Mount Meru sits to the east of the Great Rift Valley and about 40 kilometers southwest of Kilimanjaro, within Arusha National Park in northern Tanzania. It is an active volcano and the second highest mountain in the country. Many also recognize it as the fourth highest peak in Africa, following Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and the Rwenzori Mountains, often referred to as the Mountains of the Moon.
More than half a million years ago, Mount Meru experienced a massive eruption that blew apart its cone and created a horseshoe-shaped crater with the entire eastern side missing. The summit now rises on the western edge, with the inner crater walls towering more than 1,500 meters above the floor, forming some of the tallest cliffs on the continent. Over the past century, smaller eruptions have been recorded as the Ash Cone continues to grow inside the crater. The identity of the first person to reach the summit remains debated, with credit often given either to Carl Uhlig in 1901 or Fritz Jaeger in 1904.
The best times to climb this peak are from June to February with occasional rains in November. The dry season is from July to March. December to February generally offer the best views of Kilimanjaro which can often be seen from the summit and most places in Arusha National Park.
