Mount Meru is one of Africa’s most beautiful volcanoes, and it is the second highest mountain in Tanzania at 4,5685m, the fifth highest in Africa.
The mountain is located within Arusha National Park, Tanzania’s gem. This prime location gives walkers the opportunity to spot some of the birds and wildlife that inhabit the area. Experiencing nature on foot offers unusual recreational opportunities and environmental education – it eliminates the monopoly of the traditional way of viewing nature while confined in a vehicle, and allows visitors to have a direct touch with nature. Herds of buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, troops of primates, leopards, et cetera, can be found on the way. A company of armed park ranger is recommended. The ascent is quite steep; the route to the summit passes over streams, through parkland, montane forest, a giant heather zone and moorland.
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. There are two huts available to climbers on the mountain and firewood is supplied. The best time to climb Meru is between October and February, also June to September. Team Guide Africa offers few hours walk in Arusha National Park to several days on the mountain to give our clients a closer interaction with nature; the experience is surely worthwhile and breathtaking!
Wildlife
The Park contains diverse resident populations of herbivores, primates and predators, animals such as Black and White Colobus Monkey, Baboons, Elephants, Giraffes, Buffalos, Hippos, Leopards, Hyenas, Waterbucks, Warthogs and a wide range of antelope species. No lions in the park although you can see leopards if you are lucky. If you wish to walk on the Mount Meru (4566 m) sector of the park through a variety of landscapes, plains, forest moorlands, and a lava desert, it is compulsory to be accompanied by an armed game warden because of wild animals. From the summit of Mount Meru, you will have an impressive view of the crater and of the eruption cone 3000 meters below.
Arusha National Park is famous for its 400 species of bird life, both migrants and residents such as Red-sharks, Hammerkops, Spur-winged Geese, Herons, Woodpeckers, Grey- Parrots, Secretary birds and many more. The Momela Lakes offer plenty of bird-watching opportunities.
When to Visit
The Park can be visited throughout the year; however the weather is best between June and February. Short rains are normally experienced in November. There area no mosquitoes or tsetse flies in this park throughout.
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