The closest national park to Arusha town – northern Tanzania’s safari capital – Arusha National Park is a multi-faceted jewel, often overlooked by safari goes, despite offering the opportunity to explore a beguiling diversity of habitats within a few hours.
The entrance gate leads into a 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 a different hue of green or blue. Their shallows are sometimes tinged pink with thousands of flamingos, the lakes support a rich selection of resident and migrant waterfowl, and shaggy waterbucks display their large lyre-shaped horns on the watery fringes. Giraffes glide across the grassy hills, between grazing zebra herds, while pairs of wide-eyed dik-dik dart into scrubby bushes like overgrown hares on spindly legs.
Arusha National Park – Momella Lakes: (552 sq. km) We will pick you up from your Hotel/Lodge at 8:00 am and drive to Arusha National Park which takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour. You will enjoy a half-day guided walking safari through the forest to the waterfall and the natural beauty of the hills, mountains, and river beds begging to be explored. Also, your guide will take you through the rain forest to the waterfalls; also you will see black and white Colobus monkeys, zebras, buffalos, and a lot of antelopes. You will also have a chance to observe more than 400 bird species including Crowned Eagle, Lanner Falcon, and Levaillant Cuckoo.
After the picnic lunch in the bush: you will be taken on a game drive through the National Park, where you will enjoy the flora and fauna. We will drive you to seven Momella lakes full of pink flamingos and other water birds. On the way back, giraffes, unaware of your presence, will pose undisturbed for the family album. Late afternoon around 6-7 pm we return back to Arusha and we will drop you at your Hotel/Lodge.
Price Includes: Park entry fees Walking fees Armed ranger guide Transport 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-up roof with driver cum guide Complimentary bottles of drinking water 1.5 litter per person per day during safari Picnic lunch boxes Price not includes: International & Domestic flights Fees for passports, visas, immunizations, and insurance Tips for staff such as driver cum guides/chef/porter Expenses of personal nature (like souvenirs)
Allow us to show you another beautiful day in Africa. Our team at Divan Africa Safaris is as warm as the land and as diverse as Africa’s natural kingdom and we are on hand to make your safari experience an unforgettable one. We have handpicked a selection of lodges across Tanzania, which will provide you with luxurious accommodation combined with the thrill and adventure of a close encounter with Tanzania’s wildlife.