Mount Meru (4566m / 14980ft) is the first mountain summit on our itinerary. Previous posts give more details on the mountain itself, like the eruption that obliterated the eastern slope of the volcanic cone (photo).Meru is far less travelled than it's neighbor Kilimanjaro, but is a great climb in itself. It is sometimes chosen for high-altitude acclimatization before a Kili climb. That acclimation was a big reason for adding it to the to-do list for the trip, though the climb is quite spectacular on its own.
The Meru climb is 4 days, and starts you off in the plain savannah of the Arusha National Park. Here you're sharing the trail with buffalo, zebra, giraffes and more. These animals are the reason for the mandatory park ranger armed with a rifle for each group. Up the crater wall to camp, followed by a couple of days of climbing. On summit morning, we start early (1am) while the rock on the trail is still frozen to make the trekking easier. The trail to the summit is treacherous in places, climbing on razor-thin ridges with big drops on either side. Once on the top, you can see the Meru Ash Cone & Kilimanjaro, 80km to the East at sunrise.
The climb is told to be even more scenic than Kilimanjaro, including wildlife (over 400 species of birds), waterfalls, and stunning views.
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