Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park is located in the East African country of Tanzania. Situated near the border of Kenya in Tanzania’s northeast corner, the park is less than an hour’s drive from Arusha, one of Tanzania’s most popular cities and tourist destinations. 

How Big is Arusha National Park?

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that good things come in small packages. Well, this couldn’t be more accurate when describing Arusha National Park. 

This pint-size park is just 53 miles² (137 km²). To put this into comparison, the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya stretches an impressive 583 miles² (1,510 km²), Serengeti National Park measures 5,700 miles² (14,763 km²), and Kruger National Park in South Africa comes in at an extraordinary 7,523 miles² (19,485 km²).

Despite its small stature, Arusha National Park packs in a pretty big punch, offering intrepid travels spectacular scenery, fascinating wildlife, and a slew of activities. Plus, it’s extremely easy to access from the nearby city of Arusha and the Kilimanjaro International Airport. This makes it an excellent addition to Northern Circuit itineraries.

What is So Special About Arusha National Park?

As one of Tanzania’s most accessible national parks, Arusha National Park offers visitors the chance to see some incredible wildlife without having to venture too far off the beaten path. This makes it a great destination for visitors who are short on time but still want to get a small taste of what Tanzania has to offer. 

But what makes the park feel really distinctive is the juxtaposition between the bustling city of Arusha and the untouched natural beauty of the park. Driving away from the city traffic and into the park feels almost like you’re entering a parallel universe, and there’s something truly powerful about the proximity of human and animal habitats.

Gone is the noise and traffic of the city, and into Arusha’s breathtaking scenery. Mount Meru looms above you while the Momella Lakes glisten in the distance. In the nearby swamplands, herbivores of all shapes and sizes can be seen lazily grazing, from herds of buffalos to elegant giraffes, families of warthogs to zebras. 

Arusha’s diverse landscapes attract a rich array of birds and mammals, some of which are found nowhere else in Tanzania. The park is home to both Colobus and Blue Monkeys; in fact, this is one of the best places in Africa to spot these rare primates!

Best of all? Arusha offers walking safaris that allow you to get a close-up look at these, and many other, animals. This is one of the few national parks in East Africa where you can enjoy a walking safari so definitely jump on the opportunity – this makes visiting Arusha a unique experience!

Mount Meru 

At the heart of Arusha National Park is the epic Mount Meru, a massive stratovolcano standing at an impressive 4,566 metres. Meru is the second-highest mountain in Tanzania, after Mount Kilimanjaro, and the fifth-highest mountain in Africa. 

Located just 43 miles (70 km) from Mount Kilimanjaro, it is believed that Meru was once the highest mountain in Africa. However, Mount Meru experienced a major eruption millions of years ago that blew the top off of the volcano. What was left of its summit then collapsed around 7,800 years ago, giving it a distinctive horseshoe shape. While it’s still considered an active volcano, its last minor eruption occurred way back in 1910.

Today, Mount Meru is a popular place for hiking. Due to its dominating height, it provides a great acclimatisation climb for anyone hoping to tackle Kilimanjaro. It’s also a great alternative for anyone hoping to get a bird’s eye view of the savannah without climbing Kili itself.

The Momella Lakes in Arusha National Park

The Momella Lakes are a group of seven shallow alkaline lakes within Arusha National Park. As the lakes get their water from rainfall and underground streams, they all have different algae and mineral compositions, resulting in an incredible array of wildlife. 

Although no animals can drink from the Momella Lakes due to their high alkaline content, they are a wonderful spot for wildlife spotting. Visitors can hope to see hippos, zebras, and water birds, including vast flocks of flamingos.

While many game drives visit areas around the lakes, one of the best ways to explore the Momella Lakes is on a canoe safari. These water-based safaris let you get a close-up view of the lakes and their inhabitants as you slowly bob up and down in the calm water.

Animals in Arusha National Park 

Arusha National Park boasts Tanzania’s largest population of giraffes. It’s also home to buffaloes, warthogs, zebras, elephants, leopards, bushbucks, hippos, and assorted primates. In addition, the park has a stunning array of bird species, such as flamingos, grey-crowned cranes, and the African fish eagle.

Wildlife Conservation in Arusha National Park

Like much of Africa, the area surrounding Arusha National Park suffered dearly during the heyday of poaching. 

Fortunately, the days of mass hunting seem to be gone and wildlife conservation has been a major focal point at Arusha National Park for over a century. Since the area officially became a national park in 1960, the park authorities have created anti-poaching patrols, restored and protected black and white colobus monkey populations, and reintroduced giraffes back into the park. 

To prevent future degradation of the environment, Arusha National Park works to promote education, economic development, and sustainable tourism in local communities, while preventing deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices. 

The park has also set up vigorous projects to research and monitor the park’s flora and fauna and to restore the destroyed habitats.

Weather & Climate Arusha National Park 

Although many East African national parks can get scorching hot, Arusha National Park has a very mild climate due to its higher altitude. The dry season lasts from June to September while the rainy seasons run from March to May and then again from November to December.

During the dry season, the temperature usually hovers around a very pleasant 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit) and you can expect lots of clear skies and sunny weather. At night, the temperature drops to around 9 degrees Celsius (48 degrees Fahrenheit), which, in my humble opinion, is the perfect weather to snuggle up under a cosy blanket as you drift off to sleep!

It gets a bit warmer during the rainy season when the temperature reaches around 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and around 11 degrees Celsius (52 degrees Fahrenheit) at night.

November and December normally have short rains in the middle of the afternoon. March to May are the wettest months and it’s likely to rain every day. Don’t give up in defeat if this is the only time that you can visit the park; it rarely rains all day long and the weather patterns often bring unique animals with them! 

How Many Days Should I Spend in Arusha National Park?

Since Arusha National Park is very easily accessible from the city of Arusha and is pretty small in size, it’s easy to see the main attractions and even squeeze in a few activities within a day.

You can even see much of the park within a half day if you’re pressed for time (for example, if you’re only staying in Arusha for one night before or after a flight). However, this may feel a little too rushed for most people and so I’d recommend allocating one full day to exploring the park.

If you are planning on climbing Mount Meru, allow for an additional three to four days.

Best Lunch Spots in Arusha National Park

I’m sure that a morning of exploration is going to leave you feeling a little hungry! Ideally, you’ll have a picnic lunch with you so that you can dine al fresco at one of the picnic spots located within the park.

There are two key picnic sites, one by each of the park gates.

To the south of Arusha National Park is Ngongongare Gate which is the main gate to Arusha National Park when arriving from the city. There is a small picnic area with a couple of picnic benches not far from the restrooms at this gate.

The most popular picnic site however is by Momela Gate in the north of the park. There are a few more benches here. It’s popular to stop here for lunch after a morning walk to Tululusia Waterfall and back. Keep your eyes peeled for cheeky baboons and Skye’s blue monkeys who are often enticed to the picnic area by the tantalising smell of lunch.

What city is closest to Arusha National Park?

Arusha is the closest city to Arusha National Park. Besides offering a wide variety of amenities and services, it also has northern Tanzania’s only international airport: Kilimanjaro International Airport. 

Where do you fly to get to Arusha National Park?

Arusha’s international airport is known as Kilimanjaro International Airport. This airport welcomes domestic and international flights. An hour away from the international airport, Arusha Airport only handles a handful of infrequent domestic flights so chances are high that you’ll be flying into Kilimanjaro, but make sure that you double-check this when making travel arrangements. 

Kilimanjaro International Airport is roughly a 45-minute drive from Arusha City and about an hour and a half from Arusha National Park. It’s possible to get a taxi or hire a rental car at the airport. If you are on a tour, your tour guide will likely meet you at the airport and provide transport to your accommodation.

Is Kilimanjaro Close to Arusha National Park?

Yes! Kilimanjaro International Airport is the closest international airport to Arusha National Park. From there, you can take a taxi or shuttle to Arusha city in 45 minutes. 

Alternatively, you can hire a rental car and drive directly to Arusha National Park. The total drive time will be around 90 minutes.