Mount Meru

Mount Meru Overview

Mount Meru is an often overlooked, but a stunning climb 4 day / 3 night climb up an active (though dormant) volcano located 70 kilometres (44 miles) west of Mount Kilimanjaro. It reaches 4,566 metres (14,980 feet) in height but has lost much of its size due to an eastward volcanic blast about 8,000 years ago. Mount Meru most recently had a minor eruption about a century ago. The several small cones and craters seen in the vicinity reflect numerous episodes of volcanic activity. These cones are stunning and other-worldly.

Mount Meru has a spectacular ash cone that has formed inside, what prior to the last blast, was the original crater. She is the topographic centrepiece of Arusha National Park whose fertile slopes rise above the surrounding savanna and support a forest that hosts diverse wildlife, including nearly 400 species of birds, and also monkeys, zebra, buffalo, giraffes and leopards – all of which you walk past as you approach the peak!

The mountain offers excellent views across to her big sister Mt Kilimanjaro and is an excellent climb either as a standalone trip or as an acclimatiser before tackling Kilimanjaro. If you are doing it prior to climbing Kilimanjaro do contact us for a quote as discounts are available depending on the number of climbers doing both peaks.

Mount Meru is one of Africa’s most beautiful volcanoes and is the second highest mountain in Tanzania after Kilimanjaro at 4,5685m it is also the fifth highest in the whole of Africa.

The ascent is quite steep in places and the route to the summit passes over a number of streams. As you ascend, similar to Kilimanjaro, you pass from the equator to what feels like the Arctic, moving through grasslands, tropical rain-forest, alpine meadows, moorlands and desert uplands though being slightly lower than Kilimanjaro snow and ice is not permanent and can be rare. The summit is reached by a narrow, barren ridge, which provides stunning views of the Ash Cone lying several thousand feet below in the crater. Weather permitting, Kilimanjaro can be seen in the West especially as you climb up as the sunrises from behind Kilimanjaro.

We offer private climbs at no extra cost and will work with groups or individuals to create your perfect tailor made holiday.

Find out more and book a life-changing Mount Meru or Kilimanjaro Trek at Adventure Alternative

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MOUNT MERU COST:

£955 per person

Based on a minimum of 2 travellers sharing a twin or double hotel room pre / post 4 day climb. For solo climbers or group prices please contact us.

Includes

2 transfers from Moshi/Arusha to Mount Meru park gate -return
3 meals per day while trekking -Vegetarian/Non-Vegetarian
4 days Mount Meru trek
3 nights accommodation in huts while trekking
2 nights hotel accommodation in Moshi B&B (1 before and 1 after the climb)
All park entrance fees and government levies
English speaking mountain guide and assistant guides
Porters and cooks
All group Equipment

Excludes

Personal equipment (see kit list)
International Flights (~£500-600)
Vaccinations & Medications (~£50+)
Additional drinks (~£0-20)
Lunch and dinners in Moshi (~£15+)
Tips ($80) paid in Tanzanian Shillings only to Castro or our head guide for distribution at exit gate

Not all about money

Our prices are competitive and good value, and we offer quality, an excellent service, security and a strong stance on responsible tourism in a developing country. We don’t want to be so expensive to run fewer trips and have our staff idle, but on the other hand we believe that running cheap trips, that promote the practise of skimming budgets, would result in the porters getting next to nothing, which is something we cannot consider.

Additionally on Mt Meru we run only 4 day treks, since any less is dangerous for a peak just short of 4600 metres. Current National Park and Hut fees are included in our trip fees. We include lots of support staff plus one guide for every two or three climbers (ratios change depending on the number of climbers but our guide to climber ratio is never greater than 1:3). We do not operate kitties and we use a very good hotel in town pre / post climb with which we have built up a strong relationship over the past 4 decades.

We have our own license to operate tours on Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru and are a member of the local Tanzanian Association of Tour Operators.

Travel insurance

We advise all of our clients to take out a travel insurance as soon as you book to cover potential events that might cause you to cancel your trip. You need to ensure that you have a policy which covers trekking to 4600m as well as helicopter rescue and cancellation.

“Superb Leaders”

“I wanted to write and tell you how marvellous our climb was to the stunning summit of Mt Meru. We were looked after perfectly, our accommodation, meals and guides were fantastic throughout. We enjoyed the sunrise as we climbed as it silhouetted Kilimanjaro – a sight we’ll carry with us for years to come. After the climb our walking safari in Arusha National park and our drives around Tarangire and Ngoronogoro were breathtaking! We felt so honoured to be so close to nature. Thank you once again for putting together such a perfect holiday.” Thomas Jordan

Mount Meru Fitness and Experience

To climb Mt Meru involves some long days of trekking on moderate and occasionally steep slopes over undulating paths. We will also of course be ascending to altitudes where the effects of less oxygen will be felt, and the itinerary is planned to allow good acclimitisation.

Because of all these factors you will need to be in reasonably good fitness and also in good health. This is from the point of view of safety but also enjoyment. You will have more energy and enthusiasm to enjoy your surroundings and the experience in general if you aren’t finding the going too tough.

The most relevant aspects of fitness to work on are general cardiovascular fitness and leg, core and back strength. The best training is to replicate what you will do on the climb by doing long walks of 5 hours or more on undulating terrain with a light rucksack. Things like swimming, cycling, running, rowing etc for 40 minute or longer sessions are also good ways to build the right conditioning.

If you have any questions about the level of fitness required or suggested ways of achieving it then please do feel free to call or email us for individual advice.

Experience Needed

This is a non-technical trek of Mt Meru, but it offers a mountaineering experience all the same and high altitude to contend with. You will need to be fit and any regular hill walker will find this expedition within his or her capabilities. A training programme should include at least one hill walk a week with a small pack of around 10kgs, and regular visits to the gym or the swimming pool once a week for the final two months before departure. Age is not a limiting factor either; the secret of climbing Mt Meru is to go slowly and enjoy the scenery, drink well, eat well and sleep well. A regular, maintained pace will ensure proper acclimatisation.

Mount Meru Kit List

The kit you need to climb Mt Meru is similar to Kilimanjaro, though with staying in huts you don’t need as warm a sleeping bag. The kit summary below shows that you need kit to keep you warm, dry, protected from the sun, able to move efficiently on the mountain and be comfortable in the evenings / night. There is a detailed Mt Meru / Kilimanjaro kit / packing list found by clicking here, but in summary you need nothing technical and most hill walkers will already own what they need:

BAags – Large duffle ~90L (carried by porter) + Medium Day pack ~25L (carried by you)
Waterproof Shell – Top and bottoms to keep off wind/rain
Insulation – Layered system to keep you warm- body, hands, feet and head
Base layer – Thin layers to wick away sweat and to strip down to and keep the sun off when it gets hot
Feet – Sturdy trekking Boots (not walking Shoes) with ankle protection, flip flops or similar for evening, footwear for city
Sleeping bag – 2 / 3 season sleeping bag to get a good nights sleep at the huts (comfortable twin rooms)
Eating / drinking – Water bottles & favourite energy-snacks for during the day. We provide all meals and kitchen equipment on the climb
Washing / medical – To allow you to wash and for minor issues like headache, stomach upset or blister

Rental Items for Mount Meru

When you book your trip, or any time up until departure you can book many rental items through the ‘Extras’ tab here. If you’ve forgotten something then when in Moshi you can also rent equipment directly from our team.

Find out more and book a life-changing Mount Meru or Kilimanjaro Trek at Adventure Alternative

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