The metamorphic and steamy cinder cones of the gargantuan Mount Meru volcano rise high above the clouds of East Africa to form the pinnacle of Tanzania’s legendary Arusha National Park. While still active, the slopes of Mount Meru haven’t seen a major eruption for thousands of years although sporadic bursts of gas and magma are forever reshaping its silhouette that looms above the rolling grasslands between Ngorongoro and Kilimanjaro.

If you are eager to conquer Tanzania’s second highest peak, then ask your Mount Meru tour guide about the Momella Route that runs its way along the horseshoe ridges of the mountain to its summit. Along the way, hikers will pass multiple climate zones through gushing waterfalls and the eerie bones of Rhino Point, as well as the smaller sub-summit of Little Meru beneath the mighty caldera above.

If you are in the region to sightsee, then be sure to enjoy the wealth of attractions that abound throughout the Arusha National Park. These range from the verdant climbs of the Ngurdoto Crater, to a whole host of off-the-beaten-track safari spots, complete with giraffes, African buffalo, flamingos and a whole host of bird species.