Park at a glance
This beautiful Park has often been called a "little gem" and rightly so. It is only ½ an hour by tarmac road from Arusha town, the safari center of Northern Tanzania. With mountains, valleys, lakes, and small plains clothed in green, it has a wonderful feeling of peace and solitude. It is dominated by Mount Meru, which at 4,566 m (14,980 ft) is the 5rd highest free standing mountain in Africa. This second highest mountain in Tanzania offers unforgettable experience and serves as acclimatization refuge before climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
Activities
Arusha
National Park is the Park of multi activities. These activities include game
drives, short walking safari, long walking safaris, canoeing, mountain
climbing, horse riding (HR) and Cycling.
Mountain
hiking
This is a 2 night
3 day adventure using the mountain huts Miriakamba and Saddle huts. This has to
be prearranged at the Momella Gate requiring porters and an armed ranger
escort. The hike traverses several vegetation zones including beautiful montane
forests. Expect to see wildlife en route including buffalo, giraffe, monkeys,
baboons, antelope and lots of birds.
Walking
Safari
Arusha National
Park is a great place for walking, and a place where one can enjoy natural
forests in comfort because of the cool climate. Hiking has to be arranged at
one of the 2 Gates. A fee is payable and any walk has to be accompanied by an
armed ranger.
Canoeing
Canoeing is
possible by prior arrangement on Small Momella Lake, with buffalo, giraffe,
bushbuck, water buck and hippo often seen. Wading and water birds are of course
common.
Horseback riding
Horseback trails have been established
and can be combined with overnight stays in camps within the Park (but not with
the horses).
Game
drive
Game drives are
possible on a well maintained network of roads and tracks. Tourists can get
have a day game drive from Arusha Town.
Bird watching
The Park has more than 450 bird species
including both resident and migratory. At Small Momella and Longil lakes, both
water and non-water birds can be easily sighted.