In spite of its proximity to Arusha town, Arusha National Park, is little visited, despite offering the opportunity to explore a beguiling diversity of habitats within a few hours.

Dominating the park is the volcanic Mount Meru, Tanzania’s second highest mountain. The national park and its fringing forest reserve encloses much of the mountain, including 3.5km wide Meru Crater on the summit and the entire eastern slope as well as the mountains’ eastern foothills. Here you will find Ngurdoto Crater, a 3km wide caldera, and the shallow alkaline Momela Lakes.

Wildlife you are likely to see include buffaloes, elephants, hippos, giraffes, warthogs, antelopes, zebras, back-and-white colobus and blue monkeys. Leopards and hyenas are present but seldom seen. There are also 575 bird species, and numerous butterflies.

About Arusha National Park

Size: 552 sq km 212 sq miles).
Location: Northern Tanzania, northeast of Arusha town.

Getting there

An easy 40-minute drive from Arusha. Approximately 60 km (35 miles) from Kilimanjaro International Airport. The lakes, forest and Ngurdoto Crater can all be visited in the course of a half-day outing at the beginning or end of an extended northern safari.

NOTE: Mountain Climbing Permits duration time is 12 HOURS.

What to do

Forest walks, numerous picnic sites; three or four day Mount Meru climb - good acclimatisation for Kilimanjaro

When to go

To climb Mt Meru, June-February although it may rain in November.
Best views of Kilimanjaro December-February.

Accommodation

Two lodges, two rest houses, camp sites, two mountain huts inside the park; more lodges at Usa River outside the park and many hotels and hostels in Arusha town.