Arusha National Park

Often overlooked by visitors racing to the Serengeti, Arusha National Park is a hidden treasure that rewards those who take the time to explore it. Set at the foot of Mount Meru, Tanzania’s second-highest peak at 4,566 metres, this intimate park packs an astonishing variety of landscapes and wildlife into a relatively compact area.

The park encompasses three distinct zones: the montane forests of the Meru crater, the Momella Lakes (a chain of seven alkaline lakes each a different colour), and the Ngurdoto Crater — a small but perfect volcanic caldera often called the ‘Little Ngorongoro.’

What makes Arusha National Park truly special is that it is one of the few parks in Northern Tanzania where you can walk. Guided walking safaris through the forest bring you face to face with troops of black-and-white colobus monkeys, elegant giraffes browsing among the acacias, and a breathtaking diversity of birdlife — over 400 species have been recorded here.

Canoeing on the Momella Lakes offers a peaceful alternative to game drives, with flamingos, herons, and kingfishers for company and the snow-capped dome of Kilimanjaro visible on clear mornings. For the adventurous, the three-to-four-day Mount Meru climb is one of East Africa’s most rewarding and least-crowded high-altitude treks.

Just a 45-minute drive from Arusha city, this park is the perfect start or finish to any Northern Tanzania safari — a gentle, beautiful introduction to the wonders that lie ahead.