Arusha National Park Guide

Arusha National Park covering 137 sq. kilometres lies between the peaks of Kilimanjaro and Meru and ascends from 1500 meter at Momella to 4566 meters at the summit of Mount Meru.
Established in 1960 the park contained Ngurdoto Crater and Momella lakes, until 1976 when Mount Meru was made part of the Park.
Norma am Momella Gate (1500m) Gewichtskontrolle (82kg lebend) Reges Treiben ums Momella Gate
Infotafel am Momella Gate Torbogen mit Mt. Meru im Hintergrund Los gehts, auf den 4-Tages Treck
Guide Dixon mit schwerem Rucksack Miriakamba Hut, ca 2500m Regenwald-Idylle
Mount Meru im goldigen Morgenlicht Ranger John mit Gewehr Interessante, interessierte Zuschauer am Wegrand
Büffel und Giraffen bleiben in angenehmer Distanz Rastende Träger Ranger John und Bruno
Coca Cola-Verkauf in Miriakamba Hut Blüten Strohblumen, ähnlich unserer Silberdisteln
Saddlehut (3570m) Bru-Nor auf Little Meru (3820m) Morgenessen um 2 Uhr früh
Nachtaufstieg auf den Mt. Meru Meru wirft seinen Schatten auf die Wolken Der Krater im Krater
Gipfeltreffen auf Mt. Meru (4566m) Der Kilimanjaro grüsst höflich Kraterrand, Blick gegen Little Meru
Norma on top Obligates Gipfelfotofoto Jonglieren in dünner Luft
Sanfter Abstieg durch den Lavasand Blick auf Afrika Gruss zurück zum Meru, im Hintergrund lockt der Kilimanjaro
Bruno Dixon mit Bruno Bruno schaut in den Krater
Bruno beim Rhinopoint Wolken spielen mit dem Meru Norma in schnellem Abstieg
Ein schöner, interessanter Berg, der Mount Meru Büffel am Fuss des Berges
On clear days magnificent views of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru can be seen from almost any part of the park. The vegetation and wildlife varies with the topography, which ranges from forest to swamp.

Best time to visit:
During the dry season from July-March. The best months to climb Mount Meru are June-February (although it sometimes rains in November). The best views of Mount Kilimanjaro are from December-February.

Birdlife:
The Park is famous for over 400 species of bird life, both migrant and resident, such as red shark, hamerkop, winged goose, herons, woodpecker, grey parrot, secretary bird and many more. The Momella Lakes offer plentiful bird watching opportunities.

Wildlife:
Arusha National Park contains a diverse resident population of herbivores, primates and predators including black and white colobus monkey, baboon, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, hippo, leopard, hyena, waterbuck, warthog and a wide range of antelope species. No lions are found in the park although leopards are seen by luck.

Mount Meru, 4566 meters high scaling can be made through a variety of landscapes, plains, forest moor lands, and lava desert, it is compulsory to be accompanied by an armed game warden because of wild animals.
From the summit, there is an impressive view of the crater and 3000 meters below of the eruption cone. The best months to climb are from July to February. It drizzles in November.

Access: It is 25 kilometres East of Arusha, 58 kilometres from Moshi and 35 kilometres from Kilimanjaro International Airport. (KIA). The turn on the right on the way towards Arusha and a gravel road for about 10 kilometres reaches Ngurdoto Gate. It is the nearest National Park to both Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airport.

(Tanzania Tourism_Trade_Directory 2002)