From every direction we look we are overshadowed by Mt. Meru in Arusha. At all angles, the majestic grandeur of this mountain encompasses our vision. It seemed about time to venture up into the hills and hike this overwhelming presence. We planned to take three days to summit the 14,980 ft. peak.Mt. Meru is the second highest peak in Tanzania. It can be seen from Mt. Kilimanjaro, whose views can be equally stunning at the right time of the year. Mt. Meru is the focal point of Arusha National Park. The slopes of Meru rise from the savanna and host almost 400 species of birds, monkeys, and leopard. Meru is a volcano with smaller cones and craters that lie inside, which can only be seen from the summit.
Climbers are required to hire an armed park ranger. The hike starts in the lower savanna where herds of buffalo graze and other game maybe seen. During the early morning hours, the herds of buffalo graze high on the mountain. Thus, climbers have a leisurely morning breakfast and then begin the day's ascent in order to avoid contact. Inclusive, climbers and rangers have encountered leopard.We began our first day walking by streams and giraffe. To our left we saw herds of buffalo and zebra in the distance. Slowly we began to hike into the lush rain forest. The fauna became denser, full of fig trees and Spanish moss trees. The climb up Meru is a straight ascent with lots of steep hills. We occasionally would glance backwards to catch stunning views of the Momella Lakes and gain altitude. On the way we saw inlets of water running down from the melting snow and ice on top. Hardened lava formations formed pools with mini-waterfalls. The landscape varied in such a small amount of time, lush dense forests and then streams with palms and bits of rays of sunlight shining through. We reached 8,248 ft and got into Mariakamba hut. From here, the views of Mt. Kilimanjaro at sunset were breath-taking. Since it was the tail end of rainy season, the summit of Kilimanjaro was packed with snow. The accommodations on Mt. Meru are buildings with rooms, each containing bunk-beds. The rain collection systems are extremely reliable for fresh water at each camp. We brought up a cook and had a nice hot meal, including a soup starter.
The next day we were up at about 7am and had a leisurely breakfast. In order to avoid the buffalo grazing up on the mountain in the early hours, most climbers start the trail after breakfast and not at dawn. In fact, most climbing itineraries pace people to start after breakfast, so that one can fill up with calories for the day's hike. In addition, the second day on Meru is not too long. We continued our ascent through the forest, continuing to get glimpses of Kilimanjaro in the distance. The colors of the fire cracker plants were vibrant reds, orange, and yellows amongst the green fauna and bright green moss. Slowly we were ascending, taking it easy and stopping for a snack across from the ash cone crater. A smaller crater formation due to the last eruption. Now we could see large escarpments and a valley below. We broke through the clouds and we came into Saddle Hut at 11,712 ft for a hot lunch. Some people nap a bit because on this day you get into camp quite early. However, we decided to play 50 games of 'UNO' in a row until dinner. After another nice meal, we got to bed early.
At 11pm we awoke to some tea and coffee, bisquits, and toast. It was raining a bit, so we all took umbrellas. Starting to hike at night is a mental state in its own right- dark on all sides, one track mind to the summit, and the lowest temperatures on the mountain. So, we were on our way to the top one step at a time. As it got lighter and lighter, our walkway was becoming more apparent. Steep sheer cliffs drop down and narrow walkways along the rim of the crater lead up to big rock formations. A break in the clouds revealed the sunrise. Immediately our bodies could feel the warmth of the day. Looking down could be a bit overwhelming if you are scared of heights. Just a bit further was Socialist Peak - 14,980 ft. At the top we had some tea and could feel the mist, the wind blowing pretty hard as well.A lot of people underestimate Meru and it is often overlooked for Kilimanjaro. However, Meru has splendid fauna, stunning views of Kilimanjaro, and great enjoyable acclimatization.
Meru fits in perfectly for a warm up climb before Kilimanjaro, a shorter Tanzanian itinerary, or for travelers more on a budget...
For more info on mountain treks, visit:
www.summits-africa.com
Also, please check out:
www.3peaks3weeks.org
These women are climbing 3 peaks in 3 weeks in Tanzania to help support some great causes...
