Arusha National Park
Arusha is a spectacular safari park waiting to be discovered. Safaris along the plains offer up sightings of Cape buffalo, various antelope and the occasional elephant, rhino, and leopard – if you’re lucky! Adding to the park’s allure is the opportunity to experience mountain biking, canoeing and walking safaris
Size: 552 sq km (212 sq miles)
Established: 1960
Distance from Arusha: 25 km (15 miles)
Arusha national park is close to both Arusha and Moshi towns:
The national park is about 40 minutes drive from Arusha town, and about 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Moshi town. The closeness to the towns makes it a perfect day trip safari while you are here. A few minutes from taking off on your Kilimanjaro scenic flight you will find yourself flying over Arusha national park.
Arusha national park has beautiful features and scenery
The park hosts amazing features that you will only see there. Here you will find Tanzania’s second highest mountain (Mount Meru). Mount Meru is an active (but currently dormant) volcano located north of Arusha in Tanzania. Located only 70 km from Mount Kilimanjaro, Mt. Meru also has a second peak, called Little Meru standing at 3801 meters tall. At 4562 meters, Mt. Meru is Tanzania’s second-highest mountain, the fourth highest in Africa.
Apart from Mount Meru, you will also enjoy great views of the Ngurdoto crater. Located in Arusha National Park, the Ngurdoto crater is a volcanic crater shaped like a basin with steep walls covered with dense rainforest and swampy crater floors. It is 3km wide and 400m deep and is a smaller version of the famous Ngorongoro crater.
Another great feature of Arusha National Park is the Momella lakes. They serve as a tourist hotspot, with several animals to see including both greater and lesser flamingos, hippos, and several other bird species. They have a maximum and minimum depth of 31 m and 10 m respectively.
Let’s now dive into the top 6 exciting ways to enjoy a visit to Arusha national:
Trek Mount Meru
Mount Meru, 4 day trekking
Mount Meru 3 day trekking
A green jewel and home to the fourth highest mountain in Africa – Mount Meru (4,566 m). Anyone visiting this park will be thrilled by the breathtaking landscapes ranging from the Meru Crater in the west, the Ngurdoto Crater in the south-east to the grasslands and of course the alkaline Momella lakes in the north-east.
Walking safari:
One of the few national parks in Tanzania where you can do a walking safari. You will be on foot roaming around among the giraffes, zebras, elephants, and the rest of the wild animals in the park under a company of an armed park ranger. You will be able to see wild animals and learn about their lives and their footsteps.
Cycling tours
One of the famous activities at the park is cycling. Cycling inside this park is a great way to explore its beautiful areas and get up and close to the wildlife. During the ride, you will be accompanied by an armed park ranger. This is a challenging cycling challenge and you should prepare for about 5 to 7 hours of riding a bike if you choose this tour option.
Canoeing in Arusha national park
Canoeing takes place on the beautiful Momella lakes. You will have a chance to navigate almost all of the lake depending on the day and how your guide judges the situation on the day. Imagine yourself witnessing the wild animals quenching their thirst on the shores of the lake as you navigate around. This is a great physical day trip that is packed with a chance to view wildlife.
Horse riding
At the park, you can experience horse riding tours for both experienced and those with little horse riding experience. Imagine yourself watching the zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, and other animals while gently riding a horse. This kind of tour is also called horseback safari.
