It is home to Tanzania’s smallest national park, yet it is also the most picturesque and topographically diverse northern circuit park. Mount Meru, a nearly perfect cone with a beautiful crater, and Ngurdoto Crater, with its swamp-filled floor, dominate Arusha National Park. The wildlife is present, but it is more a sideshow to the scenery. Arusha National Park contains wildlife drives and a tiny piece of open grassland where zebras and other plains animals are always present. The park’s elevation ranges from 1400m to more than 4500m, with a diversity of vegetation zones, however, the majority of the park is forested, reducing visibility. Animal life is likewise scarcer than in other parks in northern Tanzania. Arusha National Park is a small (137 sq km) but beautiful park close to the famous ‘safari town’ of Arusha (29 km) and Kilimanjaro International Airport which makes it ideal for day safaris.
How to go there
Arusha National Park is located 25 kilometres outside of the city of Arusha. It is possible to continue over a rough track that connects to the major road from the northern entrance at the Momella gate.
Things to Do
- Climbing Mount Meru
- Walking Safaris
- Game Drive
- Corning Safaris
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Arusha National Park is during the dry season, from June to October. The wildlife is simpler to identify because they like to congregate around waterholes. At this time of year, there is very little rain.
Facts about the Park
- The park is home of migratory, non-migratory and mash birds including flamingos, animals.
- Land comprises dense Forest, woodland, grassland, swamps and seven lakes.
- Momela Lakes provide excellent bird watching with Greater and Lesser Flamingos often taking up residence here in their thousands.
- Arusha National Park is little visited - almost certainly due to the proximity of the Park between two of Africa's most iconic sites: Mount Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti Plains.
