What is special about Arusha National Park?

Arusha National Park is the only park in Tanzania where you can do walking safaris and canoeing. It sits beneath Mount Meru and offers views of Kilimanjaro on clear days, plus giraffe, buffalo, zebra, hippos and colobus monkeys.

How close is Arusha National Park to Arusha town?

Arusha National Park is just 25 km (about 45 minutes) from Arusha town, making it an ideal first or last day safari activity before flying out of Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Can you see the Big Five in Arusha National Park?

Arusha National Park does not have lions or cheetah, but has four of the Big Five — elephant, buffalo, leopard (rarely seen), and black-and-white colobus monkeys. It is an excellent introduction to Tanzania's wildlife.

Arusha National Park Safari | Sokwe Africa Safaris

Tanzania's Hidden Gem

A World Apart — Just One Hour from Arusha

Nestled on the slopes of Mount Meru — Africa's fifth-highest peak — Arusha National Park is one of Tanzania's most diverse and visually dramatic wildernesses. Despite its compact size, the park packs extraordinary ecological variety: from lush montane forest rich with colobus monkeys and colourful birds, to the alkaline shores of Lake Momella shimmering with flamingos and waterfowl.

Unlike the great open plains of the Serengeti, Arusha offers an intimate, almost secret safari experience. Giraffe stride gracefully along forest edges, herds of zebra and buffalo graze the open glades, and warthog trot through the undergrowth. The park is also the only place in Tanzania where you can embark on a guided walking safari — putting you on the ground, at eye level with the wild.

Arusha National Park makes an exceptional half- or full-day excursion, and is the perfect complement to a longer circuit safari or the start of a Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru climb with Sokwe Africa Safaris.

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Zebra in the wild — Arusha National Park, Sokwe Africa Safaris Tanzania

552 km² of Diverse
Wilderness

Why Visit

Arusha Highlights

Mount Meru

At 4,566 m, Mount Meru is Africa's fifth-highest peak and a superb acclimatisation climb before Kilimanjaro — with wildlife encounters all the way up.

Flamingo Lakes

Lake Momella's series of shallow alkaline lakes attracts hundreds of flamingos, along with pelicans, herons, and an astonishing variety of waterfowl.

Walking Safaris

One of only a few parks where guided foot safaris are permitted — experience the bush at ground level with all your senses engaged.

Colobus Forest

The montane forests on Meru's lower slopes are home to black-and-white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and over 400 recorded bird species.

What to Do

Activities & Experiences

Game Drives

Half-day and full-day 4WD game drives through open glades and forest tracks — encountering giraffe, zebra, buffalo, warthog, and an abundance of birdlife.

Bush Walking

Guided walking safaris allow you to slow down and truly immerse in the sights, sounds, and textures of the African bush — led by experienced armed rangers.

Canoeing on Lake Momella

Paddle silently across the shallow lakes as flamingos feed around you — a completely unique and peaceful perspective on Tanzanian wildlife.

Mount Meru Trekking

A three- to four-day trek to Meru's summit crater offers dramatic scenery, wildlife at altitude, and the finest Kilimanjaro acclimatisation available.

Wildlife Photography

The park's intimate scale, dramatic light, and varied backdrops — including the iconic Meru silhouette — make it exceptional for photography at every level.

Bespoke Day Trips

Arusha National Park makes an ideal add-on day trip before or after any Tanzania circuit safari — perfectly positioned near Arusha's international airport.

Plan Your Arusha Experience