Arusha National Park is one of the smaller and most beautiful park in Tanzania. It is allocated 37Km from Arusha town. The park is very popular for day trip visitors who are about to embark from the town of Arusha on longer northern circuit safaris. The small national park includes the slopes, summit, and ash cone of Mt. Meru, the Momela Lake, Ngurdoto Crater, and the lush highland forests that blanket its lower slopes. Game viewing around the Momela Lake is at a laid-back and quiet pace, and while passing through the forest many visitors stop to search for troupes of rare colubus monkeys playing in the canopy.

It is a popular destination for day trip visitors who are about to embark from the town of Arusha on longer northern circuit safaris. The small national park includes the slopes, summit, and ash cone of Mt. Meru, the Momela Lakes, Ngurdoto Crater, and the lush highland forests that blanket its lower slopes. Game viewing around the Momela Lakes is at a laid-back and quiet pace, and while passing through the forest many visitors stop to search for troupes of rare colubus monkeys playing in the canopy.

Why should you visit?

Arusha National park is one of the most diverse parks topographically. At dusk and dawn the majestic snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro, only 50km distant, are easily seen but it is Kilimanjaro's unassuming cousin, Mount Meru- the fifth highest in Africa at 4566 meters(14,990 feet) - that dominates the park's horizon. Meru offers unparalleled views of its famous neighbor, while also forming a rewarding hiking destination in its own right.

To the north, rolling grassy hills enclose the tranquil beauty of the Momela Lake, each one a sometimes tinged pink with thousands of flamingos, the lakes support a rich selection of resident and migrant waterfowl, and shaggy water bucks are also present. Giraffes and zebra herds intermingle while pairs wide-eyed dik-dik dart around. Also present is Ngurdoto Crater, where wildlife is also abundant.

Size:

552 sq km

Getting to:

A 45 minutes drive from Arusha or one hour from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

Things to do:

Forest walks, picnicking, Mountain climbing and hiking, bird and animal watching, Monkey trekking.

Best time to visit:

It is best to climb Mt Meru between June and February, although it tends to rain in November. Best views of Kilimanjaro are between December and February.