Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park, also known as Ngurdoto Crater National Park, is located 25 kilometers east of Arusha, 35 kilometers from Kilimanjaro International Airport, and 58 kilometers from Moshi in northern Tanzania. The park is renowned for being home to Mount Meru, the second highest mountain in Tanzania, and the largest giraffe population in the world. Covering an area of 137 square kilometers, Arusha National Park conserves significant areas, including Ngurdoto Crater and Mount Meru. Established as Ngurdoto Crater National Park in 1960, it was renamed Arusha National Park in 1967, deriving its name from the local Warusha people who lived in the area. The park provides various tourist facilities, including picnic and camping sites, as well as lodges, ensuring that visitors have a comfortable experience during their visit. It is conveniently located approximately 148 kilometers (a 1.5-hour drive) from Tarangire National Park.

Vegetation in Arusha National Park

The vegetation in Arusha National Park consists of various types. The lower parts of the park feature savannah vegetation, characterized by open grasslands interspersed with acacia woodlands. This area supports a variety of herbivores and is dotted with shrubs, such as the whistling thorn (Acacia drepanolobium). The slopes of Mount Meru are covered by montane forests, dominated by species such as podocarpus, olive trees, fig trees, and junipers. This lush and moist forest is home to epiphytes, including orchids and mosses.

The lower montane forests consist of a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees. Around Ngurdoto Crater, tropical vegetation is prevalent, characterized by marshes, swamps, and grassy areas surrounded by forested slopes. The Momella Lakes are situated in wetlands and feature swampy vegetation. The edges of these lakes are lined with tall grasses and aquatic plants, such as papyrus. At the higher slopes of Mount Meru, the vegetation transitions to alpine types, featuring hardy shrubs, heathers, and grasses, which support species like giant lobelias and giant groundsels.

Wildlife in Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park features a relatively low wildlife diversity due to its landscape. However, it is home to the world’s largest population of giraffes. Other wildlife includes elephants, Cape buffalo, warthogs, bush pigs, waterbucks, bushbucks, duikers, dik-diks, spotted hyenas, leopards, and lions. The park also hosts both black and white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys. Additionally, Arusha National Park is home to around 400 bird species, including endemic, forest, and migratory species. Notable birds found here include flamingos, cinnamon-chested bee-eaters, great crested grebes, African fish eagles, peregrine falcons, Verreaux’s eagles, black saw-wings, African olive pigeons, Hartlaub’s turacos, Egyptian geese, red-fronted parrots, tawny eagles, narina trogons, bearded vultures, scaly francolins, bar-tailed trogons, silvery-cheeked hornbills, yellow-billed storks, white-browed coucals, red-billed oxpeckers, and bronzy sunbirds.

Activities in the Park

Canoeing

Canoeing is one of the popular activities in Arusha National Park, taking place on Momella Lakes. Visitors can drift along the shallow waters, enjoying views of wildlife such as buffaloes and bucks in the open landscape. Hippos and various water birds can also be spotted. Canoe trips generally last 2-3 hours, although tourists may opt for the traditional safari experience instead.

Climbing Mount Meru

Mount Meru, the second-highest mountain in Tanzania at 4,566 meters (15,000 feet) above sea level, dominates the horizon of Arusha National Park. An active, but dormant, volcano, it is known for its spectacular cliffs and lush surroundings at the base. Climbing Mount Meru offers breathtaking views of the steppes of the park, Momella Lakes, and Mount Kilimanjaro. The climb is somewhat challenging and requires technical skills. Climbs can be completed in 3 to 4 days, offering climbers a more private experience since it is not frequently trekked.

Nature Walks

Due to its lack of predators, the park offers walking safaris led by park rangers. These walks traverse various forests and savannahs, providing opportunities to observe different wildlife species like colobus monkeys and a large population of giraffes. There is also an excellent chance to spot various bird species. The slopes of Mount Meru are adorned with waterfalls, lakes, and green forests. A highlight of the walking safari is reaching the top of Tululusia Hill, a historic lookout point from Tanzania’s tribal wars, which offers panoramic views of the lower areas of Arusha National Park.

Game Viewing

Game viewing is a popular activity in Arusha National Park. During game drives, visitors follow different tracks through various regions of the park in search of animals. Common sightings include dik-diks, waterbucks, bushbucks, duikers, Cape buffalo, elephants, warthogs, and bush pigs. Predators like hyenas, leopards, and lions are harder to spot and seen only on rare occasions. Primates such as black and white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys can often be found around the Ngurdoto Museum. The trails leading to Momella Lakes and Ngurdoto Crater provide opportunities to see hippos in the water and other animals gathering along the shores.

Best Time to Visit the Park

The park can be visited year-round, depending on the visitor’s preferences. Arusha National Park is particularly renowned for bird-watching, with the best time to visit being from November to December and from March to May. This period coincides with the arrival of migratory birds from other parts of Africa and Europe. If you prefer spotting animals, the dry season—from June to October—is ideal. January and February are the best months for hiking Mount Meru.

How to Access the Park

The park can be accessed by road or air, depending on the traveler’s choice. By road, it takes approximately 45 minutes to travel from Arusha town to the national park. Alternatively, domestic flights are available from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha Airport, with a flight time of about 20 minutes.