Very small (on the Tanzanian scale) with only 137 km² initially,
the surface area of the Arusha National Park was increased to 542 km2. A great
advantage of the park is its geographical position very close to Arusha, less
than an hour by car. Hence its frequent inclusion in northern safari
circuits. This is not nothing when you know the tourist attraction of the city
itself (which we would magnanimously describe as not very exciting). The park
offers habitats and landscapes as beautiful as they are varied, as it ranges
from 1500 to 4500 m above sea level. Mount Meru and its 4,566 meters dominate
the park and its fauna, more limited than in most other Tanzanian parks, lions
and elephants are few in number. The landscapes, with views of neighboring Kili
(50 km away), Mount Meru and the Momela lakes are, however, another major
attraction of the park. For wildlife, there are various species of monkey,
Guereza colobus, diademed spittlebugs, antelopes such as bushbuck, bush
pigs, and a rich avian fauna with silver-cheeked hornbills, trogons,
Hartlaub’s turaco and numerous aquatic birds. , flamingos, herons, wading
birds which frequent the numerous lakes of the park, the best known of which are
the Momella lakes.
