Mount Meru (Tanzania)

Mount Meru is a prominent stratovolcano in northern Tanzania, located within Arusha National Park and rising to about 4,562 metres. It is the country’s second-highest peak and a notable feature of the Arusha landscape.

The mountain is commonly climbed by trekkers and mountaineers; routes pass through montane forest, heath and alpine zones before reaching the crater rim and summit saddle. Wildlife and varied ecosystems within Arusha National Park attract visitors in addition to climbers.

Geologically it is a volcanic cone with a large summit crater and several parasitic cones; the mountain has produced eruptions in the geological past. The area has been used for scientific study and recreational climbing in the modern era.

Mount Meru sits near the city of Arusha in northern Tanzania, within Arusha National Park, and lies west of Mount Kilimanjaro across the plains of northern Tanzania.

• Elevation: Elevation is approximately 4,562 metres, making it the second-highest mountain in Tanzania after Kilimanjaro.

What to See #

• Summit and crater: The summit area contains a large crater and several subsidiary peaks; the ascent route commonly traverses alpine forest, moorland and high-altitude scrub before the crater rim.
• Ngurdoto Crater and Momella area: Ngurdoto Crater and the Momella area are lower-elevation attractions within Arusha National Park near Mount Meru, offering wildlife viewing and scenic lakes.