Arusha National Park

- The green jewel at the foot of Mount Meru

Facts

Arusha National Park is located in northern Tanzania, just a short drive from the city of Arusha. Although the park is relatively small, it boasts an impressive variety of landscapes, from dense forest and open plains to crater lakes, wetlands, and mountainous terrain. The park is surrounded by the mighty Mount Meru, Africa's fourth highest mountain, creating a dramatic and ever-green backdrop.

Thanks to its location close to both Kilimanjaro and Arusha, the park is an ideal choice for shorter safari experiences or as an introduction to Tanzania's wild nature. Here you can experience everything from traditional game drives to hiking and canoe safaris in just one day.

History & preservation of the park

Arusha National Park was established in 1960 to protect Mount Meru and the sensitive ecosystems surrounding the mountain range and Ngurdoto crater area. Since then, the park has been an important center for research, conservation, and ecotourism.

Conservation efforts focus primarily on protecting forest-dwelling species, the aquatic ecosystems of the Momella Lakes, and the unique mountain environments. Through cooperation with local communities and ranger patrols, illegal hunting is kept to a minimum, and the park's proximity to Arusha makes it an important model for urban nature conservation in Tanzania.

Animal life

Arusha National Park has no felines, which makes the experience calmer and more relaxed than in many other parks. It also creates the perfect conditions for getting close to the animals and going on a guided walking safari.

Here you will find buffalo, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, hippos, and a fantastic bird life with over 400 species registered. The scenic Momella Lakes attract flamingos and other water birds, while the forest areas are home to large populations of monkeys.

Nature and climate

Arusha National Park is known for its lush and varied nature – something that has earned it the nickname "the green jewel." Here, visitors are greeted by volcanic crater landscapes, dense rainforests, alkaline lakes, open mountain meadows, and impressive views of Mount Meru.

The climate is milder than in many other parks due to the higher altitude. Mornings and evenings are cool, while days are pleasantly warm. During the rainy seasons, the park becomes extra lush and dramatic, while the dry seasons offer clear visibility and excellent conditions for hiking in an incredible landscape.

What makes Arusha National Park unique?

Arusha is one of the few parks in Tanzania where you can combine game drives with hiking and canoe safaris, all in a single day. The park also offers unusually close contact with wildlife, as there are no felines. 

The walking safari is an incredible experience as you hike at the foot of Mount Meru in an incredibly beautiful environment. Here you get very close to the animals, and there is no age limit for the walking safari, so even children can join in.

Encountering giraffes on foot or paddling past flamingos on the Momella Lakes makes Arusha a unique and diverse safari experience that differs from the large savannah parks in the north. The rich greenery and varied ecosystems also make the park feel like a completely different world compared to Serengeti and Tarangire.