Arusha National Park

Expert Reviews (10)

199 Arusha NP Safaris

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Expert

Tim Bewer –

Visited: October

Tim is a travel writer who has covered 10 African countries for Lonely Planet's Africa, East Africa and West Africa guidebooks.

Not ideal for everybody

Overall rating

2/5

Wildlife:

Bush Vibe:

Scenery:

Birding:

Just 25km outside Arusha city, this tiny but beautiful national park is home to 4566m Mt Meru, whose spectacular crater creates a climb more beautiful than nearby Kilimanjaro. Most standard safaris skip it since the wildlife is less abundant and less varied than other national parks, and many of the most thrilling species are either hard to spot (elephant, leopard) or don’t live here (lions, cheetahs, rhinos). Zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, and hippos are pretty common. Despite having no chance for a wildlife extravaganza, there are several factors that make it worth considering – especially for repeat safariers looking for something new. The main one is the chance to do a half-day canoe safari on the lovely Momella Lakes, home to flamingos and overall one of the best wildlife spotting areas in the park. Walking safaris are also allowed here and because there is plenty of forest the birdwatching is excellent. It’s also home to black-and-white colobus, which are quite easy to find.

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