Mount Meru the second highest mountain in Tanzania, standing tall at 4566m, Its located in Arusha National Park and offers some of the most spectacular scenery and wildlife diversity of any mountain in Tanzania. Mount Meru is a challenging trek due to its steepness, but is a great way to acclimatize before attempting Mount Kilimanjaro. Climbers are accompanied by an armed ranger due to the abundance of wildlife on the lower slopes. Mount Meru also has some historical significance to it, whereby some have suggested that it was the resting place of Noah’s Ark when it came to rest after the biblical flood receded. Mount Meru is a great trekking option for those who want to take on a climbing challenge and get the sense of being out in the wild, but are not quite ready to tackle Mount Kilimanjaro.
Best time to climb Mount Meru
The best time to climb Mount Meru in Tanzania is between October and February. But also June to September, while it is colder then 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 and climate in Mount Meru
Arusha’s mild climate sees average daytime temperatures ranging from 21°C/70°F to 26°C/79°F. The Dry season (June to October) is the coolest time of year, getting downright chilly before sunrise. Run up if you’re doing an early game drive. The Wet season (November to May) has two periods of rainfall with a dry spell in between. But it’s only during the so called ‘long rains’ (March to May) that downpours might hamper your safari.
How to get to Mount Meru
Mount Meru is within the Arusha National Park which is only a 45-minute drive away from the town of Arusha, the starting point of any safari in northern Tanzania.
There are several ways to get to Arusha. The easiest is to get a direct flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is situated about 46km/29mi from Arusha. Alternatively, you can fly to Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), near Dar es Salaam and get a connecting domestic flight to Arusha Airport (ARK) or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).