Arusha National Park is a perfect trip for day safaris, as it is close to both Arusha and Moshi. With terrain that ranges from open savannah to tropical rainforest, the park is dominated by the shadow of Mt. Meru – whose summit offers an unparalleled view of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Info
Size: 542 square kilometers.
Location: North-east of Arusha.
Best Time: Year round. For climbing Mt. Meru, the best time is June-February.
For views of Kilimanjaro, the best time is December-February.
To Do: Game drive, canoeing, walking safari, Mt. Meru climb, and picnic sites.
Known For: Perfect for a day trip from Arusha, and a great place to mix a traditional game drive with a walking or canoeing component.
Details of Arusha National Park
The acrobatic black and white Colobus monkeys welcome you as you pass through Arusha's main entrance gate. From the lush green swamps surrounded by thick forest in the Ngurdoto Crater, up through the scenic beauty of the Momela Lakes, each a startlingly different hue,
through to the chilly alpine like tundra on Mount Meru, Arusha National Park is a gem of a park, although very accessible, it is suprisingly not heavily visited by tourists.
Explore the diverse and changing landscapes, hike along scenic mountain and forest trails and view huge masses of wildlife in this quaint and charming park.
There are three major attractions in the park.
First is the Ngurdoto Crater, which is sometimes called "mini Ngorongoro".
Secondly, there are the Momella lakes, which are shallow alkaline lakes which get their water from underground streams.
Finally, there is the spectacular Meru Crater.
Other game includes hippo, giraffe, zebra, antelope, blue monkey, dik dik, reedbuck, klipspringers, leopard, and spotted hyena.
