Arusha National Park
This small but spectacular national park is located very close to Moshi and Arusha regions, and features some of Tanzania ‘s most varied and beautiful scenarios. Highlights include Mt. Meru, Ngurdoto crater and the Momela lakes. See Mountain Trekking for information about trekking on Mt. Meru.
The park ranges in altitude from 1500 m to 4566 m (the summit of Mt. Meru), resulting in several different vegetation zones from open grasslands to high altitude forests.
Wildlife highlights include 400 species of resident and migratory birds, including huge flocks of large and lesser flamingos in the alkaline waters of the awesome Momela lakes.
Resident mammals include Hyena, Buffalo, Klipspringer, Gerenuk, Black and white Colobus and Blue Monkeys. Varieties of tropical Snakes, Chameleons, Alligators, Tortoise and Turtles display at close range at the Reptile and snake farm.
Walking safaris are available but should be accompanied by an armed ranger. The park is most ideal for a day’s trip from Moshi / Arusha.
Activities
Just north of Ngongongare gate lays the Arusha National Park that has a great view of Mount Meru. The lush green park is great for spotting zebras, giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, klipspringers, dik-diks, buffaloes and hippos
- Wildlife Safari
- Birding Safari
- Canoeing Safari
- Trekking at Mount Meru
- Walking Safari
Getting there
By road, Arusha national park is just about 45 minutes’ drive away from Arusha town or airport, 1h30 hours from Kilimanjaro airport and 3 hours from Moshi town.
As Arusha is the starting point of any safari in northern Tanzania, it is quite easy to cover this small park on the way to visit any national parks of Tanzania.
Accommodation
The park provide a good range of accommodation from budget lodges and hotels as well luxury accommodation, very few inside the park and many are located both in the city and in the farmland suburbs or at the foothills of Mount Meru.
