Often overlooked by visitors to Tanzania, it is the closest National Park to Arusha offering an astounding diversity of habitats from shadowy montane forest inhabited by inquisitive blue monkeys and colourful turacos and trogons, the rolling grassy hills enclosing the Momella Lakes and Mount Meru the 5th highest mountain in Africa. Elephants are not usually seen and although lions are absent altogether, leopards and hyenas may be seen sauntering around in the early morning and late afternoon.
Mount Meru Game Lodge & Sanctuary situated within close proximity to Arusha National Park
Size
137 sq km
Location
Northern Tanzania – northeast of Arusha Town
Getting There
From Arusha – 40 minute drive and from Kilimanjaro International Airport – 60 kilometres
When to go
All year round – best views of Mt Kilimanjaro December to February, best time to climb Mt Meru June to February although some rain in November
6 HIGHLIGHTS
• The only place on the Northern Safari Circuit where the acrobatic black and white Colobus monkey is easily seen.
• The spectacular Ngurdoto Crater where herds of buffalo and warthog can be seen on it’s marshy floor
• The tranquil beauty of Momella Lakes each one with different shades of green or blue with frequent visitors of thousands of flamingoes, migrant waterfowl, waterbuck, giraffes, zebra and dik-dik
• Climb Mount Meru at 4566 metres offering views of it’s spectacular it’s famous neighbour, Mount Kilimanjaro while still forming a rewarding hiking destination in it’s own right. Perfect acclimatization pre-climb before attempting Mount Kilimanjaro
• Best views of Mount Kilimanjaro 50 kms in the distance
• The Momella Lakes, the forest and the Ngurdoto Crater can all be visited in the course of a half day excursion
