Arusha National Park is a jewel of varied ecosystems and spectacular views of Mount Meru, the region's namesake crater. A great day trip from Arusha, before embarking on the main safari circuit, this small national park offers a quiet and tranquil space to enjoy the richness of Tanzanian wildlife. At a relaxed pace, you can take your time to look up into the treetops and watch the acrobatics of rare black and white colobus monkeys, as well as playful blue monkeys, and the dazzling colours of trogons and turacos.
If a three-day climb of Mount Meru is not your thing, you can enjoy a relaxing exploration of its lower slopes, along trails that wind around crystal-clear mountain streams and attractive waterfalls. The tranquil greens and blues of the Momela Lakes often provide a backdrop for thousands of flamingos and a variety of migratory waterbirds, and giraffe and zebra graze on the grassy hills. There may be no lions and elephants are rare, but you may be lucky enough to see some leopards and spotted hyenas during the morning and afternoon.
The slopes, summit and cinder cone of Mount Meru dominate this small park, as do the lush forests of centuries-old fig trees in the highlands. When the clouds clear on the eastern horizon, you can even catch a glimpse of the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro.
Area: 552 km2.
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