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Mount Meru stands 70km west of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania’s Arusha Region, a dormant stratovolcano and, at 4,562m, the fifth highest mountain in Africa. It is a fine climb in its own right, and it is also the single best piece of acclimatisation available to anyone going on to attempt Uhuru Peak.
The first day is what sets it apart: you walk inside Arusha National Park with an armed ranger, and giraffe, zebra, buffalo, antelope and elephant are all regularly met along the trail. The summit route then follows a narrow ridge between the sheer inner cliffs of the crater and the sloping outer wall, with the Ash Cone below you and, at sunrise, Kilimanjaro floating above the cloud. Park and hut fees, three meals a day, drinking water, a sleeping bag, porters, cook, guide and your certificate are included.
