Guide to Arusha National Park 2025

Guide to Arusha National Park 2025 : The park is famous for being home to the second highest mountain in Tanzania, Mount Meru and the world’s largest giraffe population. Arusha National Park covers an area of 137 sq km, conserving some parts like Ngurdoto crater and Mount Meru. The protected area was established in 1960 as Ngurdoto crater National Park and later in 1967 it was changed to Arusha National Park. Arusha National Park is the best national park, and now is the best time to begin your safari, as you will be able to start and broaden your horizons with the closure of Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Tourist activities to do at Arusha National Park

Game drives

Game drives in Arusha National Park are a must-see on any safari here. The park boasts a variety of amazing wildlife, including the Big Five: lion, buffalo, rhino, elephant, and leopard. This amazing animal can be spotted in different parts of the park such as along the Ngurdoto crater region, along the banks of lake Momella and Ujambo Wa Mbogo regions among others. Taking a game drive around the Momella lakes provides a fantastic opportunity to see wildlife, as these lakes are vital water sources for many animals. During your game drive safari, you’ll get to see animal tracks and enjoy breathtaking views of wildlife in their natural surroundings, including buffalos, waterbuck, warthogs, leopards, elephants, zebra, dik-dik, hippo, giraffe, eland, spotted hyena, klipspringer among others. You might also spot some of the park’s primates like blue monkeys and baboons, as well as the striking black and white colobus monkeys swinging through the trees, along with a range of colorful bird species. This safari can be conducted at a scheduled times that’s early morning and evening game drives.

Guided nature walks.

 Guided nature walks in Arusha National Park are a fantastic way to explore the hidden gems of Africa’s wildlife areas. On these walks, you’ll meander along different paths, led by knowledgeable and friendly guides who assist you in exploring the lush forests and open savannahs. As you wander, you’ll have the thrilling chance to observe a diverse array of animals, such as colobus monkeys, a large population of giraffes, buffalo, zebras, warthogs, and many colorful birds. A standout moment on the walk is reaching the top of Tululusia Hill, which served as a lookout during Tanzania’s tribal conflicts. From the summit, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the lower parts of Arusha National Park.

Birding excursion

Arusha National Park is one of the best birding destinations in Tanzania. The park is home to over 400 different migrant and resident bird species, making its a paradise for bird lovers. The best place for birdwatching tours in Arusha National Park is undoubted the Momalla lakes area, which is renowned for its diverse waterfowl population of bird species.  During your bird watching tours in Arusha National Park, you’ll have the chance to spot different colorful bird species such as the greater pink flamingos, the lesser pink flamingos, pelicans, Egyptian geese, guinea fowls, African fish eagles and African jacanas. Other bird species that you may also spot while on your birding safari in Arusha National Park like montane nightjar, maccoa duck, black heron, black-faced sandgrouse, European nightjar, black-head heron, helmeted guineafowl, little bittern, red-chested flufftail, common swift, intermediate egret and African green pigeon among others.

Explore the Ngurdoto Museum.

Explore the Ngurdoto Museum, a key spot within Arusha national park, where you can soak up the breathtaking beauty of nature. The Ngurdoto Museum, which overlooks the Ngurdoto Forest with its population of black and white colobus monkeys, includes an outstanding collection of representatives of the park’s numerous animals, birds, and insects. With Egrets, grey herons, kingfishers, and fish eagles, as well as butterflies, primates, and reptiles, it’s a fantastic destination for nature enthusiasts and bird watchers alike.

Best time to visit Arusha National Park

The best time to visits Arusha National Park really depends on your preference and interests, as well as the type of experience your area looking for. If you’re keen on spotting wildlife and outdoor activities, the dry seasons which run from June to October is considered the best time to visit for wildlife viewing and outdoor activities. During this time the weather is cooler and drier, making its easier to stop wildlife as they gathered around the water sources. The vegetation is also less dense, providing better visibility for game drives and hiking. Bird watching in this national park is well done during the wet season, which is the rainy months when most of the birds have arrived from different parts of the world, Activities in Arusha National Park.

Guide to Arusha National Park 2025
Guide to Arusha National Park 2025

Rules and regulations while on a Tanzania safari in Arusha National Park

When visiting Arusha National Park, you should follow the park’s rules and regulations that protected wildlife and the park’s ecosystem

Wildlife

  • Respect the wildlife’s privacy and don’t crowd them
  • Don’t make sudden movements or noises
  • Don’t feed the animals
  • Keep a minimum distance of 20m from wildlife
  • Stay in your vehicle, except at designated areas.

 Driving

  • Avoid off-road driving
  • Keep to the speed limit

 Waste

  • Don’t litter
  • Dispose of waste in designated areas or take it out of the park
  • Don’t leave fires unattended or discard burning objects.

Other rules

  • Don’t pick, cut, or destroy any vegetation
  • Don’t remove any object of biological interest, including eggs, bones and trophies
  • Don’t smoke while on game drive
  • Don’t bring pets or weapons
  • Don’t use drones
  • Listen to your tour guide or ranger
  • Don’t try to do something bold without your tour guide noticing

Insurance

  • Arranger personal travel insurance that covers death, injury, theft and medical expenses.

How to get to

You can get to the park either by car or by flying, depending on what you prefer. If you’re driving from Arusha town, it takes about 45 minutes to reach the park. If you choose to fly, you can take a domestic flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha Airport, which only takes around 20 minutes.

Accommodation in Arusha National Park

If you’re thinking about going on a safari in Arusha National Park, you don’t need to stress about where to stay. The park offers a wide range of places to stay that fit all kinds of budgets. You can choose from budget options to mid-range and luxury accommodations. Some popular choices include Arusha Coffee Lodge, Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge, The African Tulip Hotel , Lake Duluti Serena Hotel , Hatari Lodge, Mvuli Hotel Arusha, L’Oasis Lodge and Restaurant Arusha, Ilboru Safari Lodge, Moyoni Lodge, Zawadi House, Palace Hotel Arusha,  Lush Garden Hotel , Shu’mate Camp, Maasi Giraffe Eco Lodge, Kiota Nest, Itikoni Seasonal Cam, Momella Wildlife Lodge, Rivertrees Country Inn, African View Lodge -Arusha, Twiga Lodge, Kilimanjaro Eco Lodge -Arusha, Charming Eco-Homestay, Meru View Lodge, Mzunguu Safari Lodge and Moivaro Coffee Plantation among others.