The closest
national park to
Arusha town –
northern
Tanzania’s
safari capital –
Arusha National
Park is a
multi-faceted
jewel, often
overlooked by
safarigoers,
despite offering
the opportunity
to explore a
beguiling
diversity of
habitats within
a few hours.
The entrance
gate leads into
shadowy montane
forest inhabited
by inquisitive
blue monkeys and
colourful
turacos and
trogons – the
only place on
the northern
safari circuit
where the
acrobatic
black-and-white
colobus monkey
is easily seen.
In the midst of
the forest
stands the
spectacular
Ngurdoto Crater,
whose steep,
rocky cliffs
enclose a wide
marshy floor
dotted with
herds of buffalo
and warthog.
Further north,
rolling grassy
hills enclose
the tranquil
beauty of the
Momela Lakes,
each one a
different hue of
green or blue.
Their shallows
sometimes tinged
pink with
thousands of
flamingos, the
lakes support a
rich selection
of resident and
migrant
waterfowl, and
shaggy
waterbucks
display their
large
lyre-shaped
horns on the
watery fringes.
Giraffes glide
across the
grassy hills,
between grazing
zebra herds,
while pairs of
wide-eyed
dik-dik dart
into scrubby
bush like
overgrown hares
on spindly legs.
Although
elephants are
uncommon in
Arusha National
Park, and lions
absent
altogether,
leopards and
spotted hyenas
may be seen
slinking around
in the early
morning and late
afternoon. It is
also at dusk and
dawn that the
veil of cloud on
the eastern
horizon is most
likely to clear,
revealing the
majestic
snow-capped
peaks of
Kilimanjaro,
only 50km (30
miles) distant.
But it is
Kilimanjaro’s
unassuming
cousin, Mount
Meru - the fifth
highest in
Africa at 4,566
metres (14,990
feet) – that
dominates the
park’s horizon.
Its peaks and
eastern
footslopes
protected within
the national
park, Meru
offers
unparalleled
views of its
famous neighbour,
while also
forming a
rewarding hiking
destination in
its own right.
Passing first
through wooded
savannah where
buffalos and
giraffes are
frequently
encountered, the
ascent of Meru
leads into
forests aflame
with red-hot
pokers and
dripping with
Spanish moss,
before reaching
high open heath
spiked with
giant lobelias.
Everlasting
flowers cling to
the alpine
desert, as
delicately-hoofed
klipspringers
mark the hike’s
progress.
Astride the
craggy summit,
Kilimanjaro
stands unveiled,
blushing in the
sunrise.
About
Arusha National
Park
Size: 552 sq km
212 sq miles).
Location:
Northern
Tanzania,
northeast of
Arusha town..
Getting
there
An easy
40-minute drive
from Arusha.
Approximately 60
km (35 miles)
from Kilimanjaro
International
Airport. The
lakes, forest
and Ngurdoto
Crater can all
be visited in
the course of a
half-day outing
at the beginning
or end of an
extended
northern safari.
NOTE:
Mountain
Climbing Permits
duration time is
12 HOURS.
What to
do
Forest walks,
numerous picnic
sites;
three- or
four-day Mt Meru
climb - good
acclimatisation
for Kilimanjaro.
When to
go
To
climb Mt Meru,
June-February
although it may
rain in
November.
Best views of
Kilimanjaro
December-February.
Accommodation
Two
lodges, two rest
houses, camp
sites, two
mountain huts
inside the park;
more lodges at
Usa River
outside the park
and many hotels
and hostels in
Arusha town.
More info on
accommodation
