Arusha National Park

Mount Meru shapes this park. It is a dormant volcano, 4,566 metres high, and about 8,000 years ago one side of it blew out. The park authority describes the result as one of the largest landslides ever measured. The mud and rock settled into the hillocks, valleys and small lakes you drive through today, with bush and patches of forest low down and rainforest on the upper slopes.

Wildlife and birds

Tanzania National Parks calls this probably the best place in the country to watch black-and-white colobus monkeys, and you may hear their guttural calls before you see them. Giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck, bushbuck, duiker, baboon, hippo and elephant live here as well, and leopard are here but rarely seen. More than 450 bird species have been recorded, and the track around the Momella Lakes can bring you close to lesser and greater flamingos.

Ngurdoto Crater

At the lower end of the park is Ngurdoto, a small, complete volcanic crater. A track follows the rim, with look-out points over the swamp and grassy glades below, where you may spot buffalo, warthog and now and then an elephant. Guided hikes run here too.

What you can do

Game drives run all year. Walks go with an armed ranger and are arranged at the park gates. Canoeing on Small Momella Lake and horseback treks both need arranging in advance. Climbers can take four days over Mount Meru, using the Miriakamba and Saddle huts, with porters and an armed ranger.

Getting there

The park is 30 to 45 minutes by road from Arusha and about an hour and a half from Moshi. Most visitors come in through Ngongongare Gate, near Usa River. It suits the first or last day of a safari, as the air is cooler than in the bigger parks.