Arusha National Park ::
Arusha National Park,described by Sir Julian Huxley as a "gem amongst parks", sports exquisite bird life, flora, small mammals, and monkeys that you can experience first-hand from the privileged perspective of a foot safari. Arusha National Park is also reputed to have the highest density of giraffe on Africa.
Arusha National Park is a small park of 46 sq. miles with three distinct areas:
- Momella Lakes - The Momella Lakes are a cluster of shallow alkaline lakes in the Eastern area of the park. The Momella Lakes attract seasonal flocks of flamingo and migrant birds. Each lake, fed by underground streams have a different mineral content hence support various algae growth, thus giving each lake a different color. Because of this phenomenon, bird life varies from one stretch of water to another.
- Ngurdoto Crater - Ngurdoto Crater is a smaller crater (4 sq. miles) with a constant resident wildlife within its walls. The crater is inaccessible by vehicle but several viewpoints dotted around the forest-fringed rim afford good views of the congregated wildlife within as well as sweeping vistas of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The highland forest around the crater as well as the slopes of Mt. Meru harbor the rare Black and White Colobus monkey.
- Mt. Meru - Mt. Meru, standing at 15,000 ft, is the second highest peak in Tanzania, shadowed by Kilimanjaro, its more celebrated cousin across the Maasai Steppe. The size of Mt. Meru once surpassed Kilimanjaro until a lava explosion blew out the eastern face. The climb to the Meru summit takes the visitor through flora changes of forest to moorland. The reward from the summit is the unparalleled views of the majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro and the East African Rift Valley.
