Credit: kwetutours.com
So the plans for Mt. Meru have become final! I figured I would go through some of the planning details for anyone reading my blog who might also want to climb Meru as a budget-aware college student. If you go completely through a big tour company you can expect to pay a minimum of $400. We decided to go with a connection through Lucy’s “Uncle” (her host family’s uncle), since it comes out to only about $50 extra for a cook, food, guide, and porters. To find a deal like that, find someone who knows someone and start bargaining. This guy’s price magically fell from $340 to $280 when we told him we had decided to go without a guide or other staff. The total is $280 per person, and about $210 of that is mandatory park fees, armed ranger fees, hut fees, etc. So basically the bare minimum you could go for would be $210, but you’ll have to bring all your own food and cooking equipment.
Details:
- 4 day recommended climb, but you can do it in 3.
- You pay daily park fees so 3 day is cheapest!
- It’s cold up there. -5°C at night.
- There are huts to sleep in. First come first serve but one has like 72 beds and the other 95 or so. Supposedly they have water, but I’ll confirm that when I get back.
- Bring water treatment tablets/equivalent. I have a UV sterilization wand. Water boils at a lower temperature at high altitude so these are your best bet.
- You can buy a 4 supply of altitude sickness medicine from a Duka wa Dawa (pharmacy) for 2000Tsh.
- You get the mandatory ranger, and optional porters, at the park gate.
- Porters aren’t expensive. About $10 a day. They carry a max of 15kg.
- Call the park directly if you have questions.
- My host brother is awesome and found me a sleeping bag and large pack to borrow from his friend. $15 total. There are, however, outfitters that rent equipment. Also a nice outdoors store near ShopRite called Safari Care that has all the imported, name brand stuff.
- Find warm clothes and even hiking boots at the market. Tengeru is open Wednesday and Saturday, Usa River on Thursday. Not sure about Arusha Market.
Pricing:
$210 in mandatory park fees
$70 to Lucy’s uncle for a cook, food, and porters
$3/day porter tip = $9
Cook tip = ? Guide tip = ?
$10 total to rent hiking poles from Lucy’s uncle
$15 pack and sleeping bag from Patrick’s friend
1 spoon for a warm hat
Total: ~$315 + 1 spoon and whatever we decide for the tip.
A pretty good deal, I think! There are 12 of us on the trip:
1. Ben (EWH program coordinator, young guy)
2. Ollie (who really didn’t want to get the package deal with cook and guide, but was outvoted when people heard that the cook came with pancakes)
3. Marko (German guy, he’s been the contact person with the park gate)
4. Lucy (She planned the package deal and gear rental through her uncle)
5. Molly
6. Keerthigan
7. Raelynn
8. Laura
9. Grace
10. Stephanie
11. Zodina
12. Me
Almost everyone else is going to Tanga (on the coast) this weekend, so there are sure to be some good stories all around when we return to class on Tuesday! We leave early Saturday morning—wish us luck!
Details:
- 4 day recommended climb, but you can do it in 3.
- You pay daily park fees so 3 day is cheapest!
- It’s cold up there. -5°C at night.
- There are huts to sleep in. First come first serve but one has like 72 beds and the other 95 or so. Supposedly they have water, but I’ll confirm that when I get back.
- Bring water treatment tablets/equivalent. I have a UV sterilization wand. Water boils at a lower temperature at high altitude so these are your best bet.
- You can buy a 4 supply of altitude sickness medicine from a Duka wa Dawa (pharmacy) for 2000Tsh.
- You get the mandatory ranger, and optional porters, at the park gate.
- Porters aren’t expensive. About $10 a day. They carry a max of 15kg.
- Call the park directly if you have questions.
- My host brother is awesome and found me a sleeping bag and large pack to borrow from his friend. $15 total. There are, however, outfitters that rent equipment. Also a nice outdoors store near ShopRite called Safari Care that has all the imported, name brand stuff.
- Find warm clothes and even hiking boots at the market. Tengeru is open Wednesday and Saturday, Usa River on Thursday. Not sure about Arusha Market.
Pricing:
$210 in mandatory park fees
$70 to Lucy’s uncle for a cook, food, and porters
$3/day porter tip = $9
Cook tip = ? Guide tip = ?
$10 total to rent hiking poles from Lucy’s uncle
$15 pack and sleeping bag from Patrick’s friend
1 spoon for a warm hat
Total: ~$315 + 1 spoon and whatever we decide for the tip.
A pretty good deal, I think! There are 12 of us on the trip:
1. Ben (EWH program coordinator, young guy)
2. Ollie (who really didn’t want to get the package deal with cook and guide, but was outvoted when people heard that the cook came with pancakes)
3. Marko (German guy, he’s been the contact person with the park gate)
4. Lucy (She planned the package deal and gear rental through her uncle)
5. Molly
6. Keerthigan
7. Raelynn
8. Laura
9. Grace
10. Stephanie
11. Zodina
12. Me
Almost everyone else is going to Tanga (on the coast) this weekend, so there are sure to be some good stories all around when we return to class on Tuesday! We leave early Saturday morning—wish us luck!