Information
Landmark: Mount MeruCity: Arusha
Country: Tanzania
Continent: Africa
Mount Meru, Arusha, Tanzania, Africa
Overview
Mount Meru, rising 4,566 meters (14,980 feet) inside Arusha-national-park_arusha" class="underline">Arusha National Park, is Tanzania’s second-highest peak and offers a trekking adventure framed by misty forests and distant views of Kilimanjaro.Mount Kilimanjaro may grab most of the attention, but Mount Meru offers a tough, satisfying climb-think steep forest trails and crisp mountain air all your own.With its clear streams, varied terrain, and abundant wildlife, it draws hikers eager for an adventure that’s quieter yet every bit as stunning.Mount Meru rises 4,566 meters (14,980 feet) above sea level in Arusha National Park, northeastern Tanzania-an active stratovolcano that last erupted around 1910.The best hiking is June through October, when the dry air carries the scent of dust and sun-warmed grass.Reaching the summit usually takes 4 to 5 days, and the climb ranges from moderate to tough thanks to steep trails and thin mountain air.Here’s what to expect.Climbing Mount Meru takes five days along the Momella Route, beginning at Momella Gate and winding through rainforest alive with monkeys, golden savannah, and misty moorland.The journey pauses at Miriakamba Hut after a half-day hike, where you can rest in simple quarters and watch the sun dip behind the trees.From Saddle Hut, the base for summit day, hikers set out before dawn, headlamps bobbing in the dark, for the steep push to the peak.Along the way, the trail reveals sweeping views of the Great Rift Valley, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the jagged rim around the Ash Cone.On the summit, the land falls away into a vast caldera, with plains and valleys stretching endlessly toward the horizon.Because the mountain sits inside Arusha National Park, there’s a good chance of meeting buffalo, giraffes, or bright blue monkeys in the lower forests, and higher up, alpine meadows dotted with hardy blooms replace the thick, tropical canopy.Thick montane forests cloak the lower slopes, while higher up, towering giant groundsels and lobelias catch the light; the final push to the summit is steep and exhausting, but when you reach the Crater Rim, the sight of the Ash Cone’s steaming core - and, if the sky’s clear, distant Mount Kilimanjaro glowing to the southeast - makes every step worth it, with options along the way ranging from the Momella Gate’s check-in point to simple huts at Miriakamba and Saddle, or even a rough camp under the stars, always with a registered guide and often porters hauling the load.The guides know the mountain inside and out-its rare alpine flowers, its tangled history, and the trails that wind to the best views.The trek itself ranges from moderate to tough, with long, steady climbs that leave your legs burning.Mount Meru sees far fewer visitors than Kilimanjaro, so you can hike in real peace-sometimes with nothing but the sound of wind in the grass-while enjoying varied scenery from lush forests to alpine meadows, spotting wildlife along the way, tackling a rewarding physical challenge that’s easier than Kilimanjaro but tougher than a casual hike, and even using the climb to acclimatize before taking on Africa’s highest peak; it’s just 30 kilometers from Arusha by car or about an hour and a half from Kilimanjaro International Airport, and you’ll want to prepare by adjusting to the altitude, dressing in layers for shifting weather, hiring the required guide and optional porters, and packing sturdy boots, warm clothes, water, and snacks.
