Best Self Drive Guide to Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park is a renowned wildlife observation site favored for day excursions in the northern region of Tanzania. The national park is located in the Arusha region and is one of the smaller national parks in Tanzania, encompassing approximately 137 square kilometers. Arusha National Park features stunning landscapes, including a notable volcano.
While seeing Arusha National Park, one can observe features such as Mount Meru, Momella Lakes, diverse wildlife and avian species, waterfalls, and craters during a safari in Tanzania.
Arusha National Park is suitable for day tours and serves as an excellent precursor to safaris in northern Tanzania, including renowned destinations such as Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which are significantly larger and host a diverse array of wildlife species.
Wildlife species observable during safaris at Arusha National Park include bushbucks, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, black and white colobus monkeys, and others. Arusha National Park is home to over 350 bird species.
Tourists visiting Arusha National Park are required to pay specific fees established by the Tanzania National Parks Authority. The entrance prices for Arusha National Park shown below do not include an 18% VAT.
Nonresidents aged 16 and older are required to pay a park admission fee of 50 USD during peak season and 45 USD in the low season at Arusha National Park. Nonresident minors aged 5 to 15 years are charged a price of 15 USD to enter the park.
Individuals or expatriates over 16 years old entering Arusha National Park incur an entrance price of 25 USD during peak season and 22.5 USD during low season, while children from 5 to 15 years are charged an entrance fee of 7.5 USD for safaris in the park.
Tanzanians or East Africans over the age of 16 are required to pay a park entrance fee of 10,000 Tanzanian shillings when visiting Arusha National Park, while children aged 5 to 15 are charged a price of 2,000 Tanzanian shillings.
Children aged 5 and under visiting Arusha National Park during safaris in Tanzania are exempt from the park entrance fee.
Additional expenditures incurred during excursions to Arusha National Park encompass transportation expenses, lodging costs, among others.
Arusha National Park offers various attractions, including the following:
Mount Meru, a prominent attraction in Arusha National Park, is the second highest mountain in Tanzania, reaching an elevation of 4,566 meters. Climbing Mount Meru is a popular activity for tourists visiting this park, with the climb lasting approximately four days, commencing at Momella Gate, proceeding to Miriakamba Hut, then Saddle Hut, reaching the summit, and then descending back to Momella Gate. The summit of Mount Meru is referred to as Socialist Peak, and Mount Meru ranks as the fifth tallest peak in Africa.
Another attraction observable on safaris in Arusha National Park is the Ngurdoto Crater. The Ngurdoto crater is a volcanic depression encircled by forest, where several wildlife species inhabit the crater bottom.
The Momella Lakes are observable on safaris in Arusha National Park. There are seven shallow lakes, including the little Momella and the large Momella, among others. Canoeing on Momella Lakes and bird viewing are among the trips available, where flamingos can be observed during safaris.
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Waterfalls are observable on excursions to Arusha National Park. The waterfalls located in Arusha National Park comprise the Tululusia, Napuru, Maio, and Meru waterfalls.
A variety of activities conducted during safaris at Arusha National Park include wildlife drives, nature walks, treks, and cultural tours. Game drives in Arusha National Park can be conducted at several times of the day, including morning and afternoon. 4×4 vehicles are utilized for game drives within the national park.
Nature hikes at Arusha National Park are exhilarating, as the park’s picturesque scenery allows for close observation of attractions with the assistance of a ranger guide on walking tours, fostering a deeper connection with nature. Hiking is conducted in Arusha National Park on Mount Meru, with excursions lasting approximately four days.
Directions to Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park is situated approximately 25 kilometers from Arusha town, with a driving duration of around 40 minutes from the town to the park. Explore Arusha National Park and relish exceptional animal observation opportunities during safaris in Tanzania.