Arusha National Park is a multi-faceted jewel, often overlooked by safari-goers. The park offers the opportunity to explore a charming diversity of habitats within a few hours. Arusha National Park boasts a remarkable range of habitats - a minature volcanic crater, highland rain forest, acacia woodland, a string of attractive lakes as well as Africa's fifth highest mountain, Meru. Aside from a tranquil environment with captivating wildlife; this park is one of the few places where you have a clear view of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro at a distance you may be tempted to walk.

About The Park Arusha Park is about 137 sq km Things to do Forest walks, numerous picnic sites; three- or four-day Mt Meru climb - good acclimatisation for Kilimanjaro. When to go To climb Mt Meru, June-February although it may rain in November. Best views of Kilimanjaro December-February.

It is possible to visit the park as a day excursion from Arusha Town.

• Ngurdoto Crater (often called the 'mini-Ngorongoro'), a fully intact 3km wide, 400m deep volcanic caldera often described as a mini-Ngorongoro. People are not permitted to enter the crater but the views from the rim are fantastic and the game can be spotted with binoculars.

• The shallow alkaline Momella lakes fed by underground streams (upon which rest thousands of lesser,  great flamingos and many migrant birds can be seen between May and October). The Momella Lakes are fed by underwater streams. These shallow alkaline lakes each has a slightly different mineral content, creating slightly different colours.

• The densely forested slopes of Mt Meru (one of the rewarding mountains to climb in Africa and among other animal species, live blue monkeys and beautiful black and white colobus monkeys).

• Other attraction in the park includes elephants, giraffes, buffalos, zebras, hippos, various antelopes, leopards and hyenas.

Accommodation

There is many hotels and hostels in Arusha town.

More about accomodation....