Arusha National Park
Home to Mount Meru, Momella Lake, diverse wildlife, and scenic hiking trails.
Welcome to Arusha National Park
A million wilde Starting in a wooden savannah infested with buffalos and giraffes, the ascent of Mount Meru leads into forests aflame with red-hot pokers and dripping with Spanish moss, before reaching high open health spiked with giant lobelias. Everlasting flowers adom the alpine desert, as delicately-hoofed klipspringers mark the hike’s progess.Astride the craggy summit, Kilimanjaro Mountain stands unveiled, its snow-capped peak blushing pink in sunrise.
This beautiful Park has often been called a “little germ” and rightly so. It is only ½ an hour by tarmac road from Arusha town, the safari center of Northern Tanzania. With mountains, valleys, lakes, and small plains clothed in green, it has a wonderful feeling of peace and solitude. It is dominated by Mount Meru, which at 4,566 m (14,980 ft) is the 5rd highest free standing mountain in Africa.
This second highest mountain in Tanzania offers unforgettable experience and serves as acclimatization refuge before climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
beest each one driven by the same ancient rhythm ,fulfilling its instinctive role in the inescapable cycle of life, a frenzied three-week bout of territorial conquests and mating ,survival of the fittest as 40km(25 miles) long columns plunge through crocodile infested water in the annual exodus north, replenishing the species in a brief population explosion that produces more than 8000 calves daily before the 1000 km (600 miles ) pilgrimage begins again.
The Serengeti is one of the most famous parks in Africa and is synonymous with wildlife and classic African scenery. It is Tanzania’s oldest park and a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is home to the spectacular wildebeest migration and offers top-class wildlife viewing throughout the year.Maasai people called this park ‘Siringet‘, meaning endless plains. The Serengeti speaks for itself and with good reason not only the migration of over 1 million wildebeest through its plains and woodlands but also unique landscapes and other spectacular wildlife.
The Serengeti is home to the world’s largest populations of Wildebeest, Zebra, Cape Eland, Lion, Cheetah, Hyena and Gazelles. The scenic beauty of the sky with cool nights and warm days makes your visit to this remaining home for great migration of large mammals incredible!
Climate
The Park can be visited throughout the year; however the best time is between June to September and from December to early March. The short rainy period is from October to November and the heavy rain season is from March to May with annual average rainfall ranging from.The park is located at an altitude between 1,700 and 4566 meters.
Getting there
The Park can be accessed by road or air.
By Road: From Arusha town to Ngongongare gate, it is about 32 km.
By Air: It is about 40 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Wildlife & Attractions
The Park is gifted with variety of attractions ranging from wildlife inhabiting the wilderness to craters and mountain peaks.
- Serengeti Ndogo
The name which means “Little Serengeti”, describes the open grassland, a place in the park where various animals in large numbers can easily be seen such as buffaloes, warthogs zebras, waterbucks, giraffes, etc.
- Wildlife
Black and white colubus monkey
Arusha National Park is a home for these acrobatic Black and White Colobus Monkey. These species contributes into visitors experience during the Park visit because they can easily be spotted. Other animals includes Buffalos, Warthogs and Giraffes.
- Mount Meru
The park holds a second highest mountain in Tanzania providing a good chance of exploring mountainous habitats inhabited with different animal and plants species which are differently from those found in lowland.
- Ngurdoto and Meru Craters
This pear-shape Ngurdoto resembling just like a miniature of Ngorongoro crater comprises of five viewing points of mikindu, the Rock, Buffalo, the glade and Leitong being the highest point. From this point the snowy peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Momella lakes and lower slope with human settlement can be easily seen.
- Birds
(Lesser and greater flamingos in Momela Lakes)
The famous Momela lakes provide home and important feeding ground for both Lesser and greater flamingos. It one of the important site to visit for bird watchers.
- Tululusia Hill and waterfall
Tululusia hill meaning “lookout point” is a view point that provides an excellent view of the lower areas of Arusha National Park, Mount Meru and the majestic Kilimanjaro.
Tululusia Waterfall found on a narrow sided valley formed as a result of erosion of a soft volcanic soil leaving behind a steep gorge with the height of 28m (84ft). It’s a home of nesting Red-winged Starlings and having a chance of getting your photos around this natural environment are usually spectacular!
- Lake Longil and Momella lakes
Lake Longil is the only fresh water lake in the park, inhabited with Tilapia fish and also there are Papyrus and Mace reed floating as Islands and changes their positions following the wind directions
The Momella Lakes with different mineral contents supports a different type of algae growth and this gives each lake a different color.
- Fig Tree Arch
A striking feature of the Fig Tree Arch (Ficus thoningii) with its roots reaching the ground while leaving behind an arch enough for a car to drive through.
- Ngarenanyuki River (Engare Nanyokie)
This river originating from the montane forest and meru crater contains a brackish resulting from brown/alkaline water sources from the streams which joins the main river outside the park.
Activities
Arusha National Park is the Park of multi activities; These activities includes game drives, short walking safari, long walking safari the Arusha National Park is a park of multi tourists activities; These includes Game Drives (GD), Short Walking Safaris (SWS), Long Walking Safaris (LWS), Canoeing, Mountain Climbing (MC), Horse Riding (HR) and Cycling.
- Mountain hiking
This is a 2 nights 3 days or 3 night 4 days adventure using the mountain huts Miriakamba and Saddle huts. It has to be prearranged at the Momella Gate requiring porters and an armed Ranger escort. The hike traverses several vegetation zones including beautiful montane forests. Expect to see wildlife en route including buffalo, giraffe, monkeys, baboons, antelope and lots of birds.
- Walking Safari
Arusha National Park is a great place for walking, and a place where one can enjoy natural forests in comfort because of the cool climate. Hiking has to be arranged at one of the 2 Gates. A fee is payable and any walk has to be accompanied by an armed Ranger.
- Canoeing
Canoeing is possible by prior arrangement on Small Momella Lake, with buffao, giraffe, bushbuck, water buck and hippo often seen. Wading and water birds are of course common.
- Horseback riding
Horseback trails have been established and can be combined with overnight stays in camps within the Park (but not the horses). By prior arrangement.
- Game drive
Game drives are possible on a well maintained network of roads and tracks. It is an experience that tourists can get in a day game drive from Arusha Town.
- Bird watching
The Park has more than 450 birds species including both resident and migratory birds. At Small Momella and Longil lakes, both water and non-water birds can be easily sighted.
