Situated in Northern Tanzania, Arusha National Park covers an area of 552 square kilometres and with just a 40-minute drive; it is the closest park from Arusha. The Park covers Mount Meru, a prominent dormant volcano with a height of 4,562.13m; it is the fifth highest mountain in Africa and second highest peak in Tanzania after Mount Kilimanjaro. The Park has a wide range of habitats, from crater lakes where many birds can be watched, through the montane forest and upto the summit of Mount Meru.
Despite it’s small size, Arusha National Park has a rich variety of wildlife including: Lions, Cape Buffalo, Giraffe, Zebra, Warthog and Elephant. Leopards are present but rarely seen.
The Park is small but varied with spectacular landscapes in three distinct areas, the Meru Crater in the west, the Ngurdoto Crater in the South-east and the shallow alkaline Momella lakes in the north-east.
Best time to visit:
June to February – For climbing Mount Meru
December to February – For best views of Kilimanjaro
