Arusha National Park

Wildlife

Arusha National Park has an amusing diversity of wildlife, but visitors shouldn’t expect the same game-viewing experience they find in other national parks of Tanzania’s northern circuit. Despite the small size of the park, communal 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 seldom seen. Birdlife in the forest is productive, with many forest species more easily seen here than elsewhere on the tourist route – Narina trogon and bar-tailed trogon are both possible places of interest for visiting birders, while the range of starling species provide somewhat less flashy interest.

Bottom of FormThe neighboring national park to Arusha town – northern Tanzania’s safari capital – Arusha National Park is a multi-faceted jewel, often disregarded by safari goers, despite presenting the chance to discover a captivating diversity of habitats within a few hours. The entrance gate leads into mysterious montane forest inhabited by snooping blue monkeys and colorful turacos and trogons – the only place on the northern safari circuit where the energetic black-and-white colobus monkey is easily appreciated. In the midst of the forest stands the remarkable Ngurdoto Crater, whose steep, rocky cliffs enclose a wide muddy floor dotted with herds of buffalo and warthog.

Further north, continuing grassy hills encircle the relaxing beauty of the Momela Lakes, each one a diverse kind of green or blue. Their ridges sometimes colored pink with thousands of flamingos, the lakes support a rich collection of resident and migratory waterfowl, and hairy waterbucks display their large lyre-shaped horns on the moist fringes. Giraffes float across the grassy hills, between grazing zebra herds, while pairs of wide-eyed dik-dik dart into light bush like overgrown hares on skinny legs.

Although elephants are rare in Arusha National Park, and lions absent completely, leopards and spotted hyenas may be seen tiptoeing around in the early morning and late afternoon. It is also at sunset and start that the veil of cloud on the eastern horizon is most likely to clear, revealing the majestic snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro, only 50km (30 miles) distant. But it is Kilimanjaro’s humble cousin, Mount Meru – the fifth highest in Africa at 4,566 meters (14,990 feet) governs the park’s horizon. Its peaks and eastern foot slopes protected within the national park, Meru offers matchless views of its famous neighbor, while also forming a rewarding hiking destination in its own right.

Passing first through forested savannah where buffalos and giraffes are regularly encountered, the climb of Meru leads into forests ablaze with red-hot pokers and saturated with Spanish moss, before reaching high open heath spiked with giant lobelias. Endless flowers hang to the mountain desert; as delicately-hoofed klipspringers mark the hike’s progress. Across the rough summit, Kilimanjaro stands unveiled, flushed in the sunrise. Because of the diversity of plant surroundings, there are many different genres of animals and over 400 species of birds that live there. Captivatingly enough, there are no lions in the zone. There are different types of bucks living near the water including bushbucks, reedbucks and waterbucks. Besides these, there are also hyenas, warthogs, elephants, monkeys, buffalos and zebras.

Some of the most popular attractions at this park include the Ngurdoto and Meru Craters, lakes of Momela and Mount Meru. The Momela lakes are well-known bird-watching spots for tourists. You can also go canoeing there while appreciating the setting. Mount Meru is a volcano mounted by thrill seekers and adventurer seeking people. Those who dare climb the mountain’s summit will be blessed with the perfect sights that can be seen.

Mount Meru

This depressing mountain, known by the Maasai as Ol Doinyo Orok, meaning the “black mountain”, dominates Arusha town, the national park and surrounding countryside by towering over them. Its tempers can change overnight and during the winter months the mountain is visible above the clouds. Mount Meru is Africa’s fifth highest at 4 566 m above sea level. Its summits and eastern base hills are sheltered within the national park. Meru offers supreme views of its famous neighbor, Kilimanjaro, but is also a rewarding hiking destination in its own right. Its last minor eruption occurred around 1877. Since then activity has been minor, with small tremors happening occasionally. Climbers mountaineering Mount Meru depart from the Momella Gate. This provides a real African experience, but also makes visitors realize how vulnerable mankind is in this environment. Because of the theoretical absence of lions, Arusha National Park also initiated the increasingly popular one-day walking safaris.

The big – and dangerous – game such as elephant and buffalo still roam the park. Even passing lions have been seen twice in the past decade or more, while private leopards are ever-present. Arusha National Park is the only place on the northern safari circuit where the energetic black-and-white colobus monkey is easily spotted. Colobus monkeys are extremely handsome animals, notable by long flowing hair that forms a white mantle around the body, and by their bushy white tails. Actually they look like little hairy men in dress shirts and tailcoats. The young are initially all white, changing color after three months. They live in family herds with one adult male and several females. Young males leave the group, forming new troops or becoming solitary.

The ancient forest home of black-and-white colobus monkey living outside the park is susceptible by logging operations and banana Shambas. This in turn intimidates the animals’ feeding grounds. Whereas the Big Five symbolize the spirit of the African savannah, primates bring the forest into concentration. They are the smiling, arguing, flying lords of this field. Without them the excessive equatorial forest would be unresponsive. Without the forest, they would become confined, sad monkeys  or pot roast.
Some visitors are pleased when visiting Arusha National Park on their African safari when they are tired of viewing the large species. They are amazed by its varied prettiness which includes scrubland, forest, lakes, craters, ash cone and Mount Meru. It is important to note that mountain climbing permits duration time is 12 hours.

Momella lakes

The Momella Lakes in the north-east of the park were formed by depressions in the drying mud. These lakes are mainly fed by secretive streams and are not very deep. They are acidic, meaning they are salty and animals do not use them for drinking and they contain few fish, but various micro-organisms can raise in alkaline water. That is why these lakes’ ridges are occasionally marked pink with thousands of lesser flamingos, as seen on postcards and guide book photos. Despite fewer flamingos the lakes still support a rich selection of local and migrant waterfowl, which include many sacred ibis. Their mainly white body, black tail, bare black neck and head and large recurved bill make them easily identifiable. It is always amazing to listen to arguably Africa’s best known sound, the unique call of a fish eagle announcing its presence. Near the lakes, there are always bird species like white-browed coucal, a colorful grey headed kingfisher and many helmeted guinea fowl, which were only some of the 575 species of birds already documented in the park. The birding is outstanding and really pleasing, even though your safari was not on birding you actively be forced to get interested in the bird species along the Momella lakes.

The landscape around Momella Lakes is usually grassland. A canoeing safari is another tourist activity in this national park and is conducted on one of the Momella Lakes, known as “Small Momella”. Canoeing on the Momella lakes present a closer understanding of animals that are not easily seen on an ordinary game viewing safari.  Again there are lots of giraffes and the cattle-like smell of fresh buffalo droppings drooped in the air unlike other national parks where they are rarely seen because they graze in thickets. Wonder at the prettiness of the Momela Lakes while observing the giraffes, zebras, and hyenas, and take in amazing views of the snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro and the beautiful Mount Meru before returning to Arusha.

Ngurdoto Crater is a volcanic crater in Arusha Region, Tanzania. The crater is 3.6 km (2.2 mi) in diameter at its widest and 100 meters (110 yd.) deep. Ngurdoto Crater is surrounded by forest whilst the crater floor is a swamp and located in Arusha National Park. The crater is thrilling tourist attraction on its own. A caldera of a nonexistent volcano, Ngurdoto has a loop road that allows tremendous views down into the lush crater interior. Visitors can drive up to the crater rim through the misty forest inhabited by the quick black and white colobus monkeys that are the symbols of the park, Leopards are the main predator in this area and, weirdly, there are no lions apart from the odd sightseer. Driving along the high points on the Crater edge provides a stunning view of the forests, glades and animal tracks that abound in this lush habitat. Additionally, Tanzania has again added a new aspect into its already well-known tourism industry. It has just introduced a new tourist product a walking safari around the ream of the world prominent Ngurdoto Crater at Arusha National Park