Though often ignored in favor of its big sister Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru is a worthy trekker's paradise. This massive volcano towers over 3,000 meters above Arusha town, which lies at the foothills on its south side. The mountain endured a violent explosion an estimated 200 million years ago, and in its wake the explosion left towering cliffs in a gaping U-shaped ridge facing east towards Kilimanjaro. The crater stands today in a protected amphitheatre of sorts, thousands of feet below the summit rocks. The craggy top lies at the westernmost point of the summit ridge and juts boldly into the sky at 4566 meters (14,979 feet). From the top, one can look out at Kilimanjaro from the highest perch possible. Perhaps there is no better vantage point to gaze at Africa's tallest mountain, approximately 80 kilometers to the east.

The trail to the summit follows the northern rim of the natural amphitheatre which forms Meru Crater. The trail skirts the ridge-line, and above the Saddle between the summit and Little Meru Peak (12,533 ft / 3,820 meters), and is quite steep, with sections of rock scrambling and sheer drops on one side. At the summit, the cliffs drop almost vertically 1200 meters to the crater floor. The final trek towards the summit is quite difficult due to the altitude and the steep terrain. It is recommended that only experienced hikers ascend to the summit.