A safari in Arusha national park
A safari in Arusha national park : Arusha national park is also among the wildlife viewing destinations which can be visited during a safari in the northern part of Tanzania.
Safaris in Arusha national park are also exciting and many wildlife species can be seen during a tour here but don’t expect a big five experience when visiting this park although you can still spot some wildlife species in the destination.
Wildlife species that live around Arusha national park include giraffes, buffalos, zebras, warthogs, black and white colobus monkeys, elephants, bushbucks and many others. These wildlife species can be seen at any time of the year during safaris in Tanzania.
The best time to see the wildlife species during a safari in Arusha national park is during the dry season from June to October when many wildlife species which can be seen around water sources in the park. The dry season is also a high season and many tourists visit Tanzania at this time of the year.
Arusha national park also has many bird species and the best time for bird watching is during the months of November to April when migrant bird species can be spotted in different parts of the national park during a tour.
Some of the attractions which can be seen during tours around Arusha national park include Mount Meru which is the second highest mountain in Tanzania, the Momella lakes and the park also has forests which make up the landscape in the national park.
Mount Meru is among the attractions which you can see during a tour of Arusha national park and it is at an altitude of 4,566 meters. This is among the places in Tanzania where tourists can take part in hiking during their safaris and a hike on Mount Meru takes 4 days to get to the summit and to descend from the mountain.
The Momella lakes are also part of the attractions which can be seen during a tour in Arusha national park. These lakes are a series of seven shallow lakes and they also include the big Momella and small Momella. These lakes are alkaline in nature and are fed by underground water springs and among the bird species which can be seen along the Momella lakes include the flamingos which can be seen along their shores during Tanzania safaris in the park.
Activities carried out in Arusha national park
There is a lot to do when taking part in a safari in Arusha national park and the activities include the following;
- Game drives
The search for different wildlife species in Arusha national park can be done during game drives that are carried out in the morning and also in the afternoon or evening hours of the day. Some of the places in Arusha national park where the wildlife species can be seen include little Serengeti where you can explore the savannah plains and search for the wildlife species like buffalos, zebras, antelopes among others.
- Nature walks and forest walks
Another activity to engage in when visiting Arusha national park are the forest walks or nature walks. This activity brings the tourists or visitors at the destination closer to nature in the park and also is a unique experience during which wildlife species can be seen on foot. Forest walks are done in the company of a ranger guide and can take about 3 hours.
- Hiking
Safaris in Arusha national park also involve engaging in hikes. Hiking in this park of Tanzania can be done on Mount Meru which is a major attraction at the destination. The mountain is the second highest in Tanzania and hikes can be done at any time of the year following different trails.
- Canoeing
Canoeing is also carried out during safaris in Arusha national park along the small Momella lake. Visitors can enjoy beautiful views around the national park during this activity and it takes about 2 to 3 hours. Wildlife species like buffalos, bushbucks, giraffes, hippos among others can be seen along the shores of the lake.
- Horse riding
Another activity to engage in during a visit to Arusha national park in Tanzania is horse riding. Imagine the beautiful views which you can enjoy during this activity for a period of about 4 hours. Wildlife species such as giraffes, buffalos, zebras among others can also be seen during these horse rides around Arusha national park. You will explore the savannah plains and also the forests during the horse ride around the park.
How to get to Arusha national park
Arusha national park is among the destinations found in Tanzania and the park can be accessed by driving from Arusha town which takes about 1 hour. For safaris to this destination, you can book flights to Kilimanjaro international airport.
Park entrance fees for Arusha national park
When visiting Arusha national park, park entrance fees are among the charges which visitors incur during their safaris and they are as follows;
Nonresidents visiting Arusha national park for safaris are charged park entrance fee of 50 USD in the high season and 45 USD in the low season for those above 16 years of age and children aged between 5 and 15 years visiting the national park are charged park entrance fee of 15 USD excluding 18% tax.
During safaris in Arusha national park, residents/expatriates visiting the destination above the age of 16 years are charged park entrance fee of 25 USD in the high season and 22.5 USD in the low season excluding 18% tax and residents children aged between 5 and 15 years visiting Arusha national park are charged park entrance fee of 7.5 USD.
East Africans or Tanzanians visiting Arusha national park for Tanzania safaris aged above 16 years are charged park entrance fee of 10,000 Tanzania shillings and children aged between 5 and 15 years are charged park entrance fee of 2,000 Tanzania shillings excluding 18% tax.
For children below 5 years of age, park entrance fee for Arusha national park is not charged during safaris.
