Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park is a protected area in the Arusha Region of Tanzania that spans different elevations from the base to the summit of Mount Meru. The landscape shifts between open grassland, dense forest on the mountain slope, and flatter ground around several small lakes.

The area was placed under protection in 1960 to secure habitat for larger mammals and the mountain vegetation. Boundaries expanded gradually over the following decades to include additional ecosystems.

Flamingos along the shoreline areas often draw larger groups of observers, while smaller bird species forage in the surrounding scrub. Walking trails pass through sections where colobus monkeys move between the trees and occasionally rest on branches at eye level.

Paths in the lower section are accessible for shorter visits, while routes toward higher ground require more time and physical preparation. Early morning hours often provide cooler temperatures and better conditions for wildlife viewing in the more open zones.

The craters in the northern section formed through volcanic activity and are now filled with water fed by underground springs. Minerals from the surrounding rock tint the water differently in each basin, ranging from greenish to bluish.