Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park covers Mount Meru, a prominent volcano with an elevation of 4566 m, in the Arusha Region of northeastern Tanzania. The park is small but varied 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.

Main Attractions

With so much to do and see at Arusha National Park, here are some of the attractions that will leave a lasting impression:

  • Mount Meru
  • The Momella lakes
  • Tulsa Hill
  • Ngurdoto crater
  • The Blue Monkey

Mount Meru

At over 4500 meters, this dormant volcano is the fifth highest mountain in Africa and the second highest in Tanzania. It is the topographic centerpiece of the Arusha National Park, and the rich fertile mountain supports a wide variety of post-ice-age flora and fauna. It is a hiking delight and can prepare tourists for the Mount Kilimanjaro climb. Unlike Kilimanjaro, it is visible all year round and is easier to climb than its juggernaut counterpart.

The Momella lakes

Momella lakes are a series of seven shallow lakes within the National park; these are El Kekhotoito, Rishateni, Tulusia, Lekandiro, Kusare, Small Momella, and Big Momella. The presence of algae gives them all their characteristic blue and green looks. Tourists can go on a canoeing Safari on Small Momella and catch a glimpse of exotic birds and dazzling water life

Tulusia Hill

This historical hill was once a lookout spot during the Tanzanian tribal wars of years past. The area around it is heavily forested and a home to many of East Africa’s wildlife fauna including the mischievous White Colobus monkey,

Ngurdoto crater

Stretching about 3km across, the crater is steep-sided and surrounded by dense forestation, the crater floor, however, is a swamp and is home to many of Africa’s Safari animals. Due to the nature of the surroundings, it is prohibited to get to the bottom of the crater, but tourists can still enjoy the panoramic view overhead.

Get Direction

Information for visitors

Road:

The national park is 45 minutes’ drive from Arusha and about 90 minutes from Moshi. The roads are in good condition and you can hire a car or take public transport from Arusha or Moshi.

 Air:

There are direct scheduled flights from Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) and the Julius Nyerere International Airport, Dar es Salaam to Arusha Airport every day. Most often, tour operators are present at the Arusha airport to pick up tourists and they also handle any further transportation from there.

Book Cheap flights with Tripindigo and Visit Arusha National Park today!

The Kilimanjaro NP can be visited any time of the year. But if you have come to hike to the summit it is best to stick to the two dry seasons to ensure better views and more pleasant hiking.

High season

The best time to summit Kilimanjaro is in one of the two trekking seasons. The first one is from January to March (although at some point in March the wet season starts, so don’t go too late) and the second is from June to October. January to March is usually a little colder and gives you a higher chance of finding snow at the top.

  1. Arusha National Park boasts a number of exciting activities for guests to enjoy. Here are some of the popular ones:
    • Hiking the mountains and volcanic craters
    • Canoe safari on the Momella lakes
    • Bird watching
    • Day trips to nearby national parks
    • Walking safari
    • Game driving
  • The 1982 hit song ‘Africa’ by Toto features the lyrics ‘Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus over the Serengeti’. As Mount Kilimanjaro is over 200 miles away, it would actually be difficult to see whilst on safari in the Serengeti!
  • Parts of Taylor Swift’s ‘Wildest Dreams’ music video were filmed in the Serengeti.
  • The Serengeti National Park is large, it is half the size of Belgium or Lesotho.
  • Almost 400 species of birds have been sited in the park, some are migratory and only residents during certain times of the year.
  • Mount Meru, located in the park is the second highest peak in Tanzania and the fifth-highest in Africa
  • Arusha National Park is known for the 2.4kilometre wide Ngurdoto Crater which can be found in the middle of the forest.
  • Arusha national park is home to unique primates such as the Blue Monkey and the Black and White Colobus Monkey

Explore Our Safaris

Accommodations Comming Soon