Arusha National Park, located near the city of Arusha in northern Tanzania, is a hidden gem among the country’s national parks. The park features a remarkably diverse landscape, highlighted by the impressive horse-shoe shaped crater of Mount Meru, Tanzania’s second-highest mountain. Visitors can explore the park through guided game walks with an armed ranger or by taking a game drive around the Momella Lakes and the Ngurdoto Crater.

In this small yet charming park, visitors can spot a variety of wildlife, including buffalo, giraffes, waterbucks, warthogs, and baboons, along with the striking Black & White Colobus monkeys.

The Momella Lakes are a collection of alkaline lakes nourished by underground springs. Each lake displays its unique shade of green, varying with the weather, a result of distinct mineral compositions and algae forms. These lakes provide a haven for numerous water birds, including flamingos, Egyptian geese, and various species of waterfowl. Along the lakeshore, visitors can often observe herds of grazing zebras and waterbucks showcasing their impressive horns.

On clear mornings, the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro is visible in the distance. However, it is not Kilimanjaro that dominates the park’s skyline, but its “little brother,” Mount Meru. Standing at 4,566 meters, Meru is Tanzania’s second-highest mountain and the fifth-highest in Africa. The challenging yet rewarding ascent to the summit leads adventurers through grasslands and lush rainforests, where wildlife sightings are common, and onto the knife-edged crater rim, which passes through moorlands and heather landscapes. The climb offers stunning views into the crater and breathtaking panoramas of the majestic Kilimanjaro, making it an unforgettable mountaineering experience.