Arusha National Park
“home to white and black Colobus monkeys”
Description:
A green jewel and home to the fourth highest mountain in Africa – Mount Meru (4,566 m). Anyone visiting this park will be thrilled by the breathtaking landscapes ranging from the Meru Crater in the west, the Ngurdoto Crater in the south-east to the grasslands, and of course the alkaline Momella Lakes in the north-east making it one of the best National Park in Tanzania.
It is one Tanzania’s most beautiful National Park and topographically varied northern circuit park, It’s dominated by Mt Meru, an almost perfect cone with a Spectacular notable crater called Ngurdoto Crater (often dubbed Little Ngorongoro) with its swamp-filled floor. Wildlife is present, but for the most part it’s a sideshow to the scenery and the trekking and climbing possibilities making it one of the unique National Park in Tanzania.
Historical Background of Arusha National Park:
According to my guide book the European history of the park goes back to 1876 when Count Teleki, a Hungarian, visited the Momella area. He commented on the vast number of hippopotamus and black
rhinos he had seen. Sadly, the latter are now no longer found in the park. In 1907 the Trappe family moved to Momella to farm, using large areas of the present park as a cattle ranch.
The elder Mrs Trappe, the first woman to become a professional hunter in East Africa, voluntarily set aside a large part of the Momella estate for a game sanctuary. When the park was established in 1960,
the farm was incorporated into it. In 1960 the then Ngurdoto Crater National Park was established. In 1967, the Mt Meru area also became part of the park. The name of the park was then changed to Arusha National Park.
The name Arusha was derived from the local Waarusha people who used to live in the area.
Highlights:
This park is often overlooked by visitors, worried they will not see that much wildlife. However, Arusha National Park has a lot to offer and dazzles with a perfect mix of flora and fauna and diversified landscapes. Passing the “small Serengeti” during a game drive, you are likely to spot peaceful herds of buffaloes, shy bushbucks on the edge of the forest as well as warthogs and zebras. Heading towards the Ngurdoto Crater you will soon find yourself in a lush rain forest – a great place to spot the athletic black and white colobus monkey as well as the elegant mitis monkey. The Ngurdoto Crater is a smaller version of the Ngorongoro Crater and has a diameter of about 3 km. With a bit of luck, you might even spot buffaloes in the swamps on the crater floor.
Due to the low number of predators in the park, walking safaris are permitted. This is a must for anyone wanting to get a closer look at the moss-covered trees and the occasional red-hot pokers as well as for those wanting to get up close to wildlife. Most common sightings whilst on a walking safari include buffaloes, warthogs, giraffes, and a variety of birds such as the silvery-cheeked hornbill, little bee-eater, and the occasional long-crested eagle. The walk takes visitors to the refreshing Tululusia waterfalls and back to the Momella gate.
On the way towards the Momella Lakes, visitors are in for a treat as common waterbucks and reedbucks love to hang around the lakeshore. An array of water birds like cormorants, kingfishers, and beautiful flamingos are also often spotted. There are seven alkaline lakes to be seen and each lake has a different salt concentration. Visitors also have the option of going on a canoe trip on the small Momella Lake.
Arusha National Park is also home to about a handful of African elephants but due to their constant movement, they are hardly ever spotted. The same goes for leopards that roam the vast foggy forests of Mt Meru.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK
Arusha National Park covers Mount Meru, a prominent volcano with an elevation of 4566 m, in the Arusha Region of northeastern Tanzania. The park is small but varied with spectacular landscapes in three distinct areas making it one of the unique National Park in Tanzania.
In the west, the Meru Crater funnels the Jekukumia River; the peak of Mount Meru lies on its rim. Ngurdoto Crater in the southeast is grassland. The shallow alkaline Momella Lakes in the northeast have varying algal colors and are known for their wading birds.
Arusha National Park is a small charming park, located in the northeast of Tanzania. It is near the city of Arusha and provides great views of Mount Kilimanjaro. The park is a
scenic and diverse park that offers a wide range of animal and plant species. And it also has a rich diversity of landscapes. From lakes, waterfalls, and swamps to volcanos, mountains, and tropical rainforests, – the ideal reserve for all kinds of animals. The swamps, rainforests, and lakes attract many beautiful birds including silvery-cheeked hornbill and thousands of pink-hued flamingos. This park is also the only place in northern Tanzania where you can easily spot the black-and-white colobus monkey.
Mount Meru is the second highest peak in Tanzania after Mount Kilimanjaro, which is just 60 km away and forms a backdrop to views from the park to the east. Arusha
National Park lies on a 300-kilometer axis of Africa’s most famous national parks, running from Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in the west to Kilimanjaro National Park
in the east.
The park is just a few kilometers northeast of Arusha, though the main gate is 25 km east of the city. It is also 58 km from Moshi and 35 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA).
ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK FACT FILE
-At just over 200 square miles, Arusha National Park has great wildlife densities, and it is home to the world’s largest population of giraffes, Cape buffalo, elephants, hippos, and zebra are found
here in abundance, and the occasional lion and leopard can also be sighted on a game drive.
-It is one of the few national parks in Tanzania where you can go on walking safaris.
-It also pairs well with longer itineraries on the northern safari circuit, including the Ngorongoro
Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park.
-If you are looking to squeeze in a short safari after climbing the steep slopes of Mount Meru, Arusha National Park is also ideal as it lies at the foot of it.
– The park is excellent year-round for birding, especially between November and April when migratory birds from Europe and North Africa are present and the local birds have their breeding plumage on display.
– The most common animals found in this park are the Abyssinian black and white colobus monkeys, the Vervet monkeys, the red forest duikers, hippos, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes,
bushbucks, and sometimes the leopard.
– It harbors incredible wildlife species that cannot be viewed in other national parks in the northern circuit including vegetation types like the lush rainforest, savannah, and alpine
vegetation.
– Arusha National Park has woodlands of Acacias, Kigelias, and Schefflera. But besides them, it is also home to Juniperus, Euphorbias, and Ficus. You will also get to see the flowers of Lantana,
Hibiscus, and Jacaranda, resulting to one of the great National Park in Tanzania
Discover and explore the diversity of Arusha National Park amidst National Parks in Tanzania!
The Park is nested on the foothills of Mount Meru, Africa’s most beautiful volcano and fifth-highest peak. Only 45 minutes drive from Arusha City center, one finds this beautiful Park.
Mount Meru makes an ideal high-altitude acclimatization warm-up before conquering the Kili.
The Park offers way too many attractions compared to its area
The unforgiving landscapes of Mount Meru and Ash Cone, scenic view of Momella Lakes, tropical forest glades, and Ngurdoto Crater are just a few Visitors to this Park will have opportunities to do game viewing, ride a horse, climb Mount Meru as well as do organized walks with a ranger!
Outstanding Wildlife Diversity
Arusha National Park has a rich variety of wildlife, but visitors should not expect the same game-viewing experience they find in other national parks of Tanzania’s northern circuit. Despite the small size of the park, common animals include the giraffe, Cape buffalo, zebra, warthog, the black-and-white colobus monkey, the blue monkey, flamingo, elephant, bushbuck, and many other African animals.
Leopard populations are present, but rarely seen. Birdlife in the forest is prolific, with many forest species more easily seen here than elsewhere on the tourist route – Narina trogon and bar-tailed trogon are both possible highlights for visiting birders, whilst the range of starling species provide somewhat less gaudy interest. The park also boasts an incredibly diverse variety of bird life, making it a
a popular stop for birding enthusiasts.
BIRDING IN ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK
The best Time for Bird watching is from November to April, migratory birds from Europe and North Africa are present, and resident birds have their breeding plumage. Bird watching is at its very best during these months, but wildlife watching is easiest (and at its best) in the dry season – June to October making it one of the wonderful National Park in Tanzania for birding activities.
Bird species
– African fish eagle
– African olive pigeon
– Augur buzzard
– Bar-tailed trogon
– Black saw-wing
– Cinnamon-chested bee-eater
– Egyptian goose
– Great crested grebe
– Hartlaub’s turaco (NE)
– Little grebe
– Narina trogon
– Peregrine falcon
– Red-fronted parrot
– Scaly francolin
Greater Flamingo & lesser flamingo
Amazing facts about flamingo
– Flamingo nests are made of mud.
A flamingo’s nest looks like a mini mud volcano, with room for one large egg. Flamingos are monogamous, and mom and dad are team players. Both help to build the nest and incubate the egg.
-Flamingo chicks hatch with white-gray, downy feathers, and straight bills.
It takes several years for them to acquire their signature pink color and hook-shaped bills.
– Flamingos get their pink color from their food.
Flamingos are what they eat. Many plants produce natural red, yellow or orange pigments, called carotenoids. Carotenoids give carrots their orange color or turn ripe
tomatoes red.
They are also found in the microscopic algae that brine shrimp eat. As a flamingo dines on algae and brine shrimp, its body metabolizes the pigments — turning its feathers pink.
– Flamingos are filter feeders and turn their heads “upside down” to eat.
The term filter feeder may conjure images of baleen whales or oyster reefs, but flamingos are filter feeders too. They eat algae, small seeds, tiny crustaceans (like brine shrimp), fly larvae, and other plants and animals that live in shallow waters.
When it’s time to eat, a flamingo will place its head upside down in the water with its bill pointed at its feet. It then sweeps its head side-to-side, using its tongue to pump water in and out of its bill. Comb-like plates along the edge of the bill create a filter for water to rush out while trapping food inside.
– A group of flamingos is called a flamboyance.
A group of crows is called a murderer, and a group of geese is called a gaggle. So, what is a group of flamingos called? A flamboyance! Other collective nouns for flamingos
include stand, colony, and pat.
– Some flamingos live in extreme environments.
Flamingos are typically found in shallow saltwater or brackish waters (where saltwater and freshwater mix). But some flamingo species breed and raise their young in extremely salty bodies of water, called alkaline or “soda” lakes. The high concentration of carbonate salts in these lakes is so corrosive that it can burn the skin, making the
water is uninhabitable for most animals.
– Flamingo parents feed their chicks a liquid they secrete, called crop milk.
A flamingo’s “milk” is produced in its crop (part of its throat) and then brought up through its mouth. It may sound icky, but a flamingo’s crop milk is chock-full of healthy
proteins and fats. Both parents can produce crop milk to feed a flamingo chick until it is old enough to eat on its own.
– Flamingos can sleep standing on one leg.
Flamingos can stand on one foot for long periods — even long enough to fall asleep. But, why do they perform this balancing act? Research suggests that flamingos use more muscle power when standing on two legs, so standing on one leg may be less tiring.
Scientists also believe that a one-legged stance may help flamingos stay warm. Birds lose body heat through their limbs. By standing on one leg and tucking the other under their belly, flamingos can limit the amount of heat that escapes through their legs and feet.
Other Birds Found in Arusha National Park
– African fish eagle
(The African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) is a large species of eagle found throughout sub-Saharan Africa near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply.)
– Narina trogon
scientifically known as Apaloderma Narina It generally prefers evergreen lowland and Afromontane forests, as well as riverine forests in savanna, with trees such as acacia.
Weather and Climate
Arusha National Park’s climate is mostly mild and pleasant. The Dry Season is from June to October and the Wet Season is from November to May.
In the Dry Season, at night and early mornings, the temperature can drop as low as 9°C / 48°F and go as high as 21°C / 69°F. June to August are considered the coldest months.
The Wet Season is comparatively warmer. The lowest temperature averages around 11°C / 52°F, whereas the highest temperature averages around 23°C / 73°F.
LAKES FOUND IN ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK
Arusha National Park is rich in natural resources such as lakes, these are SMALL MOMELLA in Swahili known as “Momella logo” and BIG MOMELLA vernacularly known as
“Momella kubwa”.
Scenic view of SMALL MOMELLA LAKE
BIG MOMELA LAKE
BRIEF BACKGROUND OF MOMELA LAKES
The Momela (or Momella) Lakes are seven shallow lakes located within Arusha National Park namely: Big Momela, Small Momela, El Kekhotoito, Kusare, Rishateni, Lekandiro, and Tulusia. The entrance to the park is in Village Momella, Meru District of Arusha Region, Tanzania
Geography
Lakes are alkaline and formed from the volcanic debris created when Mount Meru blew its top 250,000 years ago. As the lakes are alkaline, animals do not drink from their waters,[1] but you can spot zebras and birds on their banks.
Lakes are the highlights of the Eastern section of Arusha National Park, covering the forest of Mount Meru.
The largest of several alkaline lakes that are located inside Arusha National Park of northern Tanzania. It serves as a tourist hotspot, with several animals to see including both greater and lesser flamingoes, hippos, and several other bird species. It has a maximum and minimum depth of 31 m and 10 m respectively and also supports micro algae.
Big Momella is located next to the northeastern border of Arusha National Park, and next to its siblings small Momella and Lake Rishateni. The eastern shore of the lake is land belonging to a farmer’s settlement.
WHY VISIT LAKE MOMELLA
After visiting Momella Lake Gates the chance to see hundreds of flamingos rising to the sky with their pink color. You may also see hippos and giraffes and watch them in their natural habitat. The day ends with a drive to the viewpoint – Boma la Megi, where you enjoy a sundowner with a magnificent view of Mt. Kilimanjaro
ACTIVITIES TO DO
- Game drives around it and its neighboring lakes Rishateni and – small Momella – with several viewpoints, campsites, and picnic sites from which you could spend time. Visit the cave waterfall. The cave falls are a waterfall as well as one of the many water sources for the Arusha Urban Water Supply Authority that are located just a short distance inside the Arusha National Park and on the
slopes of Mount Meru – Tanzania. - Canoeing at Arusha National Park Lake Momella
Kilimanjaro view point (Arusha). A beautiful picnic site on the slopes of Mount Meru that provides amazing views of Mount Kilimanjaro from afar, but only on a day with clear skies. More reliable views are those of most of Arusha National Park’s lowlands from an elevated altitude, along with that
of the Ngurudoto crater rim. - visit waterfalls inside the park Tulusua Waterfalls, Maio Waterfalls, Napuru Waterfalls
Momella viewpoint Boating and Canoeing Glide through pink colonies of chattering flamingos, approach grazing buffalo on the shoreline and enjoy the company of
snorting hippos. - Walking Safaris, the African bush on foot, the sounds and smells of nature feeling the elements and close encounters with the game are the most evocative safari experience
HOW TO GET THERE
Start from Arusha to Lake Momella by vehicle, with no preference for 4 x 4’s over conventional 2-wheel drives. You could reach it through the
national park gates
NGURDOTO CRATER
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT NGURUDOTO CRATER
Altitude 1824 m.a.m.s.l. (rim)
1520 m.a.m.s.l. (floor)
Ngurdoto Crater in Arusha National Park is one of five beautiful volcanic calderas located inside the northern Tanzania region of Arusha, along with Ngorongoro, Empakaai, Maasai, and Olmoti. With an approximate depth of 300 meters and a diameter of 3.2 km, it is more like a miniature Ngorongoro; However, the floor of Ngurudoto is softer and otherwise unsuitable for driving on, leaving walking safaris as the only way of exploring it.
The actual volcano that formed it is now extinct, but from the pear shape of the present-day crater floor, it seems that towards the end of its activity, two cones were lying very close to each other. These then collapsed when the magma chamber underneath them withdrew to deeper levels – leaving them without support.
The crater is surrounded by a rainforest that is teaming with wildlife. This extends to cover part of the crater floor, with the rest being an evergreen swamp – which serves as a grazing ground for the onsite herd of buffalos. Other animals include several species of monkeys, birds, dik-diks, and even elephants that inhabit the forest, with the latter being the hardest to find.
The viewpoints at Ngurdoto crater
-Rhino in the southern rim
– Mikindu is also in the southern rim
– The rock in the southern rim
– Bufalo (southern rim)
– The glades in the northern rim
– Leitong in the northern rim
At approximately 1824 m.a.m.s.l., the Leitong viewpoint is the highest and so far, the most scenic of these, offering views of the snowy peak of Mount
Kilimanjaro, as well as the Momella lakes and agricultural settlements nearby.
