Tours in Arusha National Park

Because there are no lion in the park and elephant are scarce, the risk profile is entirely different from Tarangire or the Serengeti. That allows Tanzania National Parks to permit guided walking safaris and canoeing here, activities prohibited in the larger northern parks. Walks are still led by an armed ranger, and buffalo remain the animal that warrants most caution, but the park offers a freedom the rest of the circuit does not.

It is widely considered the best acclimatisation available. At 4,566 metres, Meru takes three to four days and reaches an altitude high enough to prompt genuine physiological adaptation, so climbers who summit Meru before starting Kilimanjaro have markedly better success rates. The trek is also a fine climb in its own right, with a dramatic ridge walk along the crater rim to Socialist Peak. Climbers who summit Meru before starting Kilimanjaro have markedly better success rates on the higher mountain.

Three to four days is standard, with four the more comfortable option. The route passes through forest, then giant heather and moorland, with huts at Miriakamba and Saddle Hut. The summit push starts around midnight from Saddle Hut to reach Socialist Peak for sunrise, when Kilimanjaro appears across the plain. An armed ranger accompanies every group, as buffalo are present in the lower forest. An armed ranger accompanies every group, as buffalo are present throughout the lower forest belt.

Easily, and it is the most practical day safari from Arusha city, lying only 25 kilometres away with the gate under an hour by road. A full day allows the Ngurdoto Crater viewpoints, the Momella Lakes and a walking safari or canoe trip. Many visitors use it as a gentle first day before a longer circuit, or as an acclimatisation day before climbing Meru or Kilimanjaro. Many visitors use it as a gentle first day before a longer circuit, or as an acclimatisation day before climbing Meru or Kilimanjaro.

Giraffe are exceptionally numerous, and black-and-white colobus monkeys in the forest belt are the park's signature sighting. Buffalo, waterbuck, bushbuck, warthog, blue monkey and baboon are all common. There are no lion, elephant are rare, and leopard occur but are seldom seen. The Momella Lakes draw flamingo in fluctuating numbers along with a wide range of waterbirds, so bring binoculars. The Momella Lakes draw flamingo in fluctuating numbers along with a wide range of waterbirds, so bring binoculars for the lakeshore stops.

Yes, on the Momella Lakes, and it is one of very few places in northern Tanzania where canoeing is permitted inside a national park. Trips run with a guide and last around two hours, bringing you close to waterbuck and buffalo grazing the shoreline and to the birdlife on the water. It works particularly well combined with a walking safari as a full day out from Arusha. It works particularly well combined with a walking safari as a full day out from Arusha city.

June to October and again December to February are the driest windows, with the clearest views of both Meru and Kilimanjaro and the best conditions for climbing. March to May brings the long rains, when trails become slippery and the mountains are often hidden. For a day visit in any month, go early: the peaks are usually visible at first light and disappear behind cloud by mid-morning. For a day visit in any month, go early: the peaks are usually visible at first light and disappear behind cloud by mid-morning.

It offers variety rather than volume. You will not see the herds or predator concentrations of Tarangire or the Serengeti, but you get forest, crater, lakes and a 4,566-metre mountain within 552 square kilometres, plus walking and canoeing that the larger parks prohibit. It works best as a first or last day on a circuit rather than as a substitute for time in the major parks. It works best as a first or last day on a circuit rather than as a substitute for time in the major parks.