While on a tour in the northern circuit of the Tanzania safari, The Arusha National Park is Popular for the one days trip. This park gives stunning view of the Mountain Meru.
This park is one of the smallest in Tanzania but its home to the ash cones and summit of the mountain Meru, there is also Lake Momela and the Ngurdoto Crater.
The Momela late give visitors are laid back type of game viewing with animals including the Colobus monkeys that keep playing at the canopy of the forested area here.
The hike to the Meru Mountains can also begin here as the national park is at the slopes of this mountain. The trek to the summit of mountain Meru can take about three days.
The hike is quieter compared to the one on Kilimanjaro of course due to the less traffic here. There is an alternative route via the Kilimanjaro Mountain.
The View
The center of the Northern tourism circuit is Arusha and the closed attraction from the city is the Arusha National Park. It’s a small attraction and it can take you just a few hours to explore the wonderful site.
The entrance is shadowed by the beautiful view of the montane forests with Colobus monkeys… Blue monkeys and the colorful Turacos in the canopy. This is the only place on a safari to Tanzania where you can easily see the Black and white Colobus Monkeys.
While you stand in the forests on the slopes of the Meru Mountains, you will catch glimpses of the Ngurdoto Crater which is surrounded by the rocky steep slopes and dotted marsh that are littered with a lot of Buffalos and Warthogs.
There are the Momela lakes that gives the hue of green and blue when you explore further north. The lakes are shallow and this makes them attract a lot of Flamingos.
These lakes being shallow also attract a lot of other water animals like the Waterfowl and the water bucks. There are giraffes in the area, then Zebras and hares among others. .
Unlike most of the attraction in the northern Circuit that are rich with elephants. Here the giants are not a common occurrence. Lions are also not seen here.
Getting there
It’s a short drive of about 40mins from Arusha town to the gate of this national park. It’s about 60km from the Kilimanjaro International Airport to the national park. The park usually is a half day adventure since it’s very small
What to do
Because it has less wildlife, nature walks are common and picnic. You can actually choose to visit this park as you cool off from the tedious hiking of the Kilimanjaro for example. Hiking Mount Meru is a common activity. It takes about 3 to four days with Good acclimatization.
When to go
Usually this National Park can be visited anytime of the year. But it’s advised that one visits during the dry season. The dry season runs from December to February and Mid June to September. One can also choose to visit during the wet months as the rates are low and there is less traffic.
Pricing for the Full-Day Arusha National Park Safari (Per Person)
| 1 Person | 2 Persons | 3 Persons | 4 Persons | 5 Persons and more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 420 USD | 330 USD | 310 USD | 280 USD | 260 USD |
Included Services
- English-speaking safari guide
- National park ranger
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- All national park fees
- Lunch box
- Bottled water
- All mentioned activities according to the itinerary
Child Discount and Payment Policy
- This is a private trip; only your selected group will travel.
- Children discounts:
- 1 child under 5 years – 100% discount
- Additional children under 5 years – 50% discount
- Children aged 5–12 years – 50% discount
- Children with 100% discount are not counted in the group total.
- Discounts apply to a maximum of 2 children per private trip. More children? Contact us for a custom offer.
- Payment accepted in USD or Tanzanian Shillings (TZS) on the day of the tour.
- Note: USD notes printed in 2006 or earlier are not accepted.
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