At a height of 4,566 meters (14,980 ft), Mount Meru is a dormant stratovolcano located in Arusha National Park, 70 Kilometres (43 miles) west of Mount Kilimanjaro in the country of Tanzania. Typically Mount Meru Climb takes four days, but it can be done in 3 days to complete a trek to the Summit.
It is visible from Mount Kilimanjaro on a clear day, and is the fifth-highest mountain in Africa, dependent on definition. Climb Mount Meru, Second highest Mountain in Tanzania, is great with no traffic and amazing wildlife experience as you hike past wild animals.
Located within Arusha National Park, Mount Meru is Tanzania’s second-highest mountain, rising to 4,566 meters (14,980 feet). It provides a perfect warm-up for Kilimanjaro climbers or a thrilling standalone adventure for nature lovers. Whether you’re an experienced trekker or a nature enthusiast, a private Mount Meru hike delivers scenic beauty, wildlife encounters, and a personal touch.
Mount Meru is often overlooked due to its proximity to Kilimanjaro, but it has plenty to offer those looking for a challenging climb. A dormant volcano that last erupted in 1910, it is Tanzania’s second highest mountain at 4566 metres (14,979 ft). Taking only 3 or 4 days to climb it is perfect for those wanting to get a taste of high altitude trekking without going too high before or after going on safari, or to help with acclimatisation if undertaken before you climb Kilimanjaro. It is ideal for those looking for a quieter trekking experience and should definitely not be underestimated as climbers still need to acclimatise properly to succeed in reaching its peak.
An armed park ranger will join the team to guard against any animal threats as you start your approach through Arusha National Park via the Momella route. Keep your eyes open and you will be rewarded with sighting of baboons, giraffe, zebra, colombus monkeys and variety of birds. From here you start your ascent through Meru’s diverse vegetation zones from montane forest, moorland, semi-desert and alpine desert, until you reach its magnificent crater. Traversing round the crater rim to reach its summit, Socialist Peak at 4566m, after which you will have time to explore the ash cone that has formed in the crater during the 1910 eruption.
In opposition to Kilimanjaro, there’s only 1 route to climb Mount Meru. So no need to figure out which route suits your style best. The one route is the way to go! Even though it’s not as high as the Kili, its a difficult climb and surely not to be taken lightly.
If you are not intending to climb Mount Meru entirely, or simply don’t have the time, then there are several dayhikes reaching lower heights on Mount Meru. These hikes are very rewarding as you’ll hike through green vegetation, surrounded by wildlife. Here you can get some real peace and quiet as its not as overrun as Kilimanjaro (dayhikes) and most likely won’t encounter many others.
When you do decide to climb Mt. Meru, you can choose to do it in 3 days or 4 days, meaning 2 or 3 nights. In opposition to the Kilimanjaro Routes, this isn’t a matter of acclimatisation as the ascend will be the same on both routes. On the 4 day climb, the descend on the last day will be a lot slower and will give you time to enjoy the surrounding areas. If you choose for the latter, you will hike down all the way from the peak to Momella Gate (starting point). This can be very challenging as it’s a very long and exhausting hike.
