At 552 sq km, Arusha National Park ia a small park, and despite the fact that there is wildlife here, it iss nothing compared to other Northern Circuit parks. But such minor details can be easily forgotten when you engage in walking thru its mind blowing sceneries and vast trekking possibilities.
Which is why this pars is a popular destination for day excursions, with just 25km distance from Arusha, and only 35 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport. The small national park consists of the slopes, summit, and ash cone of Mount Meru, the Momela Lakes, Ngurdoto Crater, and the lush highland forests that covers its lower slopes. Game viewing around the Momela Lakes happens in a very slow pace, and as you pass through the forest you should definitely look for the troupes of rare colubus monkeys hanging in the canopy.
The closest national park to Arusha town is a well hidden jewel, often overlooked by tourists aiming for the big names, despite providing the opportunity to explore a diversity of habitats on the relatively small space .
To the north, grass covered hills enclose the pristine beauty of Momela Lakes, each one having a different tone of green or blue. Shallow sections of the lakes are sometimes painted pink with thousands of flamingos covering the area. Within the park you can see giraffes gently glide across the grassy hills, making way thru the herds of zebras, while couples of dik-dik scatter around the bushes like overgrown hares on skinny legs.
Elephants are not common in Arusha National Park, with lions are totally absent, while leopards and spotted hyenas may be seen early in the morning and late afternoon.
Getting there
The park is just a few km northeast of Arusha, with the main gate 25 km east of the city. It is also 58 km from Moshi and 35 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
What to do
Moun Meru trekking, game drives, walking safaris, canoeing, bird watching .
