Welcome to Mount Meru
Enjoy the Mount Meru Trekking for 3 to 4 days
About Mount Meru
Mount Meru is located in the center of Arusha National Park. It stands at 14,977 feet tall which makes it the second highest peak in Tanzania. And fifth highest in Africa. It makes for a great acclimating hike before you do your Kilimanjaro climb. Meru is a dormant volcano. You will see views of the Ash cone as you ascend to the summit. Unlike Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru lacks the crowds. This makes for a peaceful, yet tough climb. In addition to the solitude, you also enjoy sleeping in huts. Since Meru is located inside Arusha National park you may glimpse a variety of wildlife, including giraffe, zebra, colobus monkeys, leopards and hyenas, in the park’s small but bustling 53 square miles of natural habitats.
For the first day on the mountain, an armed ranger will escort you from gate to camp. This is to prevent poaching of the exotic animals. Depending on your group size, you will also have one of our guides with you as well as a modest mountain crew made up of a chef and several porters.
The trail follows the north rim of Meru’s crater along a stunning ridgeline with views of Kilimanjaro. This trail continues upward on what’s left of the volcanic crater. Once you reach the summit the view of Mount Kilimanjaro and looking down into Meru crater are unforgettable.
Kuzurura Safaris and Arts offers a private 4-day trek of Mount Meru. It can begin on any date.
Mount Meru important facts
- Dormitory-style hut accommodation
- Climb through different vegetation zones over several days.
- Start your summit attempt around midnight and reach the peak around sunrise.
- You then descend an incredible 2000 meters on the same day, similar to your Kilimanjaro summit day.
- Most importantly, at 4562 meters (14967 feet), Mt. Meru requires your body to make changes to adapt to the altitude.
- Abundant wildlife sightings on day 1 of the climb
- Excellent acclimatization climb before tackling Kilimanjaro
- Ascent and descent via the Momela route over three days Tanzania’s tallest mountain at 4,566m
Visitors to Mount Meru are more likely to spot wildlife along the trail, particularly in the early days of the hike. Often, a ranger will accompany trekking groups on the first day of the journey to ensure they make it safely to the first campsite.
From there, the route wanders up the north side of Meru’s volcano Meru’s crater before approaching the actual summit. At the top, the views are outstanding, particularly with Kilimanjaro gleaming tantalizingly in the distance.
Typically, Mount Meru Climb takes four days, but it can be completed in three days, as acclimatization is the key to success even on this lower peak. All trekking groups take the same route up the mountain, which begins at Momella Gate.
Hikers will stay in a series of huts on their way to the top, with basic but comfortable accommodations at two different campsites, before reaching the summit, which is located at Socialist Peak.
Mount Meru Climbing offers two advantages to travelers. First, it allows trekkers to experience what it is like to climb Kilimanjaro on a smaller scale, providing a grand adventure for those who don’t have it in their schedule or don’t want to climb the higher altitude.