Arusha National Park is Tanzania’s most accessible national park, located only a short drive between Arusha and Moshi and ideal for a day trip or as a first stop on a long journey. It is a rather tiny park, covering just 552 square kilometers.
Arusha National Park is famous for its diverse wildlife, including herbivores such as elephants, hippos, buffaloes, zebras, and even wildebeests. The reserve is ideal for walking and stretching your legs – there are both walking trails and canoe safaris in the park.
Arusha National Park is also home to the world’s largest population of giraffes, making it a great destination for lovers of these long-haired, beautiful animals. It boasts a wide variety of landscapes, from open savannah to acacia shrubs, rainforests, and ultimately alpine conditions in the mountain’s upper reaches.
Arusha national park facts:
- Location: about an hour and a half drive to Arusha. About ninety minutes from Moshi.
- Entertainment: Game drives, walking safaris, canoe safaris, picnics, and climbing Mt. Mera.
- A popular spot for walking and canoe safaris with a day trip.
- Best time to visit: dry season June through October.
The park is great for bird watching year-round, especially between November and April when migratory birds from Europe and North Africa are present and local birds show off their nesting plumage. The attractions of Arusha National Park can be seen in one day, and Arusha is the only park in northern Tanzania where a walking safari is possible.
Outstanding variety of wildlife
Because of the variety of landscapes in the park, the level of wildlife is unusually rich. Not only is the park home to the largest population of giraffes in Africa, but visitors can also see buffalo, elephants, blue monkeys, black and white colobus, turacos, trogons, and even a lion or a leopard.
The park also boasts an incredible variety of bird and fish life, making it a popular stop for anglers. And if you’re bored with nature and want to sunbathe and swim, Tanzania’s beaches are always ready to open up to tourists in all their glory.
