Arusha National Park
A Unique Safari Experience
Arusha National Park, located in northern Tanzania, provides a unique and accessible safari experience. Renowned as the home of Mount Meru, Tanzania’s second-highest and Africa’s fifth-highest mountain, the park offers stunning landscapes and serves as an acclimatization point for climbers preparing for Mount Kilimanjaro. Visitors can expect close-range wildlife encounters and diverse activities including game drives, mountain climbing, walking safaris, and canoeing on the Momella Lakes. The park’s compact size makes it ideal for day trips or extended stays, showcasing the diverse beauty of Tanzania in a convenient and captivating setting
A Glimpse into the Park’s History
Before its official designation, the land was inhabited by the Maasai people, who lived harmoniously alongside the local wildlife. European interest in the region sparked in 1876 when Count Teleki recorded the abundant wildlife in the Momella area. The first conservation efforts began in 1907 when the land was utilized as a cattle ranch, largely due to Mrs. Trappe’s generous land donation for a game reserve. This pivotal act led to the formal creation of Ngurdoto Crater National Park in 1960, which aimed to safeguard the unique ecosystem of the crater. In 1967, the park expanded to include Mount Meru, leading to its renaming as Arusha National Park
Attractions
From dramatic volcanic landscapes to serene lakes and vibrant wildlife encounters, the park presents a unique blend of natural wonders. Here, you can immerse yourself in the beauty of:
Mount Meru: Tanzania’s Second-Highest Peak
At the heart of the park stands Mount Meru, Tanzania’s second-highest peak at 4,566 metres. Often overshadowed by its famous neighbor, Mount Kilimanjaro, Meru offers a challenging yet rewarding trek for hikers. The climb takes you through lush rainforests, open grasslands, and rocky terrains, culminating in breathtaking views from the summit. For many, it’s the perfect warm-up before tackling Kilimanjaro
‘Serengeti Ndogo’ – The Little Serengeti
An open grassland within the park, mirroring the vast plains of the Serengeti. This natural glade, with its marshes and streams, attracts abundant wildlife, including buffaloes, warthogs, giraffes, zebras, and waterbucks. Notably, visitors can experience the thrill of a walking safari in this area, offering a unique opportunity to get up close to these animals in their natural habitat
Ngurdoto Crater: The “Little Ngorongoro”
Another highlight is the Ngurdoto Crater, often referred to as the “Little Ngorongoro.” This smaller but equally impressive volcanic crater is surrounded by steep, forested walls, with its floor serving as a sanctuary for buffaloes, warthogs, and baboons. While visitors can’t descend into the crater, the viewpoints along the rim offer spectacular sights and excellent photo opportunities
Lake Longil and Momella Lakes
Lake Longil, the park’s sole freshwater lake, is home to Tilapia fish. In contrast, the Momella Lakes, a series of seven shallow, alkaline lakes, display a spectrum of colors – from green to blue – due to varying mineral contents and algae growth. These lakes are a birdwatcher’s paradise, attracting thousands of flamingos, pelicans, grebes, Southern pochards, common sandpipers, hadada ibises, and sacred ibises. You may also spot hippos wallowing in the shallows and giraffes grazing along the shores
Tululusia Waterfall: A Hidden Oasis
The Tululusia Waterfall, cascading down a 28-meter gorge, is a serene spot to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. The short hike to the waterfall is an adventure in itself, with chances to spot buffaloes and colorful birds along the way
Diverse Wildlife and Walking Safaris
While Arusha National Park isn’t known for the Big Five, it boasts a rich variety of wildlife. Here, you’ll find herds of zebras, giraffes, and antelopes roaming the grasslands, while colobus monkeys swing through the treetops. The park is one of the few places in Tanzania where you can see the rare black-and-white colobus monkey up close. What sets Arusha apart is that it allows walking safaris. Guided by an armed ranger, you can explore the park on foot, getting closer to nature and experiencing the wilderness in a more intimate way
Interesting Facts About Arusha National Park
- Parts of the classic movie Hatari!, starring John Wayne, were filmed in Arusha National Park in the early 1960s
- The first ascent to the summit of Meru is disputed between Carl Uhlig in 1901 and Fritz Jaeger in 1904
- Although Mount Meru is a historically active volcano, the last known, ash eruption dates back to 1910
- Mount Meru makes an ideal high-altitude acclimatization warm-up before conquering the Kilimanjaro
