This beautiful Park has often been called a little gem, and rightly so. It is only ½ an hour by tarmac road from Arusha town, the safari center of northern Tanzania. With mountains, valleys, lakes, and small plains clothed in green, it has a wonderful feeling of peace and solitude. It is dominated by Mount Meru, which at 4,566 m (14,980 ft) is the 3rd highest free-standing mountain in Africa.
This is a smaller national park found in the northern part of Tanzania, south of Kenya, just outside Arusha Town. This national park has an area of 137 square kilometers (53 square miles), making it to be among the small national parks not only in Tanzania but in the whole of Africa. Some people consider this national park as a sister of the Kilimanjaro national park, which is just east of Arusha National Park, though some visitors can visit both national parks, mostly the mountain hikers.
Although the national park is smaller, the standards are diverse. There are three main unique areas within the park: the Meru crater, located in the western part of the park, which provides runoff into the Jekukumai River. Ngurdoto Crater is located in the southern part of the area, which features a rich grassland ecosystem. The northeast part of the park gives way to Momella lakes, which are a haven for birds that come to take advantage of the algae in the lakes.
The surrounding forest is a base and a home for varied wildlife and an abundance of birds. The park recorded over 400 different bird species, making it a bird-watching place. Other animals include buffalo, bushbuck, eland, warthogs, zebras, elephants, and the park has leopards, though not very easy to find.
Attractions
Mountain Meru:
This is a magnificent feature found in this national park. It lies in the east of the Great Rift Valley. Mountain Meru is a volcanic mountain, and it’s an active one with the highest peak at over 4566 meters above sea level, and that makes it the second tallest mountain in the whole of Tanzania with a base of 20kilometers. This is said to be the tallest mountain in Tanzania, though, because of the mass wasting, some of its parts were broken off a long time back, forming a caldera. This mountain is said to have last erupted in 1910, and by now it’s very helpful for tourism activities such as mountain hiking, magnificent scenery, and a rewarding experience involving a dramatic walk along the knife-edge of the crater rim.
Birds
This national park is said to have recorded over400 different bird species within this national park and some of the common bird species recorded and easily seen include, the flamingo birds, African fish eagle, African olive pigeon, bar tailed- trogon, great crested grebe, bronzy sunbirds, Egyptian goose, pelicans, bronzy sunbirds, pied avaced, red crested Oxpeckers, great headed bush shrikes, red fronted parrot, scaly francolin, silvery-cheeked hornbill, Southern pochard, tawny eagle, and the most common birds are the flamingo birds because many of them have spread all over river Momela
Momela lakes
This is also one of the most significant attractions found at this national park, having seven different alkaline lakes formed as a result of volcanic debris, which resulted from such a huge eruption that happened about 250000years back. This place is a great part of Tanzania's birding safari as they habituate most of the bird species in this park
The fig tree. Fig tree arch in Arusha nation al park is an arch-shaped tree with an arch large enough for a tree or an elephant to pass through. The fig tree is a spectacular photo-taking point in this national park, offering many angles for amazing pictures, such as standing under it or with your head out of your safari vehicle while under it. These fig trees grew from the parasitic tree dropped by foraging birds, and it visited while on a Tanzania hiking safari to the Tululusia waterfalls.
There are other attractions like the Ngurudoto museum, Tulusia Hill, and Ujambo Wa Mbogo.
Activities taking place at this national park
There are many activities the visitors can engage in on their safari at Arusha National Park
Mountain climbing
Because mountain Meru is the second highest national park in Tanzania, this activity is so supportive. It’s the fifth mountain in the whole of Africa, making the mountain hiking so interesting. With a height of 4566 meters above sea level. It’s said that mountain Meru was much higher that the todays appearance, though some parts are said to have been broken down due to age and mass wasting. Hiking to the top of this mountain may take up to 2- 3 hours to fully reach the summit of the park. During the activity, a lot of wild animal, birds, and a fascinating scene is observed in this fantastic adventure.
Canoeing
Arusha National Park is one of the most protected canoe rides you can ever think of. The activity is done in smaller Momella lakes with the help of a well-trained and experienced guide who will be paddling along the lake. During the activity, visitors will enjoy the peaceful and quiet ride, and you will be able to spot different animals like hippos in the water, bushbucks, waterbucks, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, among others, on the lake shores. Water birds like the flamingo, ducks, and fish eagles are seen, and great pictures are taken.
Guided nature walks.
This is an adventurous activity done at this national park that allows the visitor to explore the park on foot. The Arusha National Park has fewer danger animal, thus making the activity smooth. During the walk, you will pass below the mountain trail, Ngurdoto, Crater, Kitoto to Njeku viewpoint, Momela gate, then to Ikokoni, Tululusia waterfall, and then Ujambo wa mbogo area. During the hike, a lot of birds and animals are seen along the way.
Bird watching.
Bird watching: Arusha National Park is home to over 400 bird species, including endemic and near-endemic species, which makes it one of the best birding destinations in Tanzania. Birding in the park is best carried out on the alkaline Momella lakes and forests, where birders will have incredible views of different bird species such as Verreaux’s eagle, augur buzzard, greater flamingos, little grebes, secretary birds and many others in the way. During the activity, another activity is also taking place, like visiting the lakes of Momella
Game drives
Many animal species are seen during the drive. You will follow different tracks in open savannah grasslands such as Serengeti Ndogo, where you will be able to spot animals like dik-dik, zebras, reedbucks, giraffes, bush pigs, red duikers waterbucks, primates are also may in this place
There are other activities like horseback riding and many others
Accommodation facilities within the national park
Some of the accommodation facilities within the national park include mid-range, luxury, and budget accommodation. And some of the known accommodation facilities include Fun Retreat Resort hotel, Arumeru River Lodge, Mvuli hotel Arusha, Green Hotel Mountain, Mrimba Palm Hotel, Boulevard Inn Mt Meru, Le Jacaranda hotel, and many others, making it the best place for making you visit.