However, it’s Mount Meru, Kilimanjaro’s humble counterpart, that commands the horizon within Arusha National Park. Standing as the fifth highest peak in Africa at 4’566 meters above sea level (14,990 feet), Mount Meru offers unparalleled views of its famous neighbor, with its peaks and eastern foothills protected within the national park boundaries. Additionally, Mount Meru itself serves as a rewarding hiking destination.
Beginning amidst wooded savannah where encounters with buffalos and giraffes are common, the ascent of Mount Meru then leads through forests adorned with red-hot pokers and draped in Spanish moss. As you climb higher, you’ll traverse open heathlands punctuated by towering lobelias. Throughout the journey, everlasting flowers adorn the alpine desert, while delicately-hoofed klipspringers serve as markers of progress. Upon reaching the rugged summit, Kilimanjaro is unveiled, blushing in the light of the sunrise.