Arusha National Park

Arusha National park is one of the smallest parks in Tanzania, well known for its five distinct vegetation zones. There is a water forest with towering gig and mahogany trees, extensive marshland, stretches of grassland, parklands with acacia trees, and scrubland on the face of the Rift Valley. In spite of its modes size, [13km^2], there is a lot to be seen In this park:

* The volcanic Ngurdoto crater, with wild animals in the bottom
* Momella Lakes
* Mount Meru, the second highest mountain in the country

Arusha National Park used to have the largest number of giraffes in the World, but now this has changed. The area is crowded, and houses are built all the way up to the borders of the park, so the animals are no longer able to wander around freely. A lot of animals have been killed by poachers.

Apart from giraffes you can see buffaloes, waterbucks and antelope, but In the thick forest they can be a bit difficult to spot. Of the same reason One can not expect to see the few elephants and lions living in the park.

Arusha National Park is the only place in Tanzania where you can see Black and white guereza monkeys [colobus]. Keep and eye on the long, White busy tail, which is hanging from the trees. The monkeys are shy, So it is important to be quite.

The distance from Arusha to the Momella gate is about 55km. The roads In the park are steep, so the car must be in a good condition. Hide outs have been created for observation. Arusha National p ark is the only park where you can have a walking safari in the Northern Circuit of Tanzania. The park can be visited year round, but in March and April It takes a 4*4 wheel drive to get around the park

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