Arusha National Park

The closest national park to Arusha town northern Tanzania's safari capital Arusha National Park is the pocket-rocket of parks offering the opportunity to explore a captivating diversity of habitats within a few hours.

The park, near to Moshi and Arusha, is an ideal day trip destination, even for visitors who are attending seminars, workshops or business in these two towns. Unlike any other national park in Tanzania, here visitors can see a variety of wildlife in different habitats in a very short time. Its diverse beauty which includes scrubland, forest, lakes, craters, ash cone and Mount Meru, which dominates the park's horizon.

With wildlife that includes herbivores such as hippos, buffalo, zebra, and even the occasional wildebeest and elephant, Arusha National Park is also a perfect place to get out and stretch your legs, with both walking safaris and canoe safaris available within the park. You can also climb Mount Meru, Tanzania's second-highest peak, while exploring the surrounds of the park.

Arusha National Park is home to the world's largest population of giraffes, making it a great place to visit for fans of these elegant creatures. The location is also a refuge for primates including the acrobatic black-and-white colobus monkey, blue monkeys and baboons.

At just 552 square kilometres, it's a small park with a lot to see.