Arusha is a large, sprawling city that offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road, it has an excellent place to stay and eat, and it is lush green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. It has Tanzania’s smallest National park but the most beautiful and topographically varied northern circuit park.

Arusha National park is dominated by Mount Meru, an almost perfect cone with a spectacular crater, and Ngurdoto Crater with its swamp-filled floor. Wildlife is present, but for most of the part, it is a sideshow to the scenery.

Arusha National park offers wildlife drives, it has a small patch of open grassland that always has zebras and other plains animals.

The park’s altitude, which varies from 1400m to more than 4500m, has a variety of vegetation zones but most of the park is forested and the dense vegetation reduces visibility. Animal life is also far less abundant than in other northern Tanzania parks.

The main attractions of Arusha National Park are :

• Diverse wildlife including a blue monkey and colorful turacos.
• The beauty of Momela Lakes, surrounded by giraffes and zebras.
• Stunning view of the snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro
• Impressive Ngurdoro crater with rugged cliffs and marsh

Bird watching :

Birdlife here is abundant with around 400 species recorded in the park. Raptors are common at high altitudes. Momella Lake attracts a variety of water birds including year-round flamingos.

When to go to Arusha National Park :

The best time to visit Arusha National Park is from June to October, during the dry season. It is easier to spot the wildlife – since they normally gather around the waterholes. The rainfall is minimal at this time. Vegetation is not too thick.

How to get to Arusha National Park :

Arusha National Park is 25km outside Arusha. From the northern entrance by the Momella gate, it’s possible to continue via a rough track that joins the main highway.