Tanzania · Northern Circuit

Arusha National Park

Tanzania's most accessible yet overlooked gem — a compact wilderness at the foot of Mount Meru offering extraordinary diversity within a single day's drive from Arusha city.

Park Area
552 km²
Established 1967
Mount Meru Summit
4,566 m
Africa's 5th highest peak
From Arusha City
~25 km
Approx. 45 minutes drive

Park Overview

One of Tanzania's smallest yet most diverse parks, encompassing the summit of Mount Meru, the lush Ngurdoto Crater, the emerald Momella Lakes, and montane forest teeming with colobus monkeys. Unlike the vast Serengeti, its intimacy makes it ideal for walking safaris and canoe excursions.

Local insight: The only park in northern Tanzania offering walking safaris — track animals on foot with an armed ranger, an experience unavailable in the Serengeti or Ngorongoro.

Best Time to Visit

Open year-round; conditions vary significantly by season.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Peak / Dry Good / Shoulder Wet / Green

June–September delivers the clearest skies for Meru and Kilimanjaro views, and drier conditions make wildlife far easier to spot.

Wildlife

No lions or elephants — but a remarkable diversity thrives here year-round.

Cape Buffalo
Giraffe
Zebra
Hippo
Warthog
Waterbuck
Colobus Monkey
Blue Monkey
Leopard
Spotted Hyena

Birdlife

Over 400 recorded species — a birdwatcher's paradise in compact form.

  • Flamingos — seasonal flocks at Momella Lakes, two species side by side
  • Pelicans at the alkaline shorelines
  • African Fish Eagle and Grey-crowned Crane
  • Hartlaub's Turaco and Bar-tailed Trogon in montane forest
  • Over 50 raptor species including Augur Buzzard

Different alkalinity levels across the Momella Lakes attract different flamingo species simultaneously.

Mount Meru Trek

A 4-day ascent through distinct ecological zones to the summit ash cone.

  • Day 1: Momella Gate → Miriakamba Hut (2,514 m)
  • Day 2: Miriakamba → Saddle Hut (3,570 m)
  • Day 3: Summit push (4,566 m), then descend to Saddle Hut
  • Day 4: Descent back to Momella Gate

Armed ranger escort is mandatory. An ideal acclimatisation route before tackling Kilimanjaro.

Key Zones & Landscapes

Extraordinary habitat diversity packed into a compact, accessible park.

Ngurdoto Crater
The "Little Ngorongoro" — a collapsed volcano whose swampy, wildlife-rich floor may only be viewed from the rim, never entered.
Momella Lakes
Seven shallow alkaline lakes famous for flamingo flocks, waterfowl, and breathtaking Meru reflections at dawn.
Montane Forest
Dense, moss-draped rainforest on Meru's lower slopes; home to colobus and blue monkeys year-round.
Jekukumia River
Scenic valley corridor ideal for walking safaris, with riparian vegetation and excellent primate sightings.

Activities

  • Game drives — morning and afternoon circuits around Momella and Ngurdoto
  • Walking safaris — the only park in northern Tanzania to permit them; armed ranger required
  • Canoeing — guided paddles on Momella Lakes for close-up wildlife encounters
  • Mount Meru trekking — 4-day ascent of Africa's 5th highest peak
  • Night game drives — spot bushbaby, porcupine, and other nocturnal species
  • Birdwatching — self-guided or escorted routes across all habitat zones
  • Photography safaris — unrivalled backdrops with Meru or Kilimanjaro on the horizon

Climate

  • Dry (Jun–Sep): 15–25°C, clear skies
  • Short rains (Nov): brief afternoon showers
  • Long rains (Mar–May): heavy; lush and green
  • Summit can drop below 0°C overnight, any month

Accommodation

  • Momella Wildlife Lodge — classic lodge with Meru views
  • Hatari Lodge — luxury former film-set property
  • TANAPA rest houses and bandas inside the park
  • Day trips from Arusha city lodges also feasible

Park Fees

  • Non-resident adult: USD 45 / day
  • Non-resident child: USD 10 / day
  • Mount Meru trek fees are additional
  • Ranger escort fees for walking safaris apply

Practical Tips

  • Pairs naturally with Kilimanjaro or Ngorongoro on a northern circuit
  • Best pre-Kilimanjaro acclimatisation hike in the region
  • Bring warm layers — altitude makes mornings cold
  • Binoculars essential at the lakeshores

Why Visit Arusha National Park?

Unique Accessibility

Only 25 km from Arusha — ideal as a standalone day trip or the opening chapter of a northern Tanzania circuit.

Diverse Ecosystems

Crater lakes, rainforest, open grassland, and a towering volcano all within 552 km² — more variety per square kilometre than almost anywhere in Tanzania.

Uncrowded & Intimate

Far fewer visitors than the Serengeti or Ngorongoro, meaning you often share the lakeshores and forest trails with no one else.

Year-Round Primates

Black-and-white colobus and blue monkeys are permanent residents of the montane forest, reliable in every season.