Arusha National Park

Mount Meru, the Momella Lakes, the Ngurdoto Crater and mountain forest full of black-and-white colobus monkeys, less than an hour from Arusha. It is the place to walk on safari, canoe or climb.

At a glance

Size: About 550 km²
Getting there: Under an hour by road from Arusha
Best for: Walking safaris, canoeing, climbing Mount Meru, a first or last day
Best time: All year; June to February is driest for Mount Meru

Why go

Arusha National Park is small but varied. On a single day you can watch giraffe and buffalo on open glades, look into the forested Ngurdoto Crater, see flamingos on the Momella Lakes and walk in the forest with an armed ranger. Mount Meru, at 4,566 m Tanzania’s second-highest mountain, rises above it all, and climbing it is a superb trek in its own right or a way to acclimatise before Kilimanjaro.

There are few big cats, so it is not a Big Five park, but it is one of the best places in the north to get out of the vehicle.

Highlights

Walking safaris with an armed park ranger
Canoeing on the Small Momella Lake (when available)
Black-and-white colobus monkeys in the forest
The Ngurdoto Crater viewpoints
Climbing Mount Meru

Adventure That Gives Back

The conservation story

The forests on Mount Meru catch the rain that feeds the rivers and springs around Arusha, so protecting them matters to the people of the city as well as to the wildlife. Walking safaris and climbs here are led by park rangers, which means your visit directly supports the people whose job is to protect the park.

How your visit helps. The park and conservation fees in your trip price go to the authority that protects this place, paying for rangers, anti-poaching patrols and park upkeep. We hire local guides and staff and use locally owned suppliers wherever we can.

How our safaris give back →

Trips that visit Arusha National Park

Every trip is private and can be changed to suit you.

From US$1,600 per person

Private trip

6 daysDiscover more

Price on request

Private trip

3 daysDiscover more

When to go

The park can be visited all year as a day trip. For a Mount Meru climb, the drier months from June to February are best; the long rains in April and May make the trails wet and views less likely.

Where to stay

We choose your lodges and camps to suit your budget and travel style, from simple tented camps to luxury lodges, and name them in your personal itinerary and quote.

Combine with: Tarangire · Mkomazi · Kilimanjaro & Treks