Mount Meru is a stratovolcano located 70 kilometres (43 mi) west of Mount Kilimanjaro in the nation of Tanzania. Having height of 4,565 metres (14,977 ft), it is visible from Mt Kilimanjaro on a clear day. It is considered an active volcano and is the country’s second highest mountain. The several small cones and craters seen from it may probably reflect numerous episodes of volcanic activity.
Mount Meru is the topographic centerpiece of Arusha National Park. Its fertile slopes rise above the surrounding savanna and support a forest that hosts diverse wildlife, including nearly 400 species of birds, and animals such as giraffe, buffalo, zebra, warthog, the black-and-white colobus monkey, the blue monkey, flamingos, (African elephants and leopards are present, but rarely seen)
Climbing Mount Meru.
Although this is a spectacular mountain with amazing scenery and wildlife, it’s location in East Africa means that most international visitors will visit Mount Meru as a secondary trip in conjunction with their primary destination, usually Kilimanjaro, or the Ngorongoro Crater. Reasons to do this summit include: (1) amazing views into the summit crater and ash cone, (2) hiking along the crest of the crater rim, (3) nice, but distant views of Kilimanjaro from the summit, (4) the ability to see a lot of wildlife on the lower slopes in the form of a walking safari. Arusha National Park provides certificates for people who summit the little Meru sub-peak (3,820 m / 12,533 ft) or Socialist Peak or the Mount Meru summit.
