Double Peak Challenge

After almost two hours of climbing, hikers reach the viewpoint called “Mgongo wa Tembo” (elephant back) at a height of 3,200 meters, where they take a break. Saddle Hut, at 3,550 meters, marks a significant change in the landscape from jungle to heather and grassland. Hikers can choose to walk to Little Meru, which takes one to two hours, and see a beautiful view of Arusha National Park and Kilimanjaro.

At night, hikers depart from the camp to Rhino Point by following the trail through the forest while using headlamps. From Rhino Point, the path gets more challenging, and hikers walk over volcanic ash, boulders, and gravel. Hikers arrive at Socialist Peak, the peak, in around four to five hours. They can watch the sun rise over Kilimanjaro and enjoy the breathtaking view of Meru’s crater.

After conquering Mount Meru, the next adventure is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro using the Machame path. The trek starts in a beautiful jungle, and the path is steeper and has higher altitudes than other routes. However, it is worth it to reach the summit. Hikers will have an English-speaking guide, cooks, and porters to help them carry up to 15 kg of luggage.

The climb to the summit begins at the Umbwe gate, passing through former colonial coffee and banana plantation villages. The trek provides views of deep canyons and, if lucky, distant peeks of Kilimanjaro. The journey takes hikers through the natural rainforest, which gradually becomes narrower and steeper as it climbs the slope. The terrain becomes moors and heathlands, offering stunning views of the mountain. Hikers will camp at Shira camp, and then climb the Shira Plateau to the Barranco Valley, home to enormous senecio and lobelia plants. The Barranco Camp offers hikers breathtaking views of Kibo’s south glacier.