Day 01
Arusha National Park Safari and Mt. Meru Landscapes
- Arusha National Park is a popular destination for Tanzania safari 1-day trips, especially for visitors departing from the town of Arusha before continuing on longer northern circuit safaris. This small national park includes the slopes, summit, and ash cone of Mt. Meru, the Momela Lakes, Ngurdoto Crater, and the lush highland forests that blanket its lower slopes. Game viewing around the Momela Lakes takes place at a laid-back and quiet pace, and while passing through the forest, many visitors stop to search for troupes of rare colobus monkeys playing in the canopy.
- Climbing Mt. Meru or enjoying the smaller trails that crisscross its lower slopes is a popular activity for visitors to Arusha National Park. The three-day trek to reach the crater's summit is a quieter, and some say more challenging, alternative to the famous peak of nearby Mount Kilimanjaro. Along the lower slopes, the paths to rivers and waterfalls create a relaxing day hike for visitors who do not want to attempt the rather arduous climb. Ancient fig tree forests, crystal-clear waters cascading from mountain streams, and the chance to spot colobus monkeys are among the attractions and pleasures of Arusha National Park.
- As the closest national park to Arusha town - northern Tanzania's safari capital - Arusha National Park is a multi-faceted jewel, often overlooked by safari-goers despite offering the opportunity to explore a beguiling diversity of habitats within just a few hours. The entrance gate leads into a shadowy montane forest inhabited by inquisitive blue monkeys and colourful turacos and trogons. It is also the only place on the northern safari circuit where the acrobatic black-and-white colobus monkey is easily seen. In the midst of the forest stands the spectacular Ngurdoto Crater, whose steep rocky cliffs enclose a wide marshy floor dotted with herds of buffalo and warthog. This marks the end of your Tanzania safari day trip to Arusha National Park.
