Arusha Park

Arusha National Park formerly Ngurdoto National park until 1967, owes its name to the Warusha people who live around the park. It is a breathtaking area which covers only about 139 square km (54 square miles). In comparison to other northern national parks in Tanzania, it is the smallest national park.

The three distinct and spectacular features of this park include the Momela Lakes, the Meru Crater (the second highest mountain in Africa 4566 m) and the Ngurdoto Crater. Both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru can be seen from the park when the weather is clear.

The vegetation in the Park is correlated to the altitude and geology of the area. Ngurdoto Crater is surrounded by forest while the crater floor consists of a swampy area. Mount Meru is a mixture of lush forests and bare rocks. The Momela Lakes, which like many lakes in the Rift Valley, are alkaline. The lakes support both the permanent and migrating wildlife around the park.

The Arusha National Park has a wide range of habitats, from the string of crater lakes (where many water birds congregate) to the highland forest and further up to the imposing summit of Mt. Meru. The interesting geology leading to the summit of Mt. Meru includes an impressive view of its ash cone and cliff face.

There are different types of animals within the different vegetation zones of this area. Migrating water birds settle on the lakes, waterbuck and reedbuck are found near water, while the shy bushbuck and duikers keep to the forested areas. White and black colobus monkeys can be seen climbing the branches of ancient cedar trees. Arusha National Park is also home to buffalo, leopard, hyena, baboon, giraffe, rhino, elephant and hippo. Within this wide range of habitats almost 400 species of birds have been recorded. Some of these are migratory birds that arrive between October and April, while others are permanent residents of the forests.