walk in the afternoon. Encountering multiple viewpoints, the gradient of the trail will increase exponentially up to the lunch spot. Even though the difficult part of the trek for the day has been completed, the one to come is nothing less! After around an hour from the lunch spot, the plateau is gained and so are the Shira Camps just twenty minutes later. Ascent 840m and 4 to 5 hours walking.