Often skipped in the rush to the Serengeti, little Arusha National Park is a scenic gem in the shadow of Mount Meru, with Kilimanjaro on the horizon. Its three habitats — the Momella lakes, Ngurdoto Crater and montane forest — deliver giraffe, buffalo, hippo, flamingo and black-and-white colobus monkeys, and it’s one of the few northern parks where you can explore on foot or by canoe. An ideal, relaxed first or last day around Arusha.
Ratings
Wildlife Density: ★★★☆☆ Infrastructure: ★★★★☆ Photography: ★★★★☆
Adventure: ★★★★☆ Exclusivity: ★★★☆☆ Price: $ Scenery: ★★★★★
Location: Northern Tanzania; near Arusha city & Usa River
Key wildlife: Giraffe, buffalo, colobus monkey, hippo, flamingo; Mt Meru
Best for: Walking & canoe safaris, day trips, first/last day, Mt Meru trek start
Best time: June–October & December–February (drier)
More about this park will be added here over time.
Guides & articles
Wildlife & Ecology
Mount Meru’s montane forest, Ngurdoto Crater and the Momella Lakes support giraffe, buffalo, zebra, black-and-white colobus and varied waterbirds. Elephant and leopard occur but are elusive, and lion are not a normal expectation.
Best Time to Visit
June to October and January to February are usually clearest for walking and mountain views. Rain enhances the forest and birdlife but can obscure Kilimanjaro and make trails slippery.
Activities
Guided walking, canoeing on Small Momella Lake and climbs of Mount Meru are the reasons to spend more than a conventional drive here.
How to Get There
The park is about 45–60 minutes from Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airport, traffic depending. It is reached by paved road to the gate, with gravel internal roads; Arusha Airport handles domestic light-aircraft connections.
Image credits
- Activity — Photo: Sergey Pesterev / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons