Arusha National Park

arusha national park

Best Time to Visit Tanzania

Tanzania is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit depends on your activities.

For wildlife safaris, the dry seasons from June to October offer excellent game viewing, including the Great Migration in the Serengeti.

January to February is ideal for witnessing the calving season. For Mount Kilimanjaro treks, the best conditions are from January to March and June to October.

Beach lovers visiting Zanzibar will enjoy the dry months of December to February and June to October.

 

Arusha National Park Overview

Located just a short distance from Arusha, the safari hub of northern Tanzania, Arusha National Park is a hidden gem often overlooked by travelers. Despite its proximity to major wildlife destinations, the park offers a surprising variety of habitats, making it a perfect place for a quick yet diverse safari experience.

Upon entering the park, visitors are greeted by the cool shade of montane forests, home to curious blue monkeys and vibrant turacos and trogons. It is one of the only places on the northern safari circuit where the acrobatic black-and-white colobus monkey can be seen with ease. At the heart of the forest lies the stunning Ngurdoto Crater, surrounded by steep cliffs and a broad marshy floor where buffalo and warthogs roam freely.

To the north, the Momela Lakes, surrounded by rolling green hills, offer a tranquil and scenic beauty. Each lake features a different shade of green or blue, with their shallows sometimes tinged pink by thousands of flamingos. The lakes support a rich diversity of resident and migratory waterfowl, and waterbucks with lyre-shaped horns can often be seen grazing at the water’s edge. Giraffes move gracefully across the grassy plains, sharing the landscape with zebra herds, while dik-diks, with their wide eyes, dart through the brush.

Although elephants are rare in the park and lions are absent, leopards and spotted hyenas may be spotted in the early morning or late afternoon. During dawn and dusk, the clouds often clear to reveal the snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro, just 50 kilometers (30 miles) away. However, the park’s most dominant feature is Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth highest peak at 4,566 meters (14,990 feet), which offers a stunning backdrop. Meru not only offers fantastic views of Kilimanjaro but is also a fantastic hiking destination in its own right.

Climbing Mount Meru, visitors pass through wooded savannahs where giraffes and buffalo are commonly seen, before reaching forests filled with red-hot pokers and Spanish moss. Higher up, the landscape transitions to alpine heath and desert, home to giant lobelias and delicate klipspringers. At the summit, the breathtaking view of Mount Kilimanjaro is unveiled in the early morning light.

About Arusha National Park

  • Size: 552 square kilometers (212 square miles)
  • Location: Northern Tanzania, northeast of Arusha town.

Getting There

Arusha National Park is just a 40-minute drive from Arusha, approximately 60 kilometers (35 miles) from Kilimanjaro International Airport. The park’s lakes, forests, and Ngurdoto Crater can all be visited in a half-day, making it an excellent addition to a longer safari.

What to Do

  • Forest Walks: Explore the park’s diverse habitats on foot.
  • Mountain Climbing: A three- or four-day hike to the summit of Mount Meru, a great acclimatization option for Kilimanjaro.
  • Picnics: Enjoy meals at numerous scenic picnic sites.

When to Visit

  • To Climb Mount Meru: June to February, though rainfall may occur in November.
  • Best Views of Kilimanjaro: December to February.

Accommodation

  • Inside the park: Two lodges, two rest houses, campsites, and two mountain huts.
  • Outside the park: Additional accommodations at Usa River and a wide range of hotels and hostels in Arusha.

How to Get a Tanzania Visa

Obtaining a Tanzania visa is simple and convenient. You can apply online via the Tanzania eVisa Portal, at a Tanzanian embassy, or on arrival at major entry points such as airports and border crossings.

Requirements typically include a valid passport with at least six months’ validity, a completed application form, and payment of the visa fee.

A single-entry tourist visa costs $50 for most nationalities, while US citizens pay $100 for a multiple-entry visa.

The eVisa process usually takes about 10 business days for approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

The park is just a 40-minute drive from Arusha, and it is located about 60 kilometers (35 miles) from Kilimanjaro International Airport. It’s also easy to incorporate into a longer northern Tanzania safari.

You can enjoy forest walks, game drives, picnicking, and hiking to Mount Meru. For those seeking a more challenging adventure, a three- or four-day climb up Mount Meru is a great option.

 

To climb Mount Meru, the best time is from June to February. For the best views of Kilimanjaro, visit between December and February

Yes, Mount Meru offers a rewarding climbing experience. The hike usually takes three to four days and is an excellent way to acclimatize for those planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

 

? Yes, there are two lodges, two rest houses, campsites, and two mountain huts within the park. Additional lodgings are available in Usa River and in Arusha town.

 

Arusha is home to a variety of animals including buffalo, giraffes, zebras, dik-diks, waterbucks, and flamingos. While elephants and lions are rare, leopards and hyenas are often spotted at dawn or dusk.

You can visit the park for a half-day outing, as it offers a compact yet diverse range of habitats and activities. However, if you’re climbing Mount Meru, you will need several days for the hike.

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