Arusha National Park Attractions ........

Arusha National Park...
Arusha National Park is situated about 25km east of Arusha and 58km from Moshi. It is considered unique in many ways. Described as one of Africa’s “Gems”, its 137 sq. km contains natural wonders defining normal categorization.
The Ngurdoto Crater is a reserve within a reserve. The Seven Momella Lakes with their shifting Islands and spectacular bird like having a haunting beauty. The towering collapsed cone of Mount Meru adds a new dimension. More than any other park in Tanzania, Arusha National Park offers tranquility. In the Ngurdoto Crater, animals such as elephants, buffalo or warthog may be seen grazing peacefully making it an enclosed natural ZOO.

Lying between the peaks of Kilimanjaro and Meru, this park is an outstandingly beautiful area. The Park has a wide range of habitats, from the string of crater lakes where many water birds can be watched through the highland mountain forest and on up to the imposing summit of Mt. Meru.

This park lies within the Ngurdoto Crater, a volcano that has probably been extinct for a quarter of a million years. Covering 137 sq. km, the terrain ranges from open savannah through acacia scrublands to Afro-Alpine vegetation similar to Mount Kilimanjaro. There are several alkaline lakes and the spectacular Ngurdoto Crater is not to be missed. Mammal Species include elephant, buffalo, various primates, giraffes and leopards. Hiking is allowed if accompanied by an armed guard and the climb up Mount Meru is superb, often giving the best views available of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The Ngurdoto Crater is 20km across and 100mts deep.

Arusha National Park is situated in a densely inhabited part of Tanzania, where demands for land are high, and parts of the park are already bordered by agricultural settlement. Plans to extend the park to include surrounding forest reserves have been formulated to ensure the long-term survival of forest habitats and their associated species within the park.

Unlike Ngurdoto Crater, access to Ngurdoto is prohibited. However, there are spectacular viewing points, which encompasses the whole crater and its surroundings along the crater rim. Arusha National Park contains many animals including Giraffe, Elephant, Hippo, Buffalo, Rhino (if you are lucky), Colobus Monkey, Bushbuck, Red forest Duiker, Waterbuck and Warthog. In fact Arusha is supposed to contain the highest density of Giraffes in the world. There are no lions in the park although you may see Leopard.

The forest contains a wealth of birds and other animals, like the beautiful bushbucks easily glimpsed in the grades between the ancient cedar trees, or the black and white colobus monkeys climbing along their branches. The interesting geology of the area is reflected in the impressive view of the ash cone and cliff face leading to the summit of Mt. Meru.

Everywhere throughout the Park there are chances to observe the natural world on its own pace, to see different animals in their various habitat and absorb something of the serenity of the surroundings. Those who ascend the summit of the mountain will be rewarded with unparalleled views of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro and the Rift Valley