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June – October (Dry Season), December – March (Best for clear views of Kilimanjaro)
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City Hotels (Arusha) / Lodges on the Park Border
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4x4 Land Cruiser / Canoe / Walking on foot
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Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
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Professional English-speaking Guide & Armed Park Ranger (for walks)
Destination Overview
Arusha National Park is often overlooked by travelers rushing to the Serengeti, but at Maudie Safaris, we regard it as the most geographically diverse park in the Northern Circuit. Located just 45 minutes from the city, it is a multi-faceted gem that combines the rugged mountaintop of Mount Meru (Tanzania’s second-highest peak), the alkaline Momella Lakes, and the lush Ngurdoto Crater.
It is a park of texture and verticality. Unlike the flat savannahs, here you are looking up at towering cliffs and waterfalls, or looking down into crater floors. It offers a much more intimate experience with nature. While it lacks the large predator density of the Serengeti, it makes up for it with unique species like the acrobatic Black-and-White Colobus Monkey and the highest density of giraffes in Tanzania. It is the perfect “soft landing” into Africa or a calming finale to a long safari.
Preserving the Ecosystem
rusha National Park protects the slopes of Mount Meru, which acts as the critical water tower for the entire city of Arusha and the surrounding agricultural lands. The montane forests here are ancient and fragile.
Maudie Safaris supports ecotourism initiatives that help maintain the buffer zones around the park. Human encroachment and deforestation are significant threats here. By booking a walking safari or a canoe trip, you are directly funding the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) conservation efforts that keep the water sources clean and the forest canopy intact for the primates that call it home.
Highlights
- The Black-and-White Colobus Monkey: This park is the best place in Northern Tanzania to see these stunning primates with their long, flowing white distinct tails, leaping through the canopy.
- Mount Meru: The dramatic backdrop of the park. Even if you aren't climbing to the summit, the lower slopes offer incredible hiking through fig forests.
- Momella Lakes: A collection of seven shallow alkaline lakes. Each lake has a slightly different color due to algae, attracting flocks of Lesser and Greater Flamingos.
- Ngurdoto Crater: Known as "Little Ngorongoro," this swampy crater is a sanctuary for buffalo and warthog, viewable from rim viewpoints.
- Walking Safaris: Unlike most parks where you must stay in the vehicle, Arusha National Park is famous for guided walking safaris, allowing you to get close to giraffes and zebras on foot.
- The Fig Tree Arch: A massive, ancient fig tree that has formed a natural archway large enough for a car to drive through.