Arusha National Park

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Overview

This is a projecting volcano with an elevation of 4566m, in the Arusha region of north eastern Tanzania. The park is small but varied with spectacular land scapes in three distinct areas. In west, the Meru crater flues the Jekukumia River, the peak of Mount Meru lies on its rim. The Ngurdoto crater in the south East is grassland. There are also the shallow alkaline Momella lakes in the north east that have varying algal colors and are known for their wading birds.

Mount Meru is the second highest peak in Tanzania after Mount Kilimanjaro, which is just 60km away and forms a back drop to view the park to the east. Arusha National park lies on a 330 km axis of Africa’s famous National Parks running from Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater in the west to Kilimanjaro National Park in the east. The national park is just a few kilometers north east of Arusha, though the main gate is just 25km east of the city. It’s also 58km from Moshi and 35km from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Wildlife species in the park

Arusha National Park has got variety of wildlife, but visitors shouldn’t expect the same game viewing experiences like in other national parks of Tanzania’s northern circuit. Despite the small size of the park, common animals include; the cape buffaloes, giraffes, black and white colobus, zebras, warthog, blue monkeys, flamingos, elephants, bushbucks and many more. the leopard populations are present but rarely seen. Birdlife in the forest is creative, with many forest species more easily seen here than elsewhere on the tourist route.

Activities

Wildlife Viewing

Just North of Ngorongoro gate is Serengeti, a small patch of open grassland that has got zebras and other plain animals. The park’s altitude varies from 1400m to more than 4500m, and there are variety of vegetation zones and the dense vegetation reduces visibility. Neverthe less, you can be fairly certain of seeing zebras, giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, klipspringers, buffaloes, dik-diks, hippos. There are also elephants, red duikers, black and white colobuses and Rhinos.

Canoeing

You can also enjoy variety of animal water species and well as scenery viewing as you enjoy canoeing in Arusha National Park. Youn enjoy 1 ½ hour on Momella Lakes and it costs $ 60 per person plus a $ 20 canoeing fees paid at the park gate in the morning and afternoon.

Bird watching

Birdlife is so abundant, with over 400 species recorded in the park. The Raptors are common at higher altitudes. There are also the seven spring fed Momella lakes that are shallow and alkaline and attract a wide variety of wading birds, including year round flamingos. Each lake supports different colors. The bird life varies quite different from one lake to another, even when they are only separated by a narrow strip of Land. Get to watch the raptors like then Augur buzzard and verreaux’s eagle soaring on the thermals above Ngurdoto. The park’s bird population increases when the migratory birds arrive around November and they stay until April.

Walking safaris

The walking safaris cost $25 per person per half day and are popular in this park. Many trails pass below Mt Meru and another follows the Ngurdoto crater rim trail. The walk to Njeku view point in the Meru crater floor, which follows stage 1 of the climb up Mt Meru which is an excellent day hike.

Trekking Mt Meru

At 4566m, Mt Meru is Tanzania’s second highest mountain. Even though overshadowed by Kilimanjaro in the eyes of trekkers, it’s a spectacular volcanic cone with one of East Africa’ most scenic and rewarding climbs, involving a dramatic walk along the Knife edge of the crater rim. Mt Meru starts its steep rise from a circular base some 20km across at 2000m some of the wall has broken away, so the top half of the mountain is shaped like a giant horseshoe. The cliffs of the inner wall below the summit are more than 1500m high, making them among the tallest in Africa. Inside the crater, more recent volcanic eruptions have created a subsidiary peak called the Ash Cone that adds to the scenic splendor.

How to access Arusha National Park

Arusha National park is only 45 minutes’ drive away from the town of Arusha, the starting point of any safari in northern Tanzania.

The easiest way to get a direct flight to Kilimanjaro international Airport, located about 46km/29mi from Arusha. Alternatively, you can fly to Julius Nyerere international Airport near Dar es Salaam and get a connecting domestic flight to Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro international Airport. Your tour operator picks you up from the airport and take care of the further transportation.