Mount Meru towers over the popular tourist town of Arusha, but is dwarfed in popularity by the larger Mount Kilimanjaro. Mount Meru not only provides a spectacular view, but also provides a hiking opportunity that rivals its famous neighbor.

Many choose to climb Mount Meru as practice for Kilimanjaro. At 4,566 meters, the fifth highest mountain in Africa presents a suitable challenge in acclimatizing to the high altitude. However, many come to the conclusion after climbing both mountains that Meru is a better experience in terms of the scenery it offers and the challenge it presents.

The three day Mount Meru hike starts off at Momella Gate and you will take a leisurely stroll through the lush lowlands of Arusha National Park. You will be accompanied by an armed guard to offer protection against the wild buffalo or any other dangerous animals, though you will be most likely to come across a wandering giraffe or two. What’s more, you will probably have them all to yourself, with no cars, jeeps or other tourists in sight.

Once you have left the plain, the climb takes you up through layers of wooded savannah, where the climate remains warm and comfortable, to the first base camp, Mariakamba Hut at 2,470 m. above sea level. While making your way up to the hut, look out for blue monkeys and the black-and-white colobus, but watch out for leopards and hyenas.

The following day the going gets tougher. You may begin to feel the effects of the altitude as you head up to the second and final camp, Saddle Hut, at 3,500 m. It is from here that you will make the bid for the summit, leaving at around midnight if you want to watch the sunrise from the peak. Before doing this, however, you may want to take a short excursion to Little Meru, a smaller peak on the mountain, at 3,820 m.

The route to the summit is potentially dangerous, but comes with the thrill of a rocky path on the edge of a huge drop. You will soon find yourself climbing over and around large jagged rocks as you attempt to make it to the summit.

When you finally reach the summit, it is a sight that you would have happily put in twice the time and effort to experience. As the sun rises slowly in the distance, lighting up the entire eastern skyline, the silhouette of Kilimanjaro appears 50 kilometers away, its twin peaks clearly visible in the distance.

When the spectacle is over, the cold will probably drive you back down the mountain soon enough. But, don’t miss the crisp shadow of the mountain falling across the surrounding landscape as you make your descent.

Location:
Arusha, Tanzania

Trekking Types:
Trekking