Volcano Meru is an active stratovolcano and the fifth highest peak in Africa: it is located in the Arusha region (northern Tanzania), 70 km from Mount Kilimanjaro.
General information
About 250 thousand years ago, as a result of strong eruptions in the crater of the volcano, a lake was formed (the top of the mountain collapsed, and its eastern slope was washed away). Research has shown that the lava bursts were so violent that they hit the western slope of Mount Kilimanjaro.
On the western slope, Meru has a conical shape, and on the eastern one, the volcano has a caldera, the width of which is 5 km (its formation took place 7800 years ago). The volcano is surrounded on all sides by parasitic and lava cones. An active ash cone is “responsible” for the formation of a symmetrical cone inside the caldera fault, and the second lava outlet separates it from the main caldera wall.
The last serious eruption is dated 1877, and since then Meru has been "active" slightly. Today the mountain has 2 peaks: Big Meru (the peak of Socialism) - reaches a height of 4562 m; Small Meru (its height is 3820 m).
It is worth noting that heather vegetation predominates at a height of 3000 meters, forming thickets up to 4 meters high in some places. The bottom of the crater is located at the level of 2440 m, and the ash cone rises at a height of 3600 meters. There is a cliff from the top of the mountain to the ash cone (its height is 2000 m).
Measure for tourists
There has never been a special “pilgrimage” to Meru. But some of the first who managed to reach the top of Meru were Viktor Karl Uhlig in 1901 and Fritz Jaeger in 1904.
The location of Meru is the Arusha National Park (entrance to the park will cost $ 35). Before the volcano became part of it, it was possible to climb it along the western and northern slopes of the mountain (today, climbing these slopes is illegal).
Climbing Meru (it is better to do it in June-February) takes about 4 days and is usually a training (preparatory) stage before conquering Mount Kilimanjaro. But often some parts of the journey are combined into one day, and the journey takes 3 days.
Since you will not go on the road alone (if you plan to take children on a hike, then keep in mind that they should not be younger than 12 years old), you should have an idea of who and how much it is recommended to tip. So, it is customary to leave $ 5 / day for porters, $ 10-15 / day for guides, $ 5 / day for guide assistants, and $ 10 / day for cooks.
The Momela route, starting from the Momela Gate (the eastern side of the volcano), will lead tourists to the top of Meru. He walks past swamps, parklands, mountainous forests and a heather area.
Approximate route:
- Day 1 - the beginning of the ascent: on this day, tourists will find themselves in a humid tropical forest (hot, stuffy, humid), so it is advisable to put on appropriate clothes. The first base camp will be Miriakamba Hut (located at an altitude of 2800 m above sea level; there are beds and a kitchen where you can cook dinner).
- Day 2 - continuing the ascent, the hikers will leave the mountain rainforest and climb up through the alpine meadows. During the day, you should be prepared for the whims of the weather - travelers will either bask in the rays of the bright sun, or shiver from the wind and drizzling rain (you should put a raincoat and a waterproof windbreaker in your backpack). In addition, it is on the 2nd day that the symptoms of mountain sickness may appear in the form of dizziness, headache and general malaise. For the night, travelers will stop at Saddle Hut (located at 3500 meters above sea level).
- Day 3 - with further ascent, alpine meadows will be replaced by alpine semi-desert vegetation. Night and early morning will "please" with light frosts, so it is important to have warm clothes with you in the form of a sweatshirt. Those who have conquered the top will begin their descent to the bottom.
In addition to the Meru volcano, the attraction of the Arusha Park is the crater of the extinct volcano Ngurdoto and Lake Momela. Ngurdoto Crater is a protected place in the park, closed to tourists, but for the purpose of observing animals, viewing platforms have been created for them on its edge. Lakes Momella - are shallow greenish-blue bodies of water, which are often chosen by flocks of flamingos.
It is worth noting that visitors to the park will be able to meet giraffes, buffaloes, red dukers, colobuses (monkeys) and other animals (you should not be afraid of meeting them - tourists are always accompanied by armed park rangers: they shoot into the air, thereby warning the animals that the second a shot, in the event of an attack on people, will be fatal). In addition, birdwatching is possible here (there are about 400 species in the park), and the best period for this activity is October-April.
