Arusha National Park

Exploring Tanzania Stunning unforgettable viewing of Mount Meru.                                        

Arusha national park is the second oldest park in Tanzania together with lake Manyara. It was established in 1960. It’s one of the smallest national parks: with its 542 km2 (and only 35 km from east to west) it’s 4% of the size of the Serengeti. The most recent enlargement took place in 2005: land was added on almost all sides and the area almost quadrupled. The park height from 1,450 meters (Momela Lakes) to 4,566 meters (Summit of Mt Meru). The entrance gates and major park roads lay at around 1,500 meters.  The wide – open plains is a breathtaking experience in itself. So imagine being free to leave your vehicle and let some vertical adventure add to the drama.

Witness the majestic Mount Meru awaits, ready to be tamed on foot!  The ultimate view over one of Africa’s most picture-perfect landscapes.

Arusha National Park gives you the opportunity to explore nature at its closest. There are good trekking facilities along the climbing route. The route passes through diverse habitats: Swamps, open plains, montane forests and volcanoes, all packed within a distance of 35 km.

The most striking landmarks are Mount Meru and the Ngurdoto Caldera, Formed after volcanic eruptions between 1 and 3 million years ago. Mount Meru has not put on a show in over a century, but 6,000 years ago a huge explosion blew away the eastern edge, causing a massive landslide. It is also how the mesmerizing north-eastern Momela lakes were born Due to different levels of alkalinity, each of these seven lakes boasts its own spectacular greenish-blue tone. The water is dotted pink with group of Flamboyance lesser and greater flamingos, while every now and then you might meet the eyes of a thunder hippopotamus. The extinct Ngurdoto volcano in the east is home to a mini Ngorongoro. looking down from the crater rim you see montane forests – keep an eye open for the majestic Fig Tree Arch – while an open, swampy bottom spreads out below it, at an altitude of around 1,470 meters.

Extinct Ngurdoto Volcano is home to a mini Ngorongoro, the entire park is full of life. You will encounter herds of buffalos (the park’s most abundant species), Zebra and Giraffe often, but warthog, Waterbuck, pairs of dik dik and Reedbuck are also frequent sights. Other mammals roaming the area are the elusive Aardvark, the bush pig and the crested porcupine. The low braying call of the silvery – cheeked hornbill regularly penetrates the silence, just as the harsh rhythmic cry of the endangered black and white colobus monkey. And this is not the acrobat in the dense forest, there are also plenty of vervet monkeys, blue monkeys and olive baboons to be seen. The well – trained spotter’s

eye will be treated to almost 450 bird species. Although you won’t hear the ferocious roar of a Lion very often – other big cats can be sited.

Keep an eye open for spotted hyena, wild cats, leopard, and, on the slopes of Mount Meru, even a wandering elephant.

Mostly popular activities inside the park is Game driving, walking safaris, Canoeing, Climbing Mount Meru.