Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park covers Mount Meru, a prominent volcano with an elevation of 4566 m, in the Arusha north of eastern Tanzania. The park is small but diversified with spectacular landscapes in three distinct areas. In the west, the Meru Crater funnels the Jekukumia River; the peak of Mount Meru lies on its rim. Ngurdoto Crater in the southeast is grassland. The shallow alkaline Momella Lakes in the northeast have varying algae colors and are known for their wading birds.

The park is just a few kilometers northeast of Arusha, though the main gate is 25 km east of the city. It is also 58 km from Moshi and 35 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA).

Arusha National Park has a rich variety of wildlife, but visitors shouldn’t expect the same game-viewing experience they found in other Tanzania’s national parks. Despite the small size of the park, it holds a variety of animals including Giraffes, Cape buffalos, Zebras, Warthogs, the black and white colobus monkeys, the blue monkeys, flamingoes, Elephants, Lions, etc. Leopards occupy the park but rarely seen. Birdlife in the forest is prolific, with many forest species more easily seen here than elsewhere on the tourist route. Narina trogon and bar-tailed trogon are both possible highlights for visiting birders, whilst the range of starling species provides somewhat less gaudy interest.