Where Safari Meets the Mountain

Arusha National Park is one of northern Tanzania’s most scenic and underrated wildlife destinations. Set beneath Mount Meru, the park combines forest, crater landscapes, open grasslands and the Momella Lakes in a compact area that feels completely different from the Serengeti or Tarangire.

Location: Near Arusha
Best For: Day Trips · Walking Safaris · Scenery · Birdlife · Primates
Recommended Stay: Half Day–1 Day
Safari Style: Game Drives · Walking Safari · Canoeing · Photography

Why Visit Arusha National Park?

Close to Arusha

The park is conveniently located near Arusha, making it an excellent choice for travellers with limited time or those looking for a gentle start or finish to a northern Tanzania safari.

Beautiful Variety

Within a relatively small area, you can experience forest, crater scenery, lakes, open grasslands and mountain views, giving the park a surprisingly rich visual character.

Excellent for Walking Safaris

Arusha National Park is one of the best places in northern Tanzania to add a guided walking safari, allowing you to experience the landscape at a slower and more intimate pace.

Strong Birdlife & Primates

The park is particularly rewarding for birdwatching and primate sightings, including black-and-white colobus monkeys in the forested areas.

Exploring Arusha National Park

Mount Meru

Mount Meru dominates the skyline and gives the park much of its dramatic atmosphere. Its forested slopes and highland scenery create a beautiful backdrop for wildlife viewing.

Ngurdoto Crater

Often compared to a smaller Ngorongoro, Ngurdoto Crater is surrounded by forest and provides striking views into the crater floor below.

Momella Lakes

The Momella Lakes add a completely different character to the park, with changing colours, waterbirds and scenic views across the surrounding highlands.

Wildlife You May See

Giraffe · Buffalo · Zebra · Warthog · Bushbuck · Colobus Monkey · Blue Monkey · Waterbuck

Large predators are less commonly seen here than in parks such as Serengeti or Ngorongoro, but the park is strong for scenery, primates and relaxed wildlife encounters.

Best Time to Visit

June – October

The dry season usually offers comfortable conditions, clearer views and good wildlife viewing.

November – March

Green landscapes, active birdlife and lush forest scenery make this an attractive period.

April – May

The long rains bring very green conditions and fewer visitors, although some activities may be more weather dependent.

Arusha National Park works well year-round, particularly as a flexible day-trip destination.

Things to Do in Arusha National Park

• Game drives

• Guided walking safari

• Canoeing on selected lakes where available

• Birdwatching

• Wildlife photography

• Scenic viewpoints

• Mount Meru trekking connections

• Day trips from Arusha

How Long Should You Stay?

For most travellers, half a day to one full day is enough to experience the park’s main highlights.

It works especially well:

• On arrival day

• Before a longer safari

• After Kilimanjaro

• As a final safari day before departure

Combine Arusha National Park With

Mount Meru
Ideal for travellers interested in trekking or mountain scenery.

Tarangire National Park
A natural continuation into the northern safari circuit.

Kilimanjaro
Works well before or after a mountain climb.

Arusha City
Easy to combine with a relaxed city stay or short cultural experience.