Known as the little “germ” Arusha National Park has a lot to offer, including a fantastic mix of flora and fauna as well as various terrains. On your game drive through the “Little Serengeti,” you may observe herds of gentle buffalo, shy bushbuck on the outskirts of the woodland, warthogs, and zebras. You’ll see a lush jungle, athletic black colobus monkeys, and graceful Mithi’s monkeys on your way to Ngurdoto Crater. Ngurudoto Crater is about 3 km in circumference and is a smaller replica of Ngorongoro Crater. If you’re lucky, you might see buffaloes in the wetland at the crater’s bottom. Mount Meru, Africa’s fourth highest mountain, is located in this green treasure (4,566 m) The stunning landscapes range from the Meru Crater in the west to the Ngurdoto Crater in the south-east to the grasslands and, of course, the alkaline Momella lakes in the north-east, and any visitor will be thrilled with these attractions once he or she explores this great park.
Arusha National Park, which is found just a short drive from Arusha and Moshi, is Tanzania’s most accessible national park, making it a perfect first or last stop on a day trip or longer excursion. Despite its modest size (just 552 square kilometers), there is plenty to see and do.
Arusha National Park, home to various species such as elephants, hippos, buffaloes, zebras, and occasionally herbivores such as gnus, is also a fantastic location to stretch your legs, with walking and canoeing safaris offered throughout the park. Arusha National Park also has the world’s greatest population of giraffes, making it a must-see for admirers of the magnificent long-necked giraffe.
Due to the small number of predators, walking safaris are permitted in the park. Walking safaris are a great way to get up close and personal with wildlife, with moss-covered trees and the occasional bright red-spotted animal. On walking safaris, you will see buffalo, warthogs, giraffes, and a variety of birds, including silver-cheeked hornbills and the occasional crested serpent eagle. The tour will visit the refreshing Tricia Falls and return to Momela Gate.
On the way to Momela Lake, water birds such as waterbucks and reedbucks hang out by the lake. Waterfowl such as kingfishers, kingfishers, and flamingos are also often seen. There are seven alkaline lakes, each with a different salinity level. The small Momela Lake also offers canoeing trips. Arusha National Park is home to a few African elephants, but they are constantly on the move and are rarely spotted. Leopards roam the vast, misty forests of Mount Meru.
The park is located a few kilometers northeast of Arusha city, but the main gate is 25 km east of Arusha city. It is 58 km from Moshi and 35 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA). Nowhere else on earth is the transition between pristine mountain landscapes and bustling urban landscapes as intense as in Arusha National Park.
The dry season is the optimum time to explore this animal park (from June to October each year). Arusha Park is a year-round birding hotspot, particularly from November to April when migrating species pass through on their long-distance migrations. Some migratory birds arrive on this intriguing land from North Africa and Europe to nest. Climbing Mount Meru is possible from June to February, with the possibility of rain in November.
Activities to do in Arusha National Park
Known as the “little Serengeti” The Park is a short day excursion from Arusha city. Arusha National Park is home to approximately 200 elephants, which can frequently be spotted in the woodlands on Mount Meru’s slopes. The park also has 400 different bird species. The Tanzanite Experience Museum, Hot Air Balloon, Game Viewing in Arusha National Park, Canoeing on Momella Lake, Hiking Mount Meru, Lake Duluti, the National Natural History Museum, Cultural Heritage Center, and Meserani Snake Park are among the best things to do in Arusha.
Walking safaris in Arusha National Park
You begin at Momela Gate (the park’s entrance) and stroll through this breathtaking area with an armed park ranger. Enjoy the rainforest’s magnificent vegetation, birds and animals, and the volcanic backdrop of Mount Meru and the Ngurdoto crater. On a clear day, you may see the Meru and Kilimanjaro mountains while walking.
Canoeing and kayaking safaris on Lake Momela in Arusha National Park; it’s once-in-a-lifetime chances to get up close and personal with wildlife. The canoe safari lasts about three hours. You will witness buffaloes, giraffes, waterbucks, and a variety of bird species while floating quietly with your guide. You will also have fantastic views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the Meru Mountains on a clear day
Hot air balloon safaris in Arusha National Park
Hot air balloon safaris above the Serengeti National Park are popular during the “green season,” which lasts from November to June and is marked by regular rain in the evenings and mornings when nature becomes fresh and green all around. This is also the time of year when the Serengeti’s wild animals migrate and can be seen from the sky. Explore the unspoiled nature of the Serengeti in the basket of a hot air balloon, leaving the surface in the early morning and flying to safety. Enjoy a wonderful bush breakfast after an incredible luxury balloon safari in the Serengeti. With Seronera as our permanent base and Ndutu, Kogatende, and Kirawira as seasonal locations, you can track the migration throughout the Serengeti.
National Natural History Museum; is housed in the Old German Boma, which was built by the Germans in 1886 for administration and communication. The Natural History Museum has two permanent exhibitions: one on human evolution and one about entomology. There are also temporary exhibitions. The Laetoli Footprints are the museum’s main attraction. The footprints found in Laetoli are most likely those of Australopithecus afarensis, an early human whose remains were discovered in the same sediment layer. The total footprint path is over 27 meters long, 3.6 million years old, and contains approximately 70 early human footprints.
Lake Durruti is a small crater lake located in eastern Arusha. It is about 20 minutes from Arusha’s city center. A safari tour around Lake Duruti takes 3 hours over a distance of 6.7 km. Enjoy the medicinal herbs, the legends of the Meru tribe about the lake, and the mysterious lake, all in good weather.
The four-day hike up Mount Meru begins in Arusha National Park. The 4,566-meter-high mountain will be reached after a wonderful journey through the jungle. Mount Meru is a stunning mountain to scale. Mount Meru’s vegetation and wildlife are quite diverse. The path to the Miriakamba Hut is a true walking safari, not merely a mountain climb. Buffalo, wild boar, monkeys (including the uncommon and gorgeous Colobus monkeys), giraffes, elephants, and a variety of bird species are all possible sightings. While hiking Mount Meru, you may take in stunning views of the surrounding plains and Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance. On the mountain, we will stay in well-kept mountain huts and enjoy breathtaking views of the clouds.
Snake Park, also known as Meserani Snake Park, is located 25 kilometers west of Arusha. It is easily accessible and has a paved road. It is an extraordinary Arusha treasure that offers the most relaxing, exciting, and educational trips you have ever experienced. Meserani’s guided tour will take you through the Maasai Cultural Museum, where you will learn about many poisonous and non-venomous snakes from throughout the world, such as vipers, crocodiles, raptors, and many more. Remember that you will be photographing a living snake (non-venomous and acclimated to humans) while moving your hands and neck.
You are picked up from your accommodation in the morning and driven to the Arusha National Park gate. First, you take a short safari through the park to the Ngurdoto crater, which serves as the starting point for your mountain bike safari. The excursion primarily circles the crater’s rim, providing breathtaking views. A park ranger joins you on the tour since there is a potential to see buffalo, colobus monkeys, giraffes, and various bird species. The ride is partially on dirt roads and partly on steep and narrow muddy pathways.
Arusha is rich in culture and history, and there are numerous locations and areas to visit. A visit to the Arusha Cultural Heritage Center, where you can see numerous works of art and sculptures, is one of the ten things to do in Arusha. You can also go to museums, restaurants, coffee shops, spice shops, and so forth.
If you haven’t already, consider scheduling a safari in northern Tanzania through a reliable travel agency. The northern safari route includes Serengeti National Park, famous for its herds of wildebeest; Ngorongoro Crater, famous for its animals and craters; Tarangire National Park, famous for its large herds of elephants; and Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its large herds of tree-climbing lions and pink flamingos, is Tanzania’s most popular safari destination. Please come and enjoy the various activities in Arusha National Park.
When planning a visit to Arusha National Park, make sure you know where to stop and which route you can take to explore the park. Arusha National Park, located north of Arusha and encircled by Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, is Tanzania’s most accessible park. This park is an “unusual” park on the northern Tanzania safari trail. It lacks the variety of fauna present in other parks. Walking safaris, game drives, hiking, kayaking, and bird watching are just a few of the activities available.
It is only 45 minutes away from Arusha. The majority of Arusha’s lodgings are located along the road that leads to the national park. Because Arusha is the beginning point for safaris in northern Tanzania, a visit to this little park is conceivable. Arusha can be reached in a variety of ways.
By Air; The best option is to fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), which is around 46 kilometers (29 miles) from Arusha. It is also feasible to travel to Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) and then take a domestic flight to Arusha Airport (ARK).
By road; there’s the option of using a shuttle bus from Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to Arusha. Typically, a tour operator will greet you at the airport and handle all subsequent arrangements, including charter flights to the park or using the Moshi side. The park can be visited for only half a day at the beginning or conclusion of the Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit, depending on arrival and departure schedules.
Sky scanners and those interested in flying to multiple destinations can use Expedia to research airlines and ticket prices for travel to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), or Arusha Airport (ARK). Accommodation for visitors to Arusha National Park
Depending on their budget, visitors visiting Arusha National Park can stay in a range of hotel alternatives. Accommodation options in and around Arusha National Park include Ngordoto Mountain Lodge, Africa Tulip, NgareSero Mountain Lodge, Momella Wildlife Lodge, Mount Meru Game Lodge, and Itikoni Seasonal Camp, among others.