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Arusha National Park, Tanzania
A Game Drive through the smallest National Park of Tanzania


Arusha National Park has just 137 square meters. The Park abounds not only with its variety of fauna, but the outstanding beauty of its countryside.

Vast meadows, dense rain forest, the volcanic crater Ngurdoto and the Momella Lakes offer something for everybody. The volcano Mount Meru also belongs to the park. With its peak at 4.566 meters, it is Africa's 5th highest mountain. 100 years ago Lava was still flowing here.

Even if you prefer not to climb to the top of Meru the mountain is still worth a closer visit to its magical cloud forest, which reaches up to a height of 3.000 meters.

 

To see most of the park half a day will suffice. Climbers, whose only purpose is to ascend Kilimanjaro should not miss to visit the nearby Arusha National Park when waiting for the evening flight back to Amsterdam. Tour operators are able to offer ad hoc tours.

 


(click to enlarge photo)

 

Serengeti Ndogo - the little Serengeti.

That's the name of the plain, one passes soon after entering the main gate.

Buffalos, giraffes, warthogs roam the area.

     
 

Momella Lakes.

Retreat for flamingos, ducks, waders. With a little luck hippos can be seen close-by.

 

     
 

Blue Monkey.

Whole families can be watched beside the narrow street. The monkeys live together in groups of up to 20 members. They are omnivores, but mainly they live vegetarian. They can get 20 years old.

 

     
 

Waterbuck.

One of the most common animals in Arusha National Park. It is an antelope, which loves to stay close to the water. With its body and size it reminds of red deer.



 

     
 

The waterbuck's horns reaches a length of one meter.

     
 

Bushbuck.

Bushbucks are a bit smaller than waterbucks. They prefer to hide in the wood and shrubberies.

They also live in great heights. I met 3 bushbucks while walking near Saddle Hut which is at 3.500 meters.
Their enemies are cheetah and leopard which are not present in Arusha NP.

(there is a baboon in the background, also very common in the park)

     
 

Sausage tree (Kigelia pinnata)

The tree only works as a nice frame for the trio of giraffes.

Giraffes prefer the leaves of acacias, which they skilfully pick out between the long thorns. Giraffes are ruminants. The food has to cover quite a distance on its way down and up again!

The locals have a nickname for the giraffe: Miss Tanzania.

     
 

Giraffes grow up to 5,80 meters, they weigh up to 800 kilos and they can run at a speed of up to 50K/h. There hooves are a serious arm.

In Arusha National Park giraffes can be admired very close-by, like seen here. You can deeply look in their eyes.

Note how different their faces can appear.

     
 
     
 







This is probably a wader of the family of sandpipers (Tringa). Maybe a Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis).

     
           
Familiar birds, met again in Africa!

Barn-swallows enjoy the winter in the South.
     
 
The little ducks appear too small in this photo to be identified.

But you might get another impression of the variety of animals which can be seen in the park.

     
 

Scaly frankolin
francolinus squamatus


The scaly frankolin is a member of the family of pheasant-like game birds.

(thanks to Brigitte for the hint)
 

     
 

Guereza, Colobus Monkey,
(Colobus guereza)


Colobus monkeys are the trade mark of Arusha NP. They are not easy to photograph because they mostly stay high within the green top of trees and their long black and white hair conceals their outlines.

The long hair works like a parachute when jumping from one tree to another. The Guerezas were nearly extinct at beginning of 20th century because their fur was very fashionable.
 

     
  View from Momella Lakes to Mount Meru. At the front the scondary crater can be spotted. It was still active 100 years ago.
 

Literature  (Amazon UK - commissions are donated without any cuttings)

 
 


Links



Arusha National Park  official site
GORP Away  private site, extensive information on Arusha Park, a must to visit
Paul Gross  very nice page, english
Momella Lodge  stay at the Hardy-Krüger-Lodge at the border of the park

 

also on this website: Kilimanjaro  Mount Meru  Arusha NP  Lake Manyara NP  Ngorongoro Crater
 

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