Mount Meru is a dormant stratovolcano 70km west of Kilimanjaro in the Arusha Region of Tanzania. At 4,562m it is the fifth highest peak in Africa, visible from Kilimanjaro on a clear day, and it makes both a superb climb in its own right and the best possible acclimatisation for anyone going on to attempt Uhuru Peak.
What sets Meru apart is the first day, walked inside Arusha National Park with an armed ranger escort, where giraffe, zebra, buffalo, antelope and elephant are regularly seen along the trail. The summit route follows a spectacular narrow ridge between the sheer inner cliffs of the crater and the sloping outer wall, with the Ash Cone below and Kilimanjaro floating above the clouds at sunrise. Park fees, hut fees, three meals a day, mineral water, a sleeping bag, porters, cook, guide and your certificate are included.
