Ngurdoto Crater
A forested crater viewed from the rim, with buffalo and warthog grazing on its floor.
Gateway to the Wild
Arusha
Often overlooked, Arusha National Park offers spectacular views of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro, alongside unique canoe safaris and lush highlands.
- Type
- National Park & safari gateway
- Region
- Northern Tanzania
- Best months
- Jan–Feb, Jul–Oct
- Known for
- Mount Meru (4,566 m), Momella Lakes
Overview
About Arusha
It is an incredibly diverse, compact introduction to Tanzania. Perfect as a day trip or an acclimatization stop, it offers activities rarely found elsewhere, like walking safaris and canoeing on the Momella Lakes.
Arusha is the starting point of every northern Tanzania safari, a busy, green city at the foot of Mount Meru, and our home base. Just outside town, Arusha National Park packs a surprising variety into a small area.
In one day you can walk with an armed ranger among giraffes and buffalo, canoe on the Momella Lakes, watch black-and-white colobus monkeys in the forest and look into the Ngurdoto Crater, with Kilimanjaro on the horizon on clear mornings.
Mount Meru, Tanzania’s second-highest mountain at 4,566 m, rises over the park. A 3–4 day climb makes excellent acclimatisation before Kilimanjaro.
Known for
- Mount Meru (4,566 m)
- Momella Lakes
- Walking and canoe safaris
- Colobus monkeys
At a glance
- Type
- National Park & safari gateway
- Region
- Northern Tanzania
- Size
- About 552 km²
- Established
- 1960
- Best months
- Jan–Feb, Jul–Oct
- By road
- About 40 minutes from Arusha town; around an hour from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- By air
- Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Arusha airport are both close by.
Inside the park
Areas of Arusha
Where you stay and explore shapes what you see. These are the main areas we plan around.
Momella Lakes
A chain of shallow alkaline lakes with flamingos, waterbirds and canoe trips.
Mount Meru
Montane forest, the dramatic ash cone and the summit trail.
Wildlife
What you can see in Arusha
Colobus monkeys, giraffes, buffalo and flamingos, with Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro as a backdrop.
Mammals
- Black-and-white colobus
- Blue monkey
- Giraffe
- Buffalo
- Zebra
- Warthog
- Bushbuck
- Elephant
Birds
- Flamingos
- Hartlaub’s turaco
- Silvery-cheeked hornbill
- Augur buzzard
When to go
The best time to visit Arusha
June to October and December to February. Clear days provide the best chance to see the peaks of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro.
- JanPeak
- FebPeak
- MarGood
- AprQuieter / wet
- MayQuieter / wet
- JunGood
- JulPeak
- AugPeak
- SepPeak
- OctPeak
- NovGood
- DecGood
Dry season
Clear views of the mountains and comfortable walking.
Short dry season
Warm, with good chances of seeing Kilimanjaro.
Rainy months
Lush and green, with clouds often hiding the peaks.
Getting there
Travel and access
About 40 minutes from Arusha town; around an hour from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Arusha airport are both close by.
Things to do
Activities
- Walking safaris with an armed ranger
- Canoeing on the Momella Lakes
- Mount Meru climbs (3–4 days)
- Day game drives
- Coffee farm and market visits in Arusha
Where to stay
Camps and lodges
We match each stay to your budget and the season, from classic tented camps to luxury lodges.
Coffee-farm lodges
Garden lodges on the outskirts of Arusha, ideal for the first and last nights.
Lodges near the park
Quiet lodges on the slopes of Meru with views of Kilimanjaro.
A day here
Gentle and incredibly scenic. You can canoe quietly past giraffes drinking at the shore, take guided walks through cool mountain forests looking for black-and-white colobus monkeys, and enjoy a picnic overlooking the Ngurdoto Crater.
Our travel tips
- Spend your arrival day or your last afternoon here instead of waiting at the hotel.
- Go early for the clearest views of Kilimanjaro.
- Mount Meru is an excellent warm-up for a Kilimanjaro climb.
Itineraries
Safaris that visit Arusha
Each one is a starting point we tailor to your dates, pace and budget.
Short Escape2-Day Tarangire Safari
A short but immersive escape into Tarangire’s elephant-filled landscapes and ancient baobab forests.
2 Days / 1 Night · View itinerary →
Big Five Focus2-Day Ngorongoro Crater Safari
A concentrated wildlife experience inside one of Africa’s most iconic natural wonders.
2 Days / 1 Night · View itinerary →
Complete Safari7-Day Classic Northern Circuit
A complete safari journey through Tanzania’s most iconic northern parks.
7 Days / 6 Nights · View itinerary →
Signature Experience10-Day Tanzania Highlights Safari
A premium safari with extended Serengeti immersion.
10 Days / 9 Nights · View itinerary →The Photographic Journal
The Spirit of Arusha.
Photos: Kilimanjaro guereza (black-and-white colobus), Arusha National Park by Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, resized; Colobus monkey, Arusha National Park by Christoph Strässler, CC BY-SA 2.0, resized.
Questions
Arusha: frequently asked questions
Arusha questions
Combine with
Pairs well with Arusha
Plan your Arusha safari
Tell us your dates and interests. A safari designer replies within 24 hours with ideas and prices.