Arusha National Park

Many people call Arusha National Park the gateway to African safaris. It's only 37 km from Arusha town, which makes it one of the easiest national parks in Tanzania to reach, and one of the prettiest. It covers just over 137 sq km, yet it has one of the widest mixes of plant life in the country.

The scenery changes a lot in a small space, and so does the wildlife. Ngurdoto Crater sits in the southeast of the park, the quiet Momella Lakes lie in the northeast, and Mount Meru, the fifth-highest mountain in Africa, rises above it all. From Meru's summit you get rare views of Kilimanjaro, and climbing Meru is a very good warm-up before you take on its bigger neighbor, Mount Kilimanjaro.

A Brief History of Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park was set up in 1960, mainly to protect Mount Meru and the land around it. It covers about 137 square kilometers (53 square miles), which is small next to other Tanzanian parks. Even so, you'll find several quite different areas here:

• Ngurdoto Crater – People often call it a “mini Ngorongoro.” The crater is green and leafy, with plenty of wildlife.
• Momella Lakes – A chain of shallow alkaline lakes, known for their flamingos.
• Mount Meru – At 4,566 meters (14,980 feet), it's the second-highest peak in Tanzania. On a clear day you can see Mount Kilimanjaro from its slopes.

Best Time to Visit

• Dry Season (June to October): The best time for game viewing. Animals stay close to water and the bush is thinner, so they're easier to see.
• Wet Season (November to May): Good for birdwatching, and the park is green and lush. Some trails can get muddy and hard to reach.

Activities To Do

Here are some of the things you can do in Arusha National Park:

• Walking safaris
• Game drives
• Canoeing
• Trekking safaris
• Cultural village tours

What to See

The park is small, but you'll see a good range of animals:

• Mammals: You can expect giraffes, zebras, elephants, buffaloes, hippos and several kinds of antelope. Leopards and hyenas live here too, but they're harder to find and only seen now and then.
• Primates: This is one of the best places in Tanzania to watch black-and-white colobus monkeys moving through the trees.
• Birds: More than 400 bird species have been recorded in the park, including flamingos, crowned eagles and the Narina trogon.

How To Get There

Safari Van:

The drive from Arusha town takes only about 45 minutes.

Flight:

You can fly non-stop to Kilimanjaro International Airport or to Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, then take a short domestic flight to Arusha Airport.