Arusha National Park

Diverse habitats but not the fantastic spectacle of some of the other Tanzanian parks

Arusha is a great place if you already have experience at the major parts. On the positive side, it isn't crowded with tourists. It has diverse habitats from forests to lakes to savannah to mountains. There are quite a few large mammals, but no predators or elephants. The flamingos around Momella lakes will blow your mind (and are so much closer and easier to enjoy than at Lake Natron, the other famous flamingo destination). It has a lot to offer for serious birders, but doesn't have too many of the spectacular birds that interest casual birders. We only went there self-guided, so I can't comment on going with a guide. There are a couple of great lodges just outside the park, Hatari by the north entrance, and another I can't remember by the south entrance. The park is small enough that you can see most of it in two days (excluding hiking in the forest, which I can't comment about; supposedly climbing Meru is fantastic, and a much different experience than the crowded slog up Kili). The small size makes it manageable, but is probably also the biggest negative and why I said it is good to visit after a major park- Arusha just doesn't have the vast open spaces and throngs of animals of Tarangire, Ngorongoro, or Serengeti.

We went through the park on our journey up to the summit of Mount Meru, soeven though we went through the park we didn't go on safari

A chance to encounter the locals close up.

It was difficult to stop and get out of the car in some parts. At times it felt a little rushed. But the day was perfect. There were some great viewpoints and the views were amazing. We saw lots of wildlife so I felt satisfied on that front.

More dense with vegetation and so harder to see the animals.

The Safari was an amazing African experience

My visit to Arusha National Park was an amazing experience and a great way to start off my trip to Tanzania! My full day safari in Arusha National Park was one of amazing landscapes and views, as well as incredible wildlife! We witnessed many different species of animals from Blue Monkeys and Baboons to giraffes and numerous birds. One of the highlights of the safari was visiting the Momela Lakes where we viewed thousands of pink flamingos. Even though Arusha National Park doesn't have the large cats such as lions and cheetahs, there are many other amazing species to witness while you are there. An amazing national park to visit for sure!

The pouching is a big problem in Arusha National Park and that is the reason why the wildlife is quite shy there
TANAPA need to invest more in the conservation of that beautifull jungle landscape

A small safari to get you started on your Tanzania adventure

My time in Tanzania was to start on the Serengeti, move to Ngorongoro Crater, then to Tarangire, and finish at Arusha National Park. After doing some research I changed that order and reversed it...and I am glad I did.

Arusha National Park is far smaller than the other parks and doesn't have the larger wildlife the other parks have like elphants, hippos, rhinos, etc. What it does have is a thriving flamingo population, baboons, and black and white colobus monkeys. It is a great park to start your journey through Tanzania because it gives you a way to sort of dip your toes into the safari travel without being immersed in it. The roads are dirt, the wildlife is right outside of your car, the views are beautiful but it is a small park and the animals are smaller and less intimidating than other parks.

We stopped for lunch at a picnic grounds and could see baboons around the restroom area maybe 30 feet from us waiting for us to leave so they could scavenge any food we left behind. Impressive animals but at no time did I feel threatened. The lakes were filled with greater and lesser flamingos in the thousands. The Black and White Colobus monkeys played in the trees above our heads in the jungle sections of the park. And the bird species were innumerable.

You will get a feel of a safari vehicle riding on dirt roads, get a bit of jungle, plains, lakes, etc that you will encounter at the larger parks without feeling over-whelmed. But Arusha is simply not as thrilling as the big three. The Serengeti is unmatched, Ngorongoro is unique, and Tarangire provides amazing landscapes as backdrops to the many elephants in the park. The other three are better for seeing the big 5 and most of the animals you came to Tanzania to see, but Arusha is a good way to start your journey...just don't finish it there or you will be disappointed. But when you start there...you get a brief look at the bigger things to come.

A wonderful variety of wildlife and habitats with many opportunities for close encounters!

Arusha national park is only a short drive from Arusha itself and is a great introductory day for your safari trip. Whilst smaller than a lot of the other game reserves you may visit Arusha offers a fantastic range of wildlife and habitats; from rainforest to open grass planes and lakes. If you are interested in birds then Arusha is a paradise of abundance and my personal highlights include a crested eagle, hoopoe, kingfishers (nesting by the road), grey crowned cranes and of course the thousands of flamingo.

In terms of animals there is also a huge range of things you can see in a very beautiful setting. Of particular interest would be the beautiful black and white colobus monkeys that you are unlikely to see elsewhere. You will also see many troops of baboons, giraffe, buffalo as well as a variety of antelope.

Whilst the tour of Arusha is mostly driven, there is the opportunity to take a walking tour, which i think is worth it. You will get closer to some of the wildlife and see more of the beautiful landscape.

All in all it is definately worth a visit to Arusha national park. You will see all of the park in a day so its just a quick trip before you depart for the larger reserves such as Tarangire or the Serengeti,

Beautiful landscape of stunning variety.

Arusha National Park has an incredible diversity of landscape for its small size, ranging from savannah, to soda lakes, forests with craters, and the slope of Mount Meru itself.

Arusha National Park is lusher and has thicker vegetation than the other Parks we visited. However, it has some unique bird species and well as the charismatic black and white Colobus monkey.