Arusha National Park is situated at the base of Mount Meru; this park is dominated by alpine vegetation, acacia woodlands, open savanna, and rainforest. Within this national park, an open plains nicknamed “Serengeti Ndogo,” meaning Small Serengeti, up to 500 African buffaloes call it their home. Two water sources live in this park: the Jekukumia River on the west side of the park and the alkaline Lake Momella. Arusha National Park is one of the best places to visit annually. It is 25 kilometers from Arusha town, 58 km from Moshi town, and 35 kilometers from Kilimanjaro International Airport. The birdlife here is no exception; also, this park accommodates notable bird species that can’t be found elsewhere in Tanzania, such as the Narina trogon and bar-tailed trogon.
Are there lions in the Park? No, and this makes the park a favorable area for walking safaris, where an armed ranger escorts you; the chance of coming closer to animals like zebras, buffaloes, waterbuck, and other beautiful animals is enormous. World’s largest population of giraffes is believed to be in the Park.
The second highest mountain in Tanzania is located inside the Arusha National Park, Mount Meru, with a height of 4,566m (14,990 feet), which can be climbed within five or three days. Some of the activities that can be done inside this park are Arusha National Park Safari Horse riding, which can cost around 190$ and last for about 5 hours, and a Canoeing tour, which should be booked through a reputable safari organizer in Arusha like East Africa Safari Guides company, Cycling Safari tours in Arusha National Park is also the best way of exploring this area.
A Safari itinerary to Arusha National Park can be combined with Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Chemka Hot Spring. Can I go camping in Arusha Park? There are a few designated public campsites inside the park, such as Ngongongare Spring Nasula and the Seasonal campsite of Itikoni. Tanzania National Park Authority also offers some good facilities inside the park called Rest House; these houses comprise three rooms with two beds each; cooking and kitchen utensils are provided by the park; however, this needs to be booked in advance. Also, there are privately owned lodges such as Hatari Lodge and Momella Wildlife Lodges.
