Only 50 kilometers from Arusha town, northern Tanzania’s safari capital, Arusha National Park is a multi-faceted jewel. This park provides the opportunity to explore a beguiling diversity of habitats within a few hours. The entrance gate leads into a shadowy montane forest inhabited by inquisitive blue monkeys and colorful turacos and trogons. The only place on the northern safari circuit where the acrobatic black-and-white colobus monkey is easily seen. In the midst of the forest stands the spectacular Ngurdoto Crater, whose steep, rocky cliffs enclose a wide marshy floor. Buffalo and warthog herds thrive here.
Another great attraction further north. The rolling grassy hills enclose the tranquil beauty of the Momela Lakes. Each with a different hue of green or blue.
Beautifully tinged pink with thousands of flamingos, the lakes support a rich selection of resident and migrant waterfowl. The shaggy water-bucks display their large horns on the watery lakesides.
Tanzania’s national animal the Giraffe can be seen gliding across the grassy hills. The grazing zebra herds and pairs of wide-eyed dik-dik dart into the scrubby bush. The spotted hyenas may be seen slinking around in the early morning and late afternoon. It is at dusk and dawn that the veil-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro, only 50km (30 miles) away can be seen. Welcome to Arusha National Park. Karibu!