Attractions To See in Arusha National Park
Attractions To See in Arusha National Park: Arusha National Park is a popular stop on Tanzania safari tours and for eco-tourists in general. This national park was created in 1960 for the purpose of conserving the wildlife. The park is 137 square kilometers and Tanzania safari goers are attracted to the park because of the special wildlife experiences that can be experienced there.
The park is managed by the Tanzania National Park Authority (TANAPA), a government body created to protect and conserve the national parks of the country. The park has a lot of animals like Narnauk elephants, Buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and leopards. There are also primate species such as olive baboons, black and white colobus, vervets, and blue monkeys in the park.
One of the highlights of Arusha National Park is the elusive Mount Meru. It is a prominent volcanic mountain with a spectacular crater at the top. With a height of 4,566 m, it is the second highest mountain in Tanzania behind Mount Kilimanjaro. Climbing Mount Meru is a great mountain safari experience. This means a walk along a knife-edge crater rim.
This spectacular national park has a number of diverse attractions, including wildlife, volcano craters and mountaintops. They Include;
The vegetation in Arusha National Park
The vegetation in Arusha National Park is quite diverse, reflecting the diversity of ecosystems within the park. This makes it a unique place for those who want to go on a Tanzania safari. The lower regions of the park have a savannah vegetation type characterized by grasslands with scattered acacia woodlands. This type of vegetation is home to a variety of herbivores and is also inhabited by shrubs such as whistling thorns (Acacia drepanolobium).
The mountain slopes of Mount Meru have a lush montane forest ecosystem. This type of vegetation is home to various tree species such as podocarpus, olive trees, fig trees, and junipers. The lower montane forests have a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees.
The vegetation surrounding the Ngurdoto crater is tropical in nature. This type of vegetation is characterized by marshes, swamps, and grasslands surrounding the crater. These regions also contain the tropical forests. Wetland-type vegetation surrounding the Momella lakes consists mainly of tall grasses and swamp vegetation. On the edges of the Momella Lakes, papyrus can also be found.
Further up on Mount Meru, the flora consists of alpine zones such as hardy shrubs, heathers, and grasses. The unique flora in the alpine zones include the giant lobelias and the groundsels, which contribute to the diversity of flora in the park.
Animals found in Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park is a home to a variety of animal species that one can be able to view during their safari experience. Animals that one is likely to spot include buffalos, zebras, giraffes, hippos, warthogs, waterbucks, dik-diks, and reedbucks. The park also has other animals like elephants, red duikers, bush pigs, and black-and-white colobus that one is likely to spot near the Ngurdoto Museum.
Birdlife in Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park is famous for its birdlife, with more than 400 bird species recorded, thus making it an ideal place for birdwatching safaris in Tanzania. Some of the bird species that can be seen include Narina trogons, bar-tailed trogons, Augur buzzards, Verreaux’s eagles, flamingos, waterfowl, grey-crowned cranes, silver-cheeked hornbills, white-necked ravens, and African fish eagles as well as mangbettu. The park is also home to southern carmine bee-eaters, Egyptian geese, spur-winged geese, red-billed teals, cape teals, great crested grebes, Hartlaub’s turacos, bearded vultures, little grebes, African olive pigeons, peregrine falcons, red-fronted parrots, scaly francolins, southern pochards, golden eagles, lanner falcons, and crowned eagles, as well as various species of cuckoos, such as Levaillant’s cuckoos and Jacobin cuckoos, among many others. Other bird species include yellow-billed storks, saddle-billed storks, African spoonbills, black-headed herons, black-winged stilts, African jacanas, pied avocets, red-billed oxpeckers, bronzy sunbirds, grey-headed bushshrikes, white-crested tits, African paradise flycatchers, and white-browed coucals, among others.
Mount Meru
Mount Meru is an important and visually appealing geographical feature situated to the east of the Great Rift Valley. The dormant stratovolcano, which means “that which does not make a noise” in the region, was created by volcanic eruptions that took place between 1 and 3 million years ago. Known to the Maasai people as Ol Doinyo Orok, meaning the “black mountain,” Mount Meru towers above the Arusha town and the Arusha National Park and the countryside.
According to legend, Mount Meru was the tallest mountain in Africa and even surpassed the height of Mount Kilimanjaro. However, following the eruption of Mount Meru several thousand years ago, the entire summit was blown off reducing the height and prominence of the mountain. Today, with a height of 4,566 meters above sea level, Mount Meru is the fifth tallest mountain in Africa and the second tallest in Tanzania after Mount Kilimanjaro.
The mountain has a steep climb from its circular base, which is 20 kilometers in diameter and is located at 2,000 meters above sea level. At 2,500 meters, the wall of the mountain has collapsed, creating the shape of the horseshoe at the top of the mountain. Additionally, the cliffs inside the mountain are over 1,500 meters high, the tallest in Africa. In recent times volcanic activity has created a smaller peak called the Ash Cone, which enhances the beauty of the mountain.
Mount Kilimanjaro is world-renowned for mountain climbing safaris in Tanzania, but Mount Meru offers an equally spectacular adventure in the area with one of the most picturesque and fulfilling treks in East Africa. This is achieved through the dramatic walk along the narrow rim of the crater on the mountain. The mountain has fertile soils and is covered with forests that rise from the savannah and offer diverse wildlife such as primates, leopards, and many bird species, making it an ideal destination for wildlife safaris and mountain hiking.
Mount Meru’s volcanic history shows four eruptions, the last occurring in 1910. Lava flows can range from thin and flowing to thick and intrusive. The first recorded sighting of Mount Meru by an explorer was made by the German explorer Karl von der Decken in 1862. Later, other explorers like Gustav Fischer in 1882 and Joseph Thompson in 1883 recorded the sighting of the mountain. In 1887, the Austro-Hungarian explorer Count Samuel Teleki and his team went to the dense forests at the foot of the mountain and finally reached the place where they could see Mount Kilimanjaro and planned to climb it later. The first recorded reaching of the summit of Mount Meru was done by Carl Uhlig in 1901 or Fritz Jäger in 1904.
Ngurdoto Crater
Another feature of the park is the Ngurdoto Crater, which is a breathtaking feature of volcanic origin that offers a breathtaking view to accompany the wildlife experience. It is a secret paradise, with a lake on one side and on the other, covered in virgin forest, with open grassy glades stretching far and wide. There is a track around the rim, and look-out points have been built where one can sit and enjoy a picnic while looking down into this secret world of swamps and plains. Moreover, the crater is a haven for animals like buffalo, warthogs, and antelopes.
Momela Lake
Momela Lake, located in Arusha National Park, is an important feature of interest to travelers who want to go on Tanzania safaris. The Momela lakes, also referred to as the Momella lakes, are seven spectacular lakes that make up the northeastern part of the park and are the focal point of a visit to Arusha National Park. The lakes have gained popularity, especially for birding tours, given the variety of aquatic birds that inhabit the area, ranging from the greater pink flamingos, lesser pink flamingos, pelicans, Egyptian geese, guinea fowls, and African fish eagles to the African jacanas.
The formation of the Momela lakes is attributed to the explosion that occurred 250,000 years ago, blowing away the summit of Mount Meru, which led to a landslide following the volcanic debris that was left behind. The shallow nature of the lakes is supported by underground water sources that provide algae, which supports the aquatic birds that inhabit the lakes’ shores. Though the lakes have an alkaline nature that does not allow animals to drink from them, the lakes’ shores have zebras that graze on the area.
Each of the seven lakes has its own source of spring water. Each lake has its own color, ranging from green to turquoise, depending on the types of minerals and algae present in the lakes. Each type of mineral and algae present in the lakes attracts different types of birds, hence the diversity in the appearance of the lakes.
There is a picnic site set aside on top of a hill, not so far from the Momela lakes to the west, which provides breathtaking views of the lakes and the surrounding areas, including Mount Meru and Ngurudoto crater. This is an excellent vantage point for tourists on Tanzania safaris to enjoy the scenic beauty and wildlife in Arusha National Park.
Serengeti Ndogo
The term “Little Serengeti” refers to a grassy area within the park where one can view different animals such as buffaloes, warthogs, zebras, waterbucks, and giraffes all in large groups.
The “Uwanja wa mbogo” (Buffalo’s Glade)
The “Uwanja wa mbogo,” or Buffalo’s Glade, refers to a natural open space within the park containing marshes, bushes, and streams. It is a popular area within the park frequented by animals such as buffaloes, warthogs, and giraffes. Buffaloes and warthogs are mostly seen grazing and resting within the area and enjoying their time in the mud holes.
Tululusia Hill and waterfall
Tululusia hill meaning “lookout point,” is a viewpoint that offers an amazing view of the lower areas of Arusha National Park, Mount Meru, and the majestic Kilimanjaro. The Tululusia Waterfall is situated within a valley formed by the erosion of soft volcanic soil and creates a 28-meter steep gorge or 84 feet deep. It’s a home of nesting Red-winged Starlings and having a chance of getting your photos around this natural environment are usually spectacular.
Fig Tree Arch
One of the striking things about the Fig Tree Arch (Ficus thonningii) is that the roots of the tree reach the ground while leaving space enough for a car to pass through.
Ngarenanyuki River
This river originates from the montane forest and Meru. It has salt and fresh water due to the fact that it receives brown alkaline water from the streams that connect to it after leaving the park.
