The geography of Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park is best known for its views of Mount Kilimanjaro, which lies some 60km to the west.

The park is dominated by Mount Meru, Tanzania’s fifth highest mountain, which stands side-by-side with the massive Mount Kilimanjaro, dominating the surrounding steppe.

Mount Meru is a classically shaped volcano except for the fact that its crater has been massively enlarged by an enormous explosion which long since blew away a good part of the eastern slopes. The reserve contains the whole of the mountain from around 2000m up to the summit at 4565 metres.

The park contains varied and interesting landscapes. It’s largely covered by montane forest, with smaller patches of open grasslands at lower altitudes, moorlands and alpine deserts at higher altitudes.

Of the several volcanic features within the reserve, by far the most impressive is the Ngurdoto Crater, a 2km diameter miniature version of the Ngorongoro Crater. Outer slopes are heavily forested and a good place to spot black-and-white colobus monkeys. The crater slopes fall away steeply for around 200 metres to a flat floor covered in forest, long grass and swamps.

a volcano torn apart by a massive explosion

Arusha National Park contains a good range and density of animals, but the adverse terrain and thick montane forests do not make for easy wildlife viewing.

The most commonly seen species are those which inhabit the patches of open grasslands and open acacia forest, including giraffes, zebras, warthogs, waterbucks, and bushbucks.

Less frequent sightings include reedbucks, leopards and spotted hyenas. Usually deep within the forests and generally to be avoided are herds of buffaloes and elephants.

A particular highlight are the black and white colobus monkeys that inhabit the forested areas, particularly around the Ngurdoto Crater, which you are unlikely to see elsewhere in the Serengeti region.

On the Momella Lakes there are also populations of hippos and crocodiles. The waters are quite alkaline and therefore provide a year-round breeding area for flamingos.

chances of sighting some unusual animals

The reserve is very well known for its Hollywood connections.

Momella Lodge, at the top end of the reserve, was used during the 1950’s as the base for a fictional gang of American animal-catchers led by John Wayne in the fun but extremely cheesy Hollywood blockbuster “Hatari!”.

The movie includes some immortal scenes of rhinos charging vehicles at full pelt, baby elephants running wild through Arusha town and the capture of a tree-load of vervet monkeys by the use of a large net powered by a huge firework rocket.

If you stay at the rather outdated lodge you can watch the movie, which is fun. Heaven knows how the staff manage to stay sane when the movie runs night after night.

still surfing off a fabulous John Wayne movie