The Arusha national park is one of the smallest Tanzania national Park located few kilometers from Arusha city and can be reached by car. The Tanzania Northern Safari Parks are easily accessible from Arusha National Park, which is ideal for a day trip or as the first or last stop on a longer itinerary. Arusha National Park is a small park with a lot to see, measuring only 552 square kilometers.
Momella Lakes, Mount Meru, and the Ngurdoto Crater are the three regions that make up Arusha National Park. Thousands of flamingos that migrate between Lake Manyara and here can be seen in Momella Lakes depending on the time of year.
Arusha National Park is home to a wide range of environments within these districts, from open savannah to acacia scrubland to rainforest to, eventually, alpine conditions on the upper levels of Mt. Meru.
Arusha National Park is a great area to get some exercise because it has a variety of species, including herbivores like elephants, hippos, buffalo, zebras, and even the occasional wildebeest. The park also offers canoe and walking safaris. The National Park is a terrific destination for giraffe enthusiasts since it is home to the largest giraffe population in the world.
ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK HIGHLIGHTS
Arusha National Park It is a well-liked day excursion location for people getting ready to leave the town of Arusha on longer northern circuit safaris.
Due to its location at the base of Mt. Meru, the smaller sibling of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Arusha National Park is an intriguing place to visit for both safari enthusiasts and mountain climbers.
Because of its proximity to the city, predators are rarely seen there. Leopards can readily hide in the bushes, while lions have moved on to other areas. Arusha National Park, however, is a fair rival for your “top 5 national parks bucket list” for a variety of reasons.
THE MOST COMMON ANIMALS IN ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK
- Buffalo
- Giraffe
- Zebra
- More than 400 bird species, including flamingos,
- Monkeys: black-and-white colobus monkey, vervet monkey, blue monkey, baboons
- Hippo
- Waterbuck
- Bushbuck
- Warthog
WALKING SAFARI IN ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK AND THE COLOBUS MONKEY
Arusha National Park is ideal for an exhilarating walking safari with a ranger because it is free of aggressive creatures like lions.
Tanzania offers a really unique experience for those who want to freely interact with the wildlife. You’ll be strolling here at the base of Mount Meru, surrounded by lush vegetation, lakes, waterfalls, and a sizable giraffe population. A walking safari is an incredible opportunity to interact with wildlife up close. One of the highlights you may see in Arusha National Park is the Colobus monkey, which is frequently seen swinging from trees.
MOUNT MERU
The heart of Arusha National Park is Mount Meru, an active yet dangerous volcano. It is renowned for the enormous cliffs and lush environs at its base.
Tanzania’s Mt. Meru is the country’s second-highest mountain. While it may not be as tall as its bigger sibling, it presents a greater technical challenge to the climber. The mountain offers you a more special, more private experience because it isn’t as frequently climbed. It can be climbed in three or four days.
ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK: BEST TIME TO VISIT
Your own choices will have a big impact on the ideal time to visit Arusha National Park. Your encounter with wildlife might be strongly influenced by the time of your visit. It’s well recognized that the park is an excellent area to see birds, and the best months to do so are often November through December and March through May. At this time, migratory birds like flamingos arrive.
The best time to go would be between June and October during the dry season if you would rather see mammals. Since it is the driest time of the year, they are much easier to see in the normally dense, lush forests. There is a great possibility to see wildlife close to one of the fresh water sources because water is more precious. The dry months, including January and February, are also the best time to climb Mt. Meru.
CLIMATE & SEASONS
The typical climate of Arusha National Park is pleasant and temperate, with cool mornings and evenings and pleasant, warm days. Due to Mt. Meru’s proximity to the national park, the mountain has a significant impact on the climate, causing more erratic weather and a higher likelihood of rain near the mountain’s slopes than in other parts of the park.
The variations in temperature can be quite drastic. For early morning safaris, it is strongly advised to pack a warm jacket because the average nighttime temperature is only about 10 degrees. Depending on the season and altitude, daytime temperatures are typically about 20 degrees.
ACTIVITIES IN ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK
There is more to Arusha National Park than “simply” wildlife viewing. Below are some of the best things to do in Arusha National Park:
- Walking Safari
- Climbing Mt. Meru
- Bird watching
- Canoeing
- Maasai Visit (in the area of Arusha)
- Visiting nearby areas and waterfalls
- Local Coffee Tours
DRIVING TIME & DISTANCES
- It takes 30 minutes to get from Arusha city to Arusha National Park by car.
- It takes roughly three and a half hours to drive from Ngorongoro to Arusha National Park.
- It takes around three hours to get from Lake Manyara to Arusha National Park.
- It takes roughly 2.5 hours to drive from Tarangire to Arusha National Park.
- Depending on the level of traffic, it takes between 1 and 1.5 hours to drive from Moshi to Arusha National Park.
Keep in mind that you can only drive in the parks from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
