Tourism in Arusha National Park - Africa Natural Tours ( africanaturaltours.com )
Tourism in
Arusha National Park: Africa Natural Tours
AFRICA
NATURAL TOURS (The best tour company in Tanzania)
Specialized
in: Wildlife safaris, Cultural tourism,
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Mountain
climbing
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Arusha
National Park (ANAPA) is a gem of varied ecosystems and spectacular views of
Mt. Meru, the crater that gives the region its name
It
is a popular destination for day trip visitors who are about to embark from the
town of Arusha on longer northern circuit safaris. The small national park
includes the slopes, summit, and ash cone of Mt. Meru, the Momela Lakes,
Ngurdoto Crater, and the lush highland forests that blanket its lower slopes.
Game viewing around the Momela Lakes is at a laid-back and quiet pace, and
while passing through the forest many visitors stop to search for troupes of
rare colubus monkeys playing in the canopy.
Climbing
Mt. Meru or enjoying the smaller trails that criss-cross its lower slopes is a
popular activity for visitors to Arusha National Park. The three-day trek to
reach the crater’s summit is a quieter, and some say more challenging
alternative than the famous peak of nearby Mount Kilimanjaro. Along the lower
slopes, the paths to rivers and waterfalls create a relaxing day hike for
visitors who don’t want to attempt the rather arduous climb. Ancient fig tree
forests, crystal clear waters cascading from mountain streams, and a chance to
spot colobus monkeys are the attractions and pleasures of Arusha National Park.
The
closest national park to Arusha town – northern Tanzania’s safari capital –
Arusha National Park is a multi-faceted jewel, often overlooked by safari
goers, despite offering the opportunity to explore a beguiling diversity of
habitats within a few hours.
The
entrance gate leads into shadowy montane forest inhabited by inquisitive blue
monkeys and colourful turacos and trogons – the only place on the northern
safari circuit where the acrobatic black-and-white colobus monkey is easily
seen. In the midst of the forest stands the spectacular Ngurdoto Crater, whose
steep rocky cliffs enclose a wide marshy floor dotted with herds of buffalo and
warthog.
Further
north, rolling grassy hills enclose the tranquil beauty of the Momela Lakes,
each one having a different hue of green or blue. There are shallows sometimes
tinged pink with thousands of flamingos. The lakes support a rich selection of
resident and migrant waterfowl, and also shaggy waterbucks that display their
large lyre-shaped horns on the watery fringes. Giraffes glide across the grassy
hills, between grazing zebra herds, whilst pairs of wide-eyed dik-dik dart into
scrubby bush like overgrown hares on spindly legs.
Although
elephants are uncommon in Arusha National Park, and lions are absent
altogether, leopards and spotted hyenas may be seen slinking around in the
early morning and late afternoon. It is also at dusk and dawn that the veil of
cloud on the eastern horizon is most likely to clear, revealing the majestic
snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro, which is only 50km (30 miles) away.
But
it is Kilimanjaro’s unassuming cousin, Mount Meru – the fifth highest mountain
in Africa at 4,566 metres (14,990 feet) – that dominates the park’s horizon.
With its peaks
For more information
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