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Mount Meru National Park
Apart from organizing treks on Mount Kilimanjaro
and Kenya, we also plan for mount Meru trek in Arusha.
Like Mount Kilimanjaro and Kenya; Mount Meru is a volcanic
mountain with the height of 4566m, (14,000 ft) altitude
above sea level. It can be conquered with a little bit
hardship in three days. A four day ascent is however
achieved with less hardship and this is highly recommended
for a hiker who wants to attempt this mountain to the
summit. If you plan to conquer the highest point of
Africa-Uhuru Peak / Hans Mayer Peak, you may consider
Mount Meru in order to shape your body in attaining
your goal. The hiking is very exciting as you experience
many things on your way up including games such as Giraffes,
buffalos, warthogs, Zebras, Monkeys and birds.
Mt. Meru (4,566 m.) is the second highest
mountain in Tanzania and a much underrated mountain
to climb because of its close proximity to Kilimanjaro.
It is a horseshoe-shaped volcanic crater with a spectacularly
narrow ridge and superb all round views. The cliffs
of the inner wall below the summit are over 1500 m.
high, and inside the caldera is a subsidiary peak called
the Ash Cone (3,670 m.) that last erupted only 100 years
ago. There is an immense variety of tree and plant life,
adding considerably to the interest of the trek.
Mt. Meru is part of Arusha National Park,
and the lower slopes of the mountain shelter a variety
of wildlife. The routes below Miriakamba Hut are more
like walking safaris than mountain climbs and our guide
is an informed and armed park ranger (in case we get
too close to some of the animals!). You are almost certain
to see buffaloes, warthogs, monkeys, and a variety of
birdlife. Giraffe and elephant are also quite common.
Accommodation is the two well maintained wooden huts
that have spectacular views of Kilimanjaro rising above
the clouds. The climb of Mt. Meru is very much justified
on its own merits but is also a great way to get acclimatized
for Kilimanjaro. The view of Kilimanjaro from Meru ,
and that of Meru crater itself, gives plenty of inspiration
for another mountain climb!
Though often ignored in favour of its
big sister, Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru is a worthy trekker's
paradise. This massive volcano towers over 3,000 meters
above Arusha town, which lies at its foot on its south
side. The mountain endured a violent explosion about
200 million years ago. In its wake the explosion left
towering cliffs in a gaping U shaped ridge on the eastern
side. Today the crater stands in a protected amphitheatre
of a sort, thousands of feet below the summit rocks.
The craggy top lies at the western most point of the
summit ridge and juts boldly into the sky at 4566 mt.
(14,979 feet). From the top, one can look out at Kilimanjaro
from the highest perch possible.. Perhaps there is no
better vantage point to gaze at Africa's highest mountain,
approximately 80 kilometres to the northeast. The trail
to the summit follows the northern rim of the natural
amphitheatre which forms Meru Crater. The trail skirts
the ridgeline, and above the Saddle (between the summit
and Little Meru Peak (12,533 ft / 3,820 metres). The
route is quite steep, with sections of rock scrambling
on one side. At the summit, the cliffs drop almost 1200
meters to the crater floor.
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