Mount Meru 

Mount Meru is a hidden gem in Tanzania, a Mountain that is overshadowed by the giant Kilimanjaro yet so fascinating. Mount Meru towers up-to about 4500m above sea level coming 2nd in Tanzania. Located in Arusha in Arusha National Park, the mountain offers great opportunities for hikers and wanderlust adventurers. Mount Meru has a unique dormant volcano with an ash cone formed by volcanic activities with fuma roles and volcanic vents.

It's only 70 km apart from Mount Kilimanjaro, but close enough to capture the perfect views of Mount Kilimanjaro with its beautiful snow capped peaks.
Hiking mount Meru offers a different experience and offers unique and breathtaking views of the ash cone the caldera with a horseshoe shape which are evidence of the great eruptions, Momella lakes, and beautiful rugged slopes with captivating vegetation which host quite a number of wildlife. During the hike lots of birds like kingfishers, hornbills, and eagles are spotted plus several other animals such as monkeys, elephants and many more.
There was rare occurrence of snow covering the peak of mount Meru in 2008 after the glacier was totally lost in 1960 mostly likely due to global warming.The volcano has not been active ever since the last activity noted in a century

Features/ Attractions
Ash Cone
The ash cone on mount meru is about 25 km in diameter with evidence of the black lava that flowed for about 5 km long in the past, deposits of lahar and ash were left in the this cone with its depth estimated to be 700 m. the horseshoe like scar is found on the eastern part of Mount Meru was formed when part of mount meru collapsed depositing huge lahars that stretch to Mt Kilimanjaro.

The crater on meru hosts an ash cone in the centre which had a fumarolic activity over 60 years ago, the crater on the east has steep steps covered by momella lahar debris.

Ngurdoto crater: This beautiful crater is about 3.6 km in diameter with its floor covered with the swamp and stunning forests surrounding it making it a perfect place for game viewing, bird watching.

Hiking Mount Meru
Mount Meru offers hiking opportunities and its a4 days hike ascending and descending with different vegetation zones and different attractions, views of the pear shaped caldera and the ash cone, views of Kilimanjaro and wildlife to see ranging from monkeys, buffaloes, elephants, giraffes and an array of birds. 

Mount Meru Hiking itinerary

Day 1: The Hike to Mount Meru starts at Momella gate at 1500m above sea level, hiking for 6 hours to the Miriakamba Hut at 2541m above sea level. The hike takes you through the open grass serengeti ndoto with lots of wild to see, the buffaloes, elephants, warthogs and several others. You will come across Ngare Nanyuki River providing you with stunning scenery and enter the montane forest for quite a different experience with lots of monkeys swing from branch to branch, the most iconic being the black and white colobus monkeys, after here you will be ushered to Mariakamba Hut where you will rest and retire for the night. 
 

Day 2: You are hiking to saddle Hut at 3570m above sea level and this trial will take 5 hours or less depending on your pace, this one is a bit steepy which makes the ascent abid challenging yet fun, as you close in to elephant ridge you will be seeing the crater with stunning views, this will hype you for the next days hike. Upon reaching the Saddle Hut, you will have a meal and later resume the hike to Little Meru at 3794m above sea level for spectacular views. Dinner and overnight at saddle hut.

Day 3: Hike to Rhino point at 3850m then to socialist peak at 4565m above sea level- then back to Rhino point, saddle hute and Miriakamba hut, the hike will take about 10 hours. Your hike will start at 1am or 2am from rhino point reaching  the peak by sunrise to capture the stunning views of the sun rising on you while atop, your efforts will be rewarded as gasp the breathtaking views one of them being the Kilimanjaro Mount in a distance, also a perfect for photos. After that you will descend to the saddle hut for dinner and overnight stay. FB

Day 4: The final day of the hike, you will descend to Momella gate, and it will take about 5 hours or less depending on your pace. The highlight of today is seeing the ash cone and plenty of wildlife to see. You will reach the gate where your guide will be waiting to transfer you to the next destination.
Most hikers to mount meru do so to get acclimatised with the altitude in preparation for a greater hiking challenge of Mount kilimanjaro, You could proceed to Serengeti/ Ngorongoro depending on your interests, speak to the our safari expert for your specific interests and itinerary.

Planning your Mount Meru Hiking trip
Here are a few things you need to consider when planning on hiking mount meru;

• When to travel to Mount Meru: you can hike All year through, but consider the months of June- September, December - March when its dry.
• Physical fitness; make sure you are in shape and fit enough for longer walks and hikes.
• Do medical checks before the hike to avoid eventualities.
• You wil are likely to experience mild altitude sickness please be informed of the symptoms
• Carry with you energy foods such as chocolate
• Bring the necessary gear and equipments