Climbing mount meru

Mount Meru is Mount Kilimanjaro's little sister, standing at 4,566m compared to 5,895m, but is still an impressive freestanding volcano, which makes a superb four day climb to the top. It last erupted in 1910 therefore can be classified as an active volcano. The first ascent was made by Dr. Fritz Jaeger, 1904. The town of Arusha lies at the base of Mount Meru Trekking, loads of trek companies do this trek. Wild animals are frequently found on this mountain therefore an armed ranger usually accompanies the trekkers.
You need to be very fit in order to achieve this trek, you should be used to long trekking and had some high altitude experience.
*Accommodation * You can be booked into a hotel in Arusha or Moshi in order to climb Mt Meru. You can also fly into Nairobi or Kilimanjaro and catch the shuttle bus to either town. Mount Meru is easily accessible from Arusha. From Kilimanjaro airport to Moshi is about 45 mins and one and a quarter hours to Arusha. From Nairobi airport it is about 5 hours drive to Arusha which is an interesting drive and gives you a good feel about the place and the way people live. Well worth the trip! This trek is often done as a warm up and acclimatisation climb for Mount Kilimanjaro. Many tour companies offer a combination package.
The mountain is un spoilt and less congested as compared to it's Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya counterparts. Mount Meru Hiking, Mount Meru Trekking in Tanzania, Mt Meru Climb, Mount Meru Africa, Mount Meru Climbing.

Hiking Mount Meru | Mt Meru Climbing

: 4 Days/3 nights Location: Mount Meru, Arusha, Tanzania

Day 1: Arusha/Mariakamba Hut* Mt.Meru Park Gate - Mariakamba: 4-5 hours Drive from Arusha to the Mt. Meru park gate where you will be met by our game ranger and porters. Hike for the few hours to Mariakamba Hut at 8,500 ft. From here you may wish to take an evening walk on the slopes to view wildlife at one of the watering holes in the crater. Dinner and overnight rest at Mariakamba Hut, L,D

Day 2: Mariakamba Hut - Saddle Hut* Mariakamba - Saddle Hut: 3-4 hours After breakfast hike to up to 11,500 ft to arrive at Saddle Hut. If time permits you can climb a little further on Mount Meru for a scenic view of the 'Roof of Africa', Mount Kilimanjaro. This will also be part of more acclimatization. Overnight at Saddle Hut, B,L,D

Day 3: Saddle Hut - Summit - Mariakamba Hut* Saddle Hut - Summit: 4-6 hours An early rise to hike all the way to the summit before the afternoon clouds cover the summit. From the summit, descend back to the 11,500 ft Saddle Hut in time for lunch. After lunch, hike down to Mariakamba Hut for dinner and overnight, B,L,D.

Day 4: Mariakamba Hut - Arusha* Breakfast at the camp and a leisurely morning. Descend to the park gate to connect with your waiting transfer vehicle back to your Arusha Hotel, continue with other programs or depart, B.

Mount Meru Climb price: _*US$ 690*_ per person sharing Included in the tour price: -Guarantee price/guarantee trek on confirmation -Transfer to and from the base of the mountain -Full board accommodation whilst on the trek. Meal plan as detailed: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner -Accommodations in camps/huts as per the itinerary -All park entrance fees to include government taxes -Service of an English speaking professional guide and skilled cook -Start and finish in Arusha. -Treated water on the trek. Excluded: -Laundry, tips, sleeping bags, beverages/drinks, accommodation before the trek and climbing gears -International flights -Visas -Items of personal nature

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.