The Arusha National park was discovered by Sir Julius Huxley in 1960. Arusha National Park Covering 137 sq. km, 33, 800 acres between the peaks of mountain Kilimanjaro and Meru and rise from a lower level or degree 1500 at Momela to 4566 at the summit of Mount Meru. The park has three district Zones that Contribute to its variety and beauty:
- The Lush Swamps of Ngurdoto Crater.
- The tranquil beauty of the Momela Lakes, each a different hew.
- The Chill rocky alpine heights of Mount Meru rising to 4566 Metres (14,990 fts).
The Momela Lakes: This is alkaline Lakes formed from the volcanic debris which was created when Mount Meru blew its top 25000 years ago.
Ngurdoto Crater: A broken 3 km wide and 400 m deep volcanic caldera, which was produced when two volcanic cones merged and finally collapsed. The crater plays a big roll in hosting a variety of wildlife animals like large herds of buffalo, elephant, baboon, reedbuck, leopard, duiker and black and white colobus monkey.
The park has introducing a new walking safari even older people would be able to walk around as the area is not steep. There is several viewing points, starting at Leitong view points, and ending at the highest viewing point known as Vikindu. The damp atmosphere of the crater, giving way to huge mahogany, olive and date palm trees on drier crater walls. The visitors are not allowed to descend into the crater floor like Ngorongoro instead you can view the crater inner form a series of viewpoints on the south side of the rim. In effect creating a sanctuary within a sanctuary and within a sanctuary and leaving a large area of park to the wildlife alone.
Location: The park is just 32 km away from the town of Arusha and is 40 minute drive from Arusha estimated 60 Km about 35 miles from Kilimanjaro International airport. During the dry season from July-March, the best time to Climb Mount Meru is June-February, but sometimes it's rains in November, and the best views of Mount Kilimanjaro are from December-February.
Bird life: The Park is famous for over 400 species of bird life, both migrant and resident, such as springs goose, red shark, hamerkop, herons, woodpecker, grey parrot, secretary bird and many more.
Wild life: Arusha National Park Contains a diverse resident population of herbivores, primates and predators including black and white colobus monkey, baboons and elephant, giraffe, buffalo, hippo, leopard, hyena, waterbuck, warthog and a wide range of antelope species. No lions are found in the park although leopards are seen by lucky.
Access: It's 32 Km East of Arusha, 55 km from Moshi and 35 Km from Kilimanjaro international Airport (KIA). Turn on the right on the way towards Arusha and Gravel road for about 10Km reaches Ngurdoto Gate.
To do: Forest walks, numerous picnic sites, 3 or 4 day mount Meru Climb
Accommodation: A lodge, a rest house, Camp sites, 2 Mountain huts inside the park; several lodge at Usa-River outside the park and many hostels and hostels in Arusha town (Momela lodge, Mt. Meru Game lodge, Ol'doinyo Orok lodge and Tanzanite lodge).