Mount Meru (4 562 m) stands as Tanzania’s second‑highest peak and the centerpiece of Arusha National Park. Less crowded than Kilimanjaro yet rich in wildlife and sweeping crater vistas, it offers trekkers an authentic East African mountain experience—and an excellent acclimatization climb if you’re headed on to Kilimanjaro afterward.
Highlights
- Wildlife Viewing: Arusha NP is home to buffalo, warthog, dik dik and a variety of primates, plus over 400 bird species in the forested slopes.
- Scenic Diversity: You’ll traverse five vegetation zones—from savanna grasslands, into lush rainforest and heath, up to alpine desert on the crater rim.
- Crater Spectacle: The summit offers a dramatic view into Meru’s 2.2 mile wide crater, including the volcanic Ash Cone at its center.
- Perfect Acclimatizer: At 4 562 m, Meru is an ideal “warm up” for Kilimanjaro by helping your body adjust to high altitude.