Mount Meru is an active volcano of 4566 metres, about 70 kilometres west of Mount Kilimanjaro. Our trek is four days to reach the summit and come back. It is an excellent standalone trip or a prequel to climbing Kilimanjaro itself.
Trip Hints
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Mount Meru’s maximum altitude is approximately 4,562 meters (14,967 feet) above sea level
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you’ll need a moderate to good level of physical fitness
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English & Swahili as a native language of Tanzanians
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Adventure Tour
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Mount Meru treks are fully guided, and climbers are accompanied by licensed mountain guides
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13
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80
OVERVIEW
Mount Meru is an active volcano of 4566 metres and about 70 kilometres west of Mount Kilimanjaro. Our itinerary is six days, with four taken to reach the summit and come back. It is an excellent standalone trip, or a prequel to climbing Kilimanjaro itself. Some people say that Meru is actually more challenging, and for sure it is much quieter. Therefore there is a lot more wildlife to be seen and the sense of remoteness and solitude is much stronger than on the more famous peak nearby.
The mountain is the centrepiece of Arusha National Park and its fertile slopes rise above the surrounding savanna and support a forest that hosts diverse wildlife, including nearly 400 species of birds, and also monkeys and leopards. Trekkers have the opportunity to see a lot of wildlife as they approach and climb the mountain.
The ascent is quite steep in places and the route to the summit passes over a number of streams, moving through grasslands, tropical rainforest, alpine meadows, moorlands and desert uplands to snow and ice. The summit is reached by a narrow, barren ridge, which provides stunning views of the Ash Cone lying several hundred feet below in the crater.
It reaches 4,566 metres (14,980 feet) in height but has lost much of its bulk due to an eastward volcanic blast about 8,000 years ago. Mount Meru most recently had a minor eruption about a century ago. The several small cones and craters seen in the vicinity reflect numerous episodes of volcanic activity.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Summit Sunrise: Reach Socialist Peak (4,566m) for breathtaking views, including Kilimanjaro
- Wildlife Encounters: Spot giraffes, buffaloes, monkeys, and birds in Arusha National Park
- Scenic Trekking: Pass through lush forests, moorlands, and dramatic ridges
- Quiet Adventure: Less crowded than Kilimanjaro, ideal for solitude and acclimatization
- Quiet Adventure: Less crowded than Kilimanjaro, ideal for solitude and acclimatization
