Arusha National Park: Discover Serengeti in the Miniature 

The venerated wilderness of Arusha National Park is a hidden gem in the remote part of northern Tanzania in the Districts of Meru and Arusha. This National Park is a great destination for visitors looking for Tanzania safari experiences like Big Five Safaris (witnessing lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, and rhinos), Tanzania wildlife safaris, and bird watching safaris in Tanzania. Much of Arusha National Park is covered by the high-towering Mountain Meru at a staggering 4566 meters above sea level – a prominent volcanic mountain and a highly attractive feature to explore in Tanzania. Arusha National Park is a wildlife watcher’s paradise teeming with different wildlife species all year round. The wildlife in the park roam its diverse habitat like the savannah grasslands where the mammal grazers like zebras, buffalos, wildebeests, gazelles, cape buffalo, and various antelopes can be spotted.

Arusha National Park offers unforgettable Tanzanian safaris and African safari experiences to visitors, blending birding safaris with Big Five Safaris in Tanzania.

Wildlife is not the only wilderness attraction in Arusha National Park, the beauty of the park extends to other geographical and human aspects surrounding much of the region around Mountain Meru. The volcanic activity in the area around Arusha National Park has led to the formation of stunning features like Ngurdoto Crater, one of the most prominent features to tour during safaris here.  The human aspects like cultures of the local people have significantly boosted the Tanzanian Safari activities with culture being included on the Tanzania Safari itinerary to the Arusha region.

 

Arusha National Park History: Establishment & Management

Arusha National Park was set up in Northern Tanzania in areas which were inhibited by the Rwa people who lived a traditional lifestyle before the colonial rule. German rulers had control in the region, which led to the establishment of the park. The Momella area, which is one of the a major destination in Arusha National Park was visited by early explorers from Hungary who were led by Count Teleki and were astonished by the large numbers of Hippopotami and black rhinos in the area.

There were also visitations made by other prominent people from all over the world, like the Trappe Family, which came from England in 1907 when the British occupied Tanganyika, modern-day Tanzania, and they did livestock farming around Momella. The first portion of the Momella area was donated by Mrs. Trappe, who was the first female professional hunter, and it was used to gazette a game reserve in the area. The part from Momella was added to the Arusha National Park when it was established in 1960, and it has since managed to attract a good number of visitors annually.

After its establishment in 1960, Arusha National Park was initially called Ngurdoto Crater National Park, which was named after the Ngurdoto Crater, a key attraction of the park. In 1967, strategic expansion plans were made which added Mountain Meru to be part of Arusha National Park, and its name changed from Ngurdoto Crater National Park to Arusha National Park. Arusha was a name that came from the Waashura people of Tanzania, who were among the tribes that occupied the area before.

 

What To Do While In Arusha National Park: Arusha National Park Attractions, Activities, & Experiences

Arusha National Park gives visitors epic safari adventures that make them enjoy their Tanzania Safari.

Wildlife Viewing In Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park is one of the best places in Tanzania to visit for wildlife viewing safaris. The National Park boasts a large number of wildlife all year round, including the famous African Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant). Although it does not rival Tanzania’s premier wildlife viewing destinations like the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha National Park has a healthy population of wildlife species on top of the African Big Five. During Game drives in the park, expect to encounter giraffes, warthogs, hippos, bushbucks, spotted hyenas, red duikers, black and white colobus monkeys, and the blue monkeys among others.

Wildlife safaris in Arusha National Park are possible all year round and can be conducted on game drives. Discover some of Africa’s iconic wildlife species on your Tanzania safari holiday/Tanzania Vacation – visit Arusha National Park.

 

Birds of Arusha National Park     

Birders doing birding safaris in Tanzania love visiting this Park because of the inexhaustible list of birds that one can see in this iconic national park. Many birds call this place home and their existence has been supported by the diverse habitats in the park. In a short distance or small area, birds such as the flamingos, ostriches, Guinea fowl, Grebes, Turaco species, among others can be spotted by visitors in Arusha National Park. Arusha National Park birds include the migratory and the endemic species which visitors love to watch during a birding expedition in Africa/Bird watching safaris in Tanzania. Birds can be seen during the game drives, and nature walks that bring visitors close to birds in trees.

 

Hiking & climbing Mount Meru

The high-standing Mount Meru is a volcanic mountain located in Arusha National Park and the second highest mountain in Tanzania, rising to 4566 meters above sea level. Mountain Meru is a wonderland in the wilderness with pristine features like a crater that creates a good environment inhabited by wildlife and birds. When exploring Tanzania peaks, Mount Meru is surely a must visit destination.

Hiking is a top bucket list item for many visitors during Tanzania Safaris to Mount Meru and Arusha. Hiking the mountain takes about 3-4 days for climbers to reach the summit of Mount Meru. Animals like buffalo, elephants, monkeys, birds, zebras, and birds are common along the trails. Walking up the mountain exposes visitors to the photogenic nature of the Mountain Meru and the Park.

Exploring the Ngurdoto Crater

This safari destination is famous for its unique beautiful landscapes and features like the Ngurdoto Crater in the heart of the national park. Initially, the park was called Ngurdoto Crater National Park before its name was changed to Arusha National Park in 1960s. Numerous activities can be done in the Ngurdoto Crater of Arusha National Park, the safaris to this natural wonder expose visitors to outstanding landscapes, wildlife, birds, waterfalls like Tululusia waterfalls, Mount Meru Waterfalls, Napuru waterfalls and Cave waterfalls are to mention.  All the adventures in this part are safe and guided by experienced and informative guides, which helps visitors to learn about the uniqueness of Arusha National Park and appreciate its beauty.

Getting to this National Park: How To Get There?

This National Park can be accessed by road, just a few minutes from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

By road, a drive from the town of Arusha takes about 45 minutes for visitors to reach Arusha National Park. The main entrance of the Park is at Momella Gate.

By Air, there two airports where chartered flights can be arranged too. Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam also provides domestic flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha which can be used by visitors. From Arusha, visitors can get onto a 4×4 vehicle and from 45 minutes to Momella Gate to access Arusha National Park.

The Best Time to Visit 

One of the things that makes this Park a perfect safari destination for visitors in Tanzania is its all-year-round safari experience. However, the peak season for safaris in this safari park and in Tanzania as a whole is during the dry season. Tanzania receives two dry seasons, the longer dry season and the shorter dry season. The long dry season is between June and September, and the short dry season lasts between December and February.

During the dry seasons, the park is easy to navigate as all the tracks are dry, the foliage is less, and wildlife sighting is much easier. Wildlife usually concentrate near the water holes during the dry season and thus spotting them is much easier. The weather during the dry season is also just the perfect one for African safaris.

Although the dry seasons are perfect for safaris in Tanzania, visitors can still visit Tanzania during the wet season. Despite it not being the perfect time for wildlife viewing, it is the perfect time for bird watching in Arusha National Park. The wet seasons sees the arrival of migratory bird species from Europe and Asia, adding to the resident birdlife in the park.

Why visit Arusha & Tanzania 

The safaris in the park offer unique wildlife encounters in craters and the high standing Mount Meru. Walking safaris, Birding Safaris and Big Five Viewing Safaris are all unique to Arusha National Park giving visitors a variety of African Adventure experiences on a Tanzania safari Tour.

Hikers have the opportunity to climb the second-highest mountain in Tanzania and see various wildlife and flora whilst preparing to climb the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro while on the trip to Tanzania. Discover Tanzanai with Nircana Safaris, contact us and get your journey customized today.