Highlights in Arusha National Park
Highlights in Arusha National Park are those aspects of Arusha National Park, or the striking attractions in Arusha National Park that attract or should attract travellers to visit on a Tanzania safari. Arusha National Park is one of the top Tanzania destinations located in the northern safari circuit of Tanzania, which travellers do visit while on a Tanzania safari tour. Arusha National Park is a beautiful Tanzania national park worth visiting, for the great landscapes of the park, the features say lakes, rivers, crater funnels, Mount Meru and so much more, as well as the wildlife of Arusha National Park all blend together to make the park a must visit on a Tanzania safari tour. The highlights in Arusha National Park that should beckon you to visit include;
Animals
Arusha National Park animals are abundantly scattered all over the park, that you shall encounter a wild animal every other second. Arusha National Park inhabits a variety of wild animals in its great ecosystem, including the largest population of giraffes in the world. Other animals in Arusha National Park that travellers shall encounter while in the park include buffaloes, waterbucks, elephants, zebras, bushbucks, occasional lions and leopards usually spitted at the foothills of Mount Meru, primates like the blue monkeys and the black-and-white colobus monkeys, among others. With the large number of wild animals in Arusha National Park, wild game viewing while on game drives or even walking safaris are very rewarding.
Birds
Arusha National Park is indeed a great land rich in diversity. Arusha National Park has a record of over 400 bird species, especially found in areas like lakes, forests and the savannah grassland of the park. Among the various bird species in Arusha National Park that you can spot include the bar-tailed trogon, hadada ibis, the greater pink flamingos, leaser pink flamingos, white-necked raven, African fish eagle, Egyptian goose, Southern pochard, golden eagle, lanner falcon, crowned eagle, Jacobin cuckoo, ostriches, yellow-billed stork, African spoonbill, black-headed heron, African jacanas, pied avocet, bronzy sunbird, grey-headed bush shrike, white-crested tilt, Hamerkop, pelicans, saddle-billed stork, cattle egret, scaly francolin, African olive pigeon, among so many others. Birds in Arusha National Park can be spotted with bird watching safaris which take you through developed trails, in the guidance of an experienced and knowledgeable bird guide. Be sure to have your god pair of binoculars to spot even those bird species at a distance. Birds in Arusha National Park can also be spotted while on other activities in Arusha National Park say game drives, walking safaris, mountain climbing, among others.
Mount Meru
Mount Meru in Arusha National Park offers great scenic views for those travellers who do visit the park. Mount Meru is the second highest mountain in Tanzania, after the Kilimanjaro, as well as the 5th highest in Africa, that travellers after a bit of adventure can take on and conquer it with a mountain climbing adventure. Mount Meru has forest cover especially at the slopes which are a habitat fora a number of wildlife, and has a caldera which travellers can see during the hike. Travellers can take on Mount Meru on a mountain climbing adventure in Arusha National Park, thereby experiencing and encountering a variety of wildlife including birds and primates, as well as great scenic views.
Momella Lakes
Another of the top highlights in Arusha National Park are the 7 Momella Lakes in the park which travellers can enjoy while in the park. These 7 Momella Lakes include Big Momella, Small Momella, Lekandiro, Kusare, Tulusia, Rishateni and El Kekhotoito. These seven Momella Lakes are Alkaline, each with a different colour shade. These Momella Lakes are a great habitat for a number of water birds, which can be spotted especially the pink flamingos. Canoeing can be done here, especially on the Small Momella Lake.
Ngordoto Crater
Ngordoto Crater is a stretch of about 3km dotted with lush swamps and a riverine forest. The Ngordoto crater is a great wildlife viewing point where travellers can see wild game like the African buffalo, elephants, primates like the blue monkeys and black-and-white colobus monkeys, among so many others. Bird species like Hamerkop, and spur-winged geese among others can be spotted as well.
The Fig Tree Arch
The fig tree arch of Arusha National Park is one of the highlights in Arusha National Park that most travellers who visit the park do look out for. The fig tree grew from seeds that birds dropped along the way. The fig tree has roots which arch to the ground forming an arch shape which is large enough for passage, even for elephants!
Cave waterfalls
Cave waterfalls can be seen just at the slopes of Mount Meru. These are scenic and reward travellers especially on walking safaris, great sightings.
Best time to visit Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park is an amazing northern Tanzania safari circuit park to visit for among others wildlife safaris. Arusha National Park can be visited all throughout the year, but the best time to visit Arusha National Park according to a number of travellers, is during the dry season which also doubles as the peak season. The dry season falls in the months of June, July, August, September and October, every year. Game viewing is much easier during the dry season given the vegetation is shorter and the wild game converge in the few water areas making it easy to spot them; and the park roads are also much passable during the dry season. The wet season, which falls in the months of January, February, March, April, November and December is the best time to visit Arusha National Park for bird watching safaris in Tanzania, as well as for those travellers on budget given lodges do cut their rates during the wet season, though some are actually seasonal lodges and camp sites.
Accommodation in Arusha National Park include among others Le Jacaranda Hotel. Boulevard Inn Mount Meru, Venus Premier Hotel, Mvuli Hotel, and Mount Meru Hotel.
Highlights in Arusha National Park, as mentioned above, should call on you to come and visit Tanzania for Tanzania safari tours, especially in the northern safari circuit. Plan accordingly with your travel planner and get to live one of the most amazing safari experiences you could ever have, especially on short notice for those travellers with limited time to spare while in Arusha town. Arusha National Park can also be done as a day trip, get in touch with a reputable tour operator and be amazed by what this small Tanzania national park has to offer.
