Arusha National Park

Only a few minutes will pass from the moment you enter the small but remarkable Arusha National Park before you will be met by schools of giraffe. Usually they will be in small groups or walking alone. Immediately in front of you lays a small plains-like environment that is known as the Little Serengeti because it imitates the look and feel of the Serengeti plains. There you will see many zebras, cape buffalo, and warthogs. Commonly found bird life you'll likely see are Kettle Egrets, African Jacana, and Crown Cranes.

The park has the highest concentration of Giraffes anywhere in the world. You'll certainly be treated to many close views of these interesting and beautiful creatures as they can only be, out of a zoo and in their natural environment. Their graceful, double jointed, walking movement is something to behold and can only be described as moseying. Wonder at their mysterious "necking" behavior - small groups of males gather and rub necks and batter each other with their heads. No one really knows why they do this, but it seems to be some kind of mating or dominance ritual.

Continuing on the road you'll start winding your way up the side of the small, 2 mile wide Ngurdoto Crater. The vegetation here turns into lush green mountain forest. It would be a very unlucky day if you did not see two kinds of monkeys playing in the trees. The skunk-like Colobus Monkey is a two tone creature with dark black hair covering most of its body and white hair ringing its face that runs down its back, ending with a large fluffy white tail.

The Sykes Monkey is a more typical looking monkey with a long curvy tail. It has bright eyes and and an interesting deep blue shawl of hair around the shoulders and eyes. Your goal is to reach the rim and drive along, stopping at the various view points of the crater floor below. No one is allowed down into the crater but the views are unique and well worth the short drive. You may see large troupes of Baboons cruising the crater floor.

The two Momella Lakes in the northeast corner of the park are home to a wide variety of bird life. Flamingos are a common site year round and between October and April you can expect to see migrating waterfowl escaping Europe's cold winter. Hippos are sometimes seen in the smaller of the lakes and you might also see packs of wild hyenas. From this low vantage point you'll have nice upward views of Mt. Meru, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the small Ngurdoto Crater you just were visiting. A special treat in Arusha National Park is the secluded and private Ngongongare Camp Site. It's here that we set up our own private luxury tent camp. From the deck of your tent there is a small spring-fed lake just a hundred yards in front of you. From a comfortable chair you can relax, have a drink, enjoy gourmet meals, and watch as Cape Buffalo, Kettle Egrets, and Crown Cranes come and go.


Our private luxury tent-camp is an excellent place to be your base camp for a couple days while you explore the many sights Arusha National Park has to offer.

For hardy souls there is an option to take a 3-4 day hike up to the crater rim of Mt. Meru. It's a 3000 foot a day climb and you'll reach the summit after usually 2 1/2 days. For those interested in stunning views and intriguing volcanic formations, the hike is well worth the extra time.

One of my favorite activities in Arusha National Park is to take a walking safari. On the far north side is another plains-like area where mainly Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, Warthogs, and Egrets congregate. From here an armed park ranger will escort you as you walk among the animals. He'll take you through the small plain to the side of a hill where there is a small waterfall. He's armed as a precaution, but Freddy, our favorite ranger, has never used his gun in over 10 years of escorting tourists. Hope to see you out there walking among the Giraffes!