Arusha National Park, Tanzania
Arusha National Park is a prominent national park situated in Northern Tanzania, northeast of Arusha city. It is renowned for housing Tanzania’s second highest mountain, Mount Meru, and the largest population of giraffes globally. It encompasses 552 square kilometers. It is located 25 kilometers east of Arusha, 58 kilometers from Moshi, and 35 kilometers from Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA). It hosts remarkable wildlife species not found in other national parks within the northern circuit, encompassing diverse vegetation types such as lush rainforest, savannah, and alpine flora. Notable fauna includes buffaloes, bushbucks, warthogs, zebras, red duikers, elephants, giraffes, leopards, hippos, and primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and blue monkeys. Additionally, it is home to various bird species, including the grey crowned crane, flamingos, African fish eagle, Hartlaub’s turaco, and administrator birds, among others. The drive from KIA to Arusha National Park takes approximately 40 minutes. This park is favored due to its provision of both single-day and multi-day visits for patrons from Arusha city. Arusha National Park features a picturesque landscape comprising three distinct regions: the Meru Crater, which channels the Jekukumia River to the west; the Ngurdoto Crater to the southeast; and the shallow alkaline Momella Lakes, exhibiting diverse algal hues in the northeast. The park’s limited area enables clients to engage in all activities and return to Arusha town for overnight accommodations.
All Tanzania tours and safaris constitute an integral aspect of the experience for tourists visiting Arusha National Park. The name of Arusha National Park is derived from the local Waarusha people who formerly inhabited the region. The park boasts a diverse ecological system with numerous attractions, making it a premier tourist destination in Tanzania. The park features three distinct and remarkable landscapes: the Meru Crater funnels, the Kekukumia River, the peak of Mount Meru located on its western rim, the Ngurdoto Crater in the southeast, and the shallow alkaline Momelia Lakes in the northeast region of the park. Arusha National Park is characterized by its abundant flora and fauna, offering tourists a variety of things to participate in.
Arusha National Park History
Safaris in Tanzania, Arusha National Park, often referred to as “the diamond among the shadows of the giants,” is a distinguished safari locale in Tanzania. It is a treasure of diverse ecosystems, offering a stunning view of Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth highest peak, and Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. Visitors will value the peaceful rivers and lakes at the lower elevations of Mount Meru within Arusha National Park, along with the opportunity to observe the renowned black-and-white colobus monkeys. Arusha National Park is an exceptional destination due to its distinctive ecology and wildlife. It is a small park encompassing an area of 137 square kilometers, situated in northern Tanzania, northeast of Arusha. The park is exceptionally beautiful, featuring magnificent landscapes and awe-inspiring vistas. Mount Meru, the fifth highest mountain in Africa, towers over Arusha National Park, its impressive slopes extending into extensive forested hills, making it an ideal location for a mountain climbing safari. It is an exceptional destination for lifelong safaris in Tanzania, providing a wilderness experience unparalleled in the northern circuit of the country’s national parks. Arusha National Park is situated in Tanzania. Due to its diminutive size, it is often incorporated into itineraries alongside other northern circuit national parks, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara.
The history of Arusha National Park commenced in 1876, when Count Teleki, a Hungarian, explored the Momella region, one of the park’s attractions in Tanzania. Following his visit, he remarked on various features of the park, including the substantial population of hippopotamuses and black rhinoceroses he had observed. The Trappe family relocated to the park in 1907, primarily to engage in agriculture in Momella, utilizing significant areas of the current park as a cattle ranch. Mrs. Trappe, the inaugural female professional hunter in East Africa, generously contributed a significant portion of the Momella estate to a game reserve. The farm was integrated into the park upon its establishment in 1960. The park was established in 1960, comprising only a small section of the Arusha National Park, and was originally designated as Ngurdoto Crater National Park. It was created solely to protect and preserve select regions, including the Ngurdoto Crater and Mount Meru, which were initially outside the park’s boundaries. The park was renamed from Ngurdoto Crater National Park to Arusha National Park in 1967 following the incorporation of Mt. Meru area. The name Arusha originates from the Waarusha people who inhabited the region. Subsequent to Tanzania’s independence, the park was formally established, incorporating Mont Meru. The Tanzanian government has invested resources and exerted effort to enhance the park, establishing it as a premier destination in Arusha, especially for individuals organizing safari tours to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro conservation areas. Arusha National Park now features essential tourist amenities, including well-constructed entrance gates, picnic areas, camping sites, clean restrooms, and lodges, enhancing visitor comfort during their stay. Historically, the park was predominantly enveloped in dense shrubs and forested areas, accommodating only a limited number of browsing species, such as giraffes, thereby rendering game observation more challenging compared to other parks. A mini Serengeti was established within the park to support other grazing species and facilitate game observation in that area. The region was established and designated as Min Serengeti due to its expansive grassland resembling the habitats of Serengeti National Park. The mini Serengeti in Arusha National Park is an expansive grassland frequented by diverse wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, warthogs, and waterbucks, making it a significant tourist attraction with excellent game viewing opportunities. The park features premier attractions, including Mount Meru, the second largest mountain in Tanzania after Mount Kilimanjaro, diverse habitat types encompassing nearly four distinct ecosystems, and a variety of wildlife, ranging from large mammals to smaller species, as well as numerous avian populations, including forest-dwelling birds and aquatic species like the commonly observed flamingos at Momella Lake within the park. Similar to other renowned national parks, including Lake Manyara, Mkomazi, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti, the optimal period for visiting Arusha National Park is during the dry season, which spans from May to nearly November. During this timeframe, visitors can engage in various tourism activities, such as game drives and wildlife observation, which are most favorable. Additionally, for those interested in ascending Mount Meru, this is also the prime time for hiking the mountain. Birdwatching is available year-round, encompassing both the rainy and dry seasons for enthusiasts.
wildlife
Arusha National Park is one of the best places to go on a Tanzania wildlife safari in the northern circuit of the country. The park is home to many different kinds of wildlife, which can be seen in places like the Ngurdoto crater (Little Ngorongoro), along the Momella lakes, Serengeti Ndogo (Little Serengeti), and Ujambo Wa Mbogo (Buffalos Glade). There are many kinds of animals in Arusha National Park, such as zebras, leopards, lions, spotted hyenas, elephants, bush pigs, red duikers, warthogs, hippos, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and giraffes.
Birds
Safaris in Tanzania Over 400 species of birds have been reported living in Arusha National Park, Tanzania, making it a great place for a birding safari. The birds in the park include forest birds, raptors, water birds, and migratory birds. Pink flamingos, the African fish eagle, the African olive pigeon, the Augur buzzard, the Bar-tailed trogon, the Bearded vulture, the Black saw-wing, the Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, and the Egyptian goose are all birds that can be found in Arusha National Park. Grebe with a big head, The pied Avocet, the red-billed oxpecker, the great-headed bush shrike, pelicans, white-breasted coucals, golden eagles, and yellow-billed storks are some of the birds that live in this area. Hartlaub’s turquoise, The list includes the Little grebe, the Narina trogon, the Peregrine falcon, the Red-fronted parrot, the Scaly francolin, the Silvery-cheeked hornbill, the Southern Pochard, the Tawny eagle, and the Verreaux’s eagle. There are many beautiful bird types in Arusha National Park. Along the Momela lakes, you can see flamingos.
Mount Meru
In the middle of Arusha National Park, in the east of the Great Rift Valley, stands Mount Meru, a beautiful natural feature and landmark. Mount Meru is an active volcano that was formed by volcanic eruptions and is the second-tallest mountain in Tanzania, at 4,566 meters above sea level. This mountain has a base that is 20 kilometers long and 2000 meters high. Some of its walls have broken away at 2500 meters. is said to have been Tanzania’s tallest volcano, but during an earthquake, the top broke off, leaving a caldera. The volcano last erupted in 1910. Mount Meru offers an exciting Tanzania mountain climbing safari. Climbing Mount Meru is a very satisfying and beautiful experience that includes a scary walk along the edge of the crater.
Momela Lakes
Safaris in Tanzania The Momella Lakes are a group of seven beautiful alkaline lakes in the northeast region of Arusha National Park. They were formed about 250,000 years ago when the top of Mount Meru was blown off by a huge explosion. The lakes are a highlight of Tanzania tours that go through the park. Birding tours in Tanzania are a great way to see many kinds of birds, including the migratory greater pink flamingos. The lakes that make up Momela are Big Momela, Small Momela, El Kekhotoito, Kusare, Rishateni, Lekandiro, and Tulusia. Momela lakes get their water from underground springs. The water color in each lake ranges from green to blue. Each lake has a unique mix of minerals that give it its own color. The lakes also have different kinds of algae living in them, which is another reason for their differences. A lot of birds like herons, shoe bill ibises, pink flamingos, Egyptian geese, guinea fowl, African fish eagles, and African jacanas come to the Momela lakes.
Ngurdoto
The Ngurdoto crater is one of five beautiful volcanic calderas in the northern part of Tanzania, the others being Ngorongoro, Empakaai, Maasai, and Olmoti. It is a beautiful part of Arusha National Park. The dead volcano Ngurdoto crater is sometimes called “Little Ngorongoro” because it looks so much like the Ngorongoro crater. The crater is 3.2 kilometers across and 300 meters deep. There are very steep walls around the crater that are covered with dense rainforests. The floor of the crater is mostly marshy grasslands where buffalo, elephants, warthogs, antelopes, monkeys, baboons, leopards, spotted hyenas, shy red duikers, kirk dik-diks, and many bird species live, including herons, head hammers, spur-winged geese, hornbills, bee-eaters, turacos, and many others. During a Tanzania Wildlife tour, Ngurdoto crater is a great place to see wildlife. The floor of Ngurdoto crater is soft, unlike Ngorongoro crater, which it resembles. Because of this, the crater can only be explored on walking safaris. A 4X4 safari vehicle takes you to the edge of the caldera, which is surrounded by dense rainforest, where you can go on a walking safari to explore Ngurdoto crater. While walking through the crater, you can see many animals and birds.
The Little Serengeti
Mini Serengeti is a field in Arusha National Park. It is also known as Serengeti Ndogo, which is a Swahili word that means “mini Serengeti.” It’s next to the road to Momella gate, about 500 meters north of Ngongongare gate. Herbivores from all over the world live there and gather to graze. Buffalo, zebras, warthogs, elephants, and waterbucks are all eaters like this. If you ride your bike to this spot in the morning, you’ll see a beautiful group of animals grazing together. It’s rare to see these animals at noon. When you visit the mini Serengeti, you can see animals, go on walking tours to get close to them, and take pictures with them in the background. You’ll feel like you’re in the Serengeti.
Ujambo Wa mbogo
Wa Mbogo, which means “the buffalo’s glade” in English, is a beautiful place to visit in Tanzania’s Arusha National Park. It is in the northeastern part of the park, just west of the Momela gate, and it is at the base of Mount Meru. Some of the best places to go on walking tours in Tanzania are in Ujambo Wa Mbogo. This is a large natural glade with a marsh, bushes, and streams that animals like buffaloes, giraffes, warthogs, and others use as a feeding ground. Buffaloes are the most interesting animals at this spot. They can be seen eating the long grass in the area, which makes them shorter. Warthogs can also be seen eating in the pasture fields while lying down on their knees. You can visit Ujambo Wa Mbogo on your hiking trips in Tanzania to get to the Tululusia waterfalls.
Fig Tree
Fig Tree Arch in Arusha National Park is an arch-shaped tree with a hole big enough for an elephant to fit through. The fig tree is a great place to take pictures in Arusha National Park because you can get great shots from many angles, like standing under it or having the back of your safari vehicle propped up against it. The Fig Tree grew from a parasitic tree that birds dropped while they were foraging. People go there on a hiking tour in Tanzania to see the Tululusia waterfalls.
The Ngurudoto Museum
You can see different kinds of animals that live in the Ngurudoto Crater and in Arusha National Park in general in this museum. You can look at skeletons, bones, taxidermy, and details about these animals. The museum has many kinds of plants and can give you any information you need.
Hill of Tululusia
One beautiful thing in Arusha National Park is Tululusia hill. Elephants, cows, colobus monkeys, and some tree-dwelling pythons have been seen there. Tululusia hill is covered with plants that give it a green color. The Tululusia streams are on this hill. This waterfall is so big that you could take a bath in it. It comes down about 28 meters. There are also rocks that fall from the Tululusia waterfalls. That way, you’ll be able to see the Tululusia waterfalls from afar.
Things to Do in Arusha National Park
Game Drive
Many people visit Arusha National Park and go on a game drive. You will follow different tracks in the open savannah grasslands, like the Serengeti Ndogo, during the game drive. This is where you can see animals like Dik Dik, zebras, reedbucks, giraffes, bush pigs, red duikers, waterbucks, and primates like black and white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys, which you can see near the Ngurdoto museum. If you’re lucky, you might even see predators like leopards, hyenas, wild cats, and others. Drive through the park to get to Momella lakes and Ngurdoto crater. There, you can see a lot of different animals, like hippos in the water and other animals gathering by the edges to drink. The game drive is one of the fun things you shouldn’t miss on your tour in the park. It lasts for about 4 hours.
Mount Climbing
At 4566 meters above sea level, Mount Meru is the fifth highest mountain in Africa and the second highest mountain in Tanzania after Kilimanjaro. Hiking up the mountain in Arusha National Park is a fun and exciting thing to do. Mount Meru used to be much higher, but it exploded outwards more than 500,000 years ago, leaving a huge horseshoe-shaped crater wall with steep cliffs. Inside the crater, small volcanoes have erupted, making a secondary peak called ash cone that has great views. Some tourists say it’s more difficult and beautiful than Mount Kilimanjaro, and it takes about three to four days to hike to the top. Hiking takes you through lower slopes, the Ngarenanyuki river, waterfalls, and ancient fig tree forests. You’ll also see clear waters from mountain streams, waterfalls, and Momella lakes, which are close to the base of the mountain. You’ll also see farmlands and Maasai herders grazing their cattle on the lower slopes, as well as a variety of birds and animals, such as zebras, buffaloes, cheetahs, leopards, cheetahs, and short-furred sykes monkeys. You will spend the night at the Miriakamba hut on the way up the mountain. When you reach the top, you will have stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the ash tray, and Mount Meru crater.
Canoeing
One of Tanzania’s protected places that has the beautiful canoe ride is Arusha National Park. In the park, you can go canoeing on the small Momella Lake with the help of a trained guide who will paddle with you along the lake. You can enjoy a peaceful and quiet canoe ride while seeing animals like hippos in the water, bushbucks, waterbucks, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, and more on the lakeshores, as well as water birds like flamingos, pelicans, herons, fish eagles, and more. You can also take great pictures of these animals.
Nature walks with a guide
This is an exciting exercise that lets you walk around the park and see it all. Because it doesn’t have many dangerous animals, Arusha National Park is one of the best places to go on an organized nature walk. There are paths that go below Mount Meru, to the Ngurdoto crater, to the Kitoto to Njeku viewpoint, to the Momella gate to Ikikoni, to the Tululusia waterfall, and to the Ujambo wa mbogo area. With the help of an experienced and armed park ranger, you can go on nature walks in Arusha National Park. The walks go through marsh bushes and streams, where you can see beautiful landscapes and animals like giraffes, warthogs, buffaloes, and zebras. You can also breathe fresh air, relax your mind, and feel the cool breeze, among other things.
Seeing birds
Arusha National Park is one of the best places in Tanzania to go bird watching because it is home to over 400 kinds of birds, some of which are endemic or close to being endemic. Birdwatchers can see many types of birds in the park, including the verreauxs eagle, the augur buzzard, the greater flamingo, the little grebe, the spur-winged goose, the secretary birds, the African fish eagle, the bar-tailed trogon, the black saw wing, the bearded vulture, the red-fronted parrot, the tawny eagle, the narina trogon, the Egyptian goose, the African olive pigeon, and many more. Some birds will also fly over Ngurdoto crater while you are hiking.
Riding a horse
You can also go horseback riding in Arusha Park along the different trails in the national park. This is something that people do before they visit the park. Tourists can also enjoy seeing animals like giraffes, zebras, and others while riding horses.
Places to stay in Arusha National Park
Where to stay in Arusha National Park
There are luxury accommodations, moderately priced accommodations, and cheap accommodations in Arusha National Park that people can stay in while they are there. During their trips to this national park, guests can also stay at a number of campsites.There are many lodges and hotels in Arusha National Park that make it easy for safari visitors to feel at home. These include the Gran Melia Arusha, the Mrimba Palm Hotel, the Boulevard Inn Mt. Meru, the Sinzia Villas, the Venus Premier Hotel, the Green Mountain Hotel, the Tulia Boutique Hotel, the Mvuli Hotels Arusha, the Mount Meru Hotel, the Rivertrees Country Inn, Kili Vila, Lemala Vila, the Mount Meru Game Lodge, the Arusha Serena, the Arumeru River Lodge, the Fun Retreat Resort Hotel and Ayurveda Spa, and many more.
How to get to the national park of Arusha
You can get to Arusha National Park by car. From Kilimanjaro International Airport, it takes about an hour in a safari vehicle to get to the park, and from Arusha Town, it takes about 40 minutes.
By Road: Another way to get to the national park is by public bus, which runs every day from Arusha and Ngare Nanyuki town to Ngong’are gate. From Arusha, you can also take a cab to the park
When is the best time to visit Arusha National Park in Uganda?
Arusha National Park offers a breathtaking safari experience that is best enjoyed at different times of the year. The best time to go on a game viewing trip in the park is during the dry season, which runs from June to October. During the dry season, the park’s plants are short, which makes it easier to see the animals. The game watching trails are also short, which makes it easy to drive through the park. The best time to visit the park to watch birds is in November, December, January, February, March, and April. This is when birds from Europe and North Africa come to the park to breed or migrate.