Arusha National Park

Lore & Background

The history of Arusha National Park is deeply rooted in the presence of the Rwa people, the first inhabitants of the region. In 1887, Hungarian explorer Count Teleki visited the Momella area and remarked on the abundance of hippopotamuses and black rhinos. In 1907, the Trappe family from Germany settled in the park during the German occupation of Tanganyika Territory, primarily for farming in Momella, and utilized large portions as a cattle ranch. Mrs. Trappe (Margarete Trappe), a German hunter, donated a significant portion of the Momella estate to establish a game reserve, which was later incorporated into the park during its expansion and renaming in 1967, not at its original founding in 1960.

Reader's Guide

Arusha National Park, though small by Tanzanian standards, holds significance for its remarkable diversity of landscapes across three distinct ecoregions: the Meru Crater channeling the Jekukumia River, the Ngurdoto Crater with expansive grasslands, and the shallow, alkaline Momella Lakes known for algal colors and wading birds. Mount Meru, the second highest peak in Tanzania after Mount Kilimanjaro, forms a backdrop to views from the park. The park lies on a 300-kilometre axis of Africa's most famous national parks, from Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in the west to Kilimanjaro National Park in the east. Its wildlife includes giraffe, Cape buffalo, zebra, warthog, black-and-white colobus monkey, blue monkey, flamingo, elephant, bushbuck, and leopard populations, though leopards are rarely seen. Birdlife is prolific, with species like Narina trogon and bar-tailed trogon. The park's legacy includes its establishment in 1960 as Ngurdoto Crater National Park, later expanded in 1967 to include Mount Meru and renamed Arusha National Park.

Did You Know?

• Mount Meru is the second highest peak in Tanzania after Mount Kilimanjaro, which is just 60 km away.
• The park was initially established in 1960 as Ngurdoto Crater National Park, not including Mount Meru.
• Margarete Trappe, a German hunter, donated a significant portion of the Momella estate to establish a game reserve, which was added to the park during its 1967 expansion.
• The name 'Arusha' is derived from the Waarusha people who inhabited the western portion of the region.

A Landscape of Three Worlds

Within the boundaries of Meru District and Arusha Rural District in Tanzania's Arusha Region, Arusha National Park packs an extraordinary range of terrain into a relatively compact area. Classified under IUCN category II, the park encompasses three clearly distinct ecoregions that sit side by side. In the western sector, the Meru Crater cradles the Jekukumia River, while the volcanic peak of Mount Meru—rising to 4,566 metres—crowns the crater's rim. This makes it the second-highest summit in the country, surpassed only by Kilimanjaro, which stands roughly 60 kilometres to the east and provides a dramatic backdrop visible from the park's eastern vantage points. To the southeast, the Ngurdoto Crater opens into broad, sweeping grasslands that offer a stark contrast to the forested slopes nearby. In the northeast, the shallow, alkaline Momella Lakes shimmer with vivid algal pigments and serve as a haven for wading birds. Together, these three zones create a mosaic of landscapes that defies the park's modest size.

From Ancient Inhabitants to Protected Land

The story of this land stretches far beyond any colonial record. The Rwa people were the earliest known inhabitants of the region, their presence predating European exploration and territorial control. In 1876, Hungarian explorer Count Teleki visited the Momella area and noted the plentiful hippopotamuses and black rhinos he encountered. In 1907, the Trappe family—English settlers under the British administration of Tanganyika Territory—established a farming and cattle-ranching operation around Momella. Mrs. Trappe, East Africa's first female professional hunter, generously donated a substantial portion of the Momella estate toward creating a game reserve. That land became part of the park when it was founded in 1960. At inception, however, the protected area was modest: designated Ngurdoto Crater National Park, it covered only a fraction of today's boundaries, with Mount Meru entirely excluded. In 1967 the name changed to Arusha National Park—drawn from the Waarusha people of the western region—once the Mount Meru area was incorporated. Following Tanzania's independence, the park received its official status and the full extent of Mount Meru was folded into its borders.

Wildlife and the Birdwatcher's Reward

Visitors arriving from the Serengeti or Ngorongoro may find the game-viewing experience here somewhat different. Arusha National Park, though small by Tanzanian standards, supports a rich assemblage of animals including giraffe, Cape buffalo, zebra, warthog, elephant, bushbuck, flamingo, and the distinctive black-and-white colobus and blue monkeys. Leopards do inhabit the park, yet sightings remain rare. Where the park truly excels, however, is in its avian diversity. The forested areas harbour a prolific range of bird species, many of which are more readily observed here than at other stops along Tanzania's northern tourist circuit. For dedicated birders, the Narina trogon and the bar-tailed trogon stand out as potential highlights, while the broad array of starling species offers a more subdued but equally rewarding spectacle. The Momella Lakes, with their shallow alkaline waters and vivid algal colouring, draw large congregations of wading birds, adding yet another dimension to the park's ornithological appeal.

A Node on Africa's Great Park Axis

Arusha National Park occupies a strategically significant position along a 300-kilometre corridor that links some of Africa's most celebrated protected areas. Stretching from the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in the west to Kilimanjaro National Park in the east, this axis places the park at the heart of Tanzania's northern circuit. The park sits just a few kilometres northeast of the city of Arusha, with its main gate positioned 25 kilometres to the east of town. For travellers arriving by air, Kilimanjaro International Airport lies a mere 35 kilometres away, while the town of Moshi is 58 kilometres distant. This accessibility, combined with the fact that Kilimanjaro itself rises 60 kilometres to the east and frames the park's eastern views, makes Arusha a natural staging point for those exploring the broader region. Despite its modest footprint compared to its neighbours, the park's three distinct ecoregions and rich biodiversity give it a character and ecological depth that punches well above its size on this iconic landscape corridor.