Explore Arusha National Park

The national park is one of the most fascinating and topographically varied protected areas in Tanzania. Mt. Meru, a prominent volcano with an elevation of 4562 metres dominates the park with an almost ideal volcanic cone crowning the spectacular crater. The park is home to Ngurdoto crater – often dubbed little Ngorongoro, with its swamp-brimmed floor and lost-world feel.   

 

The park alone boasts the world’s biggest population of giraffes. Common animals include giraffe, cape buffalo, zebra, warthog, the black-and-white colobus monkey, the blue monkey, flamingo, elephant, lion and many other African animals. Leopard populations are present but rarely seen.

 

Birdlife in the forest is prolific with many species more easily seen here than elsewhere on the tourist route. Narina trogon and bar-tailed trogon are both possible highlights for visiting bird lovers.

Things to do

Climbing Mount Meru

Mount Meru was formed around 250,000 years ago by a major volcanic eruption that left behind a horseshoe-shaped crater. It’s famous for its spectacular flora and fauna as well as its trekking safaris that lets adventure travellers sample various forms of wildlife. These include antelopes, colobus monkeys, baboons, buffaloes, giraffes, elephants among others. Going up Mount Meru, the frequency of animal sightings seemingly keeps creeping out of sight as they become smaller and smaller. However, things start to get exciting on opening eyes to the stunning natural beauty around as the landscape keeps getting better and as the vegetation changes from mountain forests to alpine deserts.

Canoeing – Momella Lakes

Exploring Momella Lakes in Arusha National Park is a wonderful experience, but gliding slowly on a canoe along the cool waters makes it even much pleasurable. The lake cruise takes about 2-3 hours, gliding across the waters enjoying the sights and sounds of wildlife lazing nearby. The common wildlife sightings include buffaloes, bushbucks, giraffes, hippos and over 500 bird species. Stunning views of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro can also be observed from the comfort of the gliding canoe.

Meserani Snake Park

The Meserani Snake Park is home to 50 species of Southern and Eastern African Snakes. The park also contains a bar which serves as a treasure trove of memories left by travellers. Travelers from all around the world leave behind t-shirts, bottle tops, and more other things just to decorate the walls of the bar.

Clock Tower

Visit the Clock Tower:

The famous clock tower is a popular tourist attraction and is believed to have been built in the 1950s. However, there are untrue claims by local legends which state that the clock’s location is the central point between Cairo and Cape Town. Do you love clock towers? There is your chance. Grab the opportunity!

Ngurdoto Crater

Baptized the “little Ngorongoro Crater”,  Ngurdoto crater is fragile and its diverse ecosystem cannot be visited by car or on foot, but only from its crater rim. The crater floor is about 300 feet below and measuring about 1.5 miles across. The crater is home to interesting flora and fauna, including its huge swamp, hippos, crocodiles and buffaloes and who knows what other creatures could possibly be residing here?

Like the Ngorongoro Crater, Ngurdoto Crater is actually a caldera, a collapsed volcano probably measuring 10,000 feet before its last eruption. Today its highest point reaches just over 5,000 feet.

Themi Falls Leisure Park

No narration befits this park than a serene paradise where safari travellers can sate their appetites on wildlife and natural adventure phenomena while on a holiday out of Africa. Activities here include; partying for destination wedders, birthdays, graduations, family-reunions; natural walks to the river site, rock site or the waterfall site; cultural visits including the holy tree where locals meet to worship and carry out rituals; birding for bird lovers with a huge probability of spotting the hartlob’s turaco, hornbills, Sunbird, flycatchers, Augur Buzzard, Vocal Hadada and much more.  There is a lot to do in Themi Falls Leisure Park.

Places to Stay

Arumeru lodge

All the 21 spacious garden rooms (25 sqm) are nested in a tropical park that is famous for its botanical specimens. All rooms are tastefully decorated and permanently kept in mint condition. From your private terrace, you can watch small Dik Dik Antelopes roaming freely between the garden chalets. Facilities include a walk-in shower and double washbasin, a complimentary bottle of drinking water per day,  Free WiFi, electrical Sockets fit with US/EU plugs, hairdryer (on request), mosquito net and a fan.

Moivaro Lodge

40 spacious thatched brick cottages set in a beautiful green garden. The rooms are spacious with fireplace, en-suite bathroom, single or double beds, mosquito nets and a private veranda. Other Facilities include daily changing 4-course dinner menu, lunch menu and complimentary coffee and tea in the afternoon. Free Wi-Fi service in the public area and a laundry service

Mount Meru Hotel

Mount Meru hotel has a total of 178 rooms which include 108 standard rooms, 30 Standard Twin Rooms, 22 Executive Rooms, 2 Junior Family Rooms, 4 Junior Family Suites, 6 Executive Suites, 4 Presidential Suites and 2 Paraplegic (Disabled) Rooms. Facilities include direct dial telephone, minibar, free Wi-Fi, Satellite TV,   Pay-Per-View Movies, electronic safe, air conditioning panels, tea/coffee making facilities

Olasiti Lodge

With a total of rooms 28, Twins 8, Kings 2 each room features large beds, each suite has a private veranda, walkways and a telephone.  Standard room feature en-suite bathrooms with built-in showers and mosquito nets.

Arusha Coffee Lodge

Plantation suites include en-suite bathroom including triple-headed shower,  32” flat-screen television, international satellite TV service, in-room Wifi, bathrobes and slippers, private sun terrace with log-fire burner, balcony terrace with lounge furniture, in-room electronic safe, fully stocked mini-bar,internal telephone system,  room service from personal attendant, tea and coffee making facilities and a laundry service.

Duluti Lodge

The lodge is made up of 18 spacious contemporary African styled romantic chalets ideally positioned for maximum privacy and view inside a thirty acre active coffee farm located in a safe and exclusive area on the outskirts of Arusha. All chalets are positioned to face the coffee farm and each has a private deck with an amazing view of the ancient indigenous trees found in big number within the farm. . The lodge has been designed in a way that you will feel like you are staying at home rather than at a top end hotel.

Duluti Serena

Our rooms and suites are presented in the style of stone-built cottages, which are grouped in clusters around a flower-filled central ‘village square’. Spacious and elegantly presented in classic country-house style, our Arusha accommodation features marble bathrooms, double French doors leading out into the gardens, leaded windows, a stylish work or vanity area, and large and comfortable beds. Facilities include a selection of en-suite rooms and suites, elegant dining room, library and garden terraces, extensive flower gardens and lawns, lakeside dining,  Guided walks, among others.

Hatari Lodge

Hatari Lodge consists of three buildings beautifully situated within acacia woodland allowing excellent views of the Momella meadow, rich with wildlife, at a close distance the majestic Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. The oldest building serves as a large central living and dining room where you find a comfortable relaxation and dining area. Sitting around the open fireplace, which Krüger and Mallory enjoyed so much,  guests are entertained with inside information on the flora, fauna and history of Arusha National Park.