Arusha
My Safari
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Arusha National Park offers spectacular views of the extinct volcano, Mount Meru, the second highest peak in Tanzania, in addition to, on clear days, magnificent views of Mount Kilimanjaro itself. Although less well known than Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru is just as ecologically rich and diverse, its slopes being covered by a thick forest and an abundance of wildlife. Climbing Mount Meru is a shorter and less demanding alternative to climbing Kilimanjaro.
Arusha Park itself has a cool moist climate. The shallow alkaline Momella Lakes which are fed by underground streams are home to thousands of flamingos between May and October. In the densely forested slopes of Mount Meru are found black and white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys. In Arusha you can also see a variety of other wildlife including giraffe, leopard and hyena.
The actual town of Arusha was built by the Germans as a centre of colonial administration in the early 20th century, and consisted of little more than a few shops around a grassy roundabout. Today Arusha is one of the country’s most prosperous towns.
Wildlife Highlights:
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Leopard
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Buffalo
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Giraffe
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Zebra
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Warthog
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Waterbuck
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Blue & black-and-white Colobus Monkey
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There are also over 400 bird species
The best time to visit Arusha National Park is during the dry season, in July to November, or after the short rains, from December to March.
Getting to Arusha:
Arusha town itself is served by two airports - Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha Airport, the former serving as the gateway airport for flights from North and South America and the Far East.
Typically, therefore, Arusha will figure simply as an overnight stop, before proceeding on to northern Tanzanian safaris, involving the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara or Tarangire, in addition to being the departure point for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
However the Arusha National Park itself is an easy 40-minute drive from the town, and can itself repay a short stay in the area, offering as it does walking in the foothills of Mount Meru, canoeing on the Momela Lakes and gentle game drives.
