KILIMANJARO 2009 - DAY 5

 FEBRUARY 18

Today is the summit day. We are up before midnight. We climb from the Saddle Hut camp at 3,500 m (11,483 feet) to the summit of Mount Meru at 4,562 m (14,967 feet). We plan to reach the summit early enough to watch the sunrise. After a short rest on the summit, we descend all the way to Miriakamba Hut. It is a long day.

By 6:30 Am, we are almost at the summit. We stop to watch the Sun rising from behind Kilimanjaro.

The trail to the summit follows the ridge of a long extinct caldera. Little Meru is far below us but still above the clouds. A distinct ash cone reminds us that Mount Meru is a volcano.

From the summit of Mount Meru, Joseph, Thomas and Wanda watch Kilimanjaro - our next destination. It's time to return back to the valleys.

After a lunch break at the Saddle Hut, we descend to Miriakamba Hut.