Arusha National Park is one of the smallest in the list of protected parks in Tanzania. It is often ignored by visitors to the East African country – not entirely incomprehensible in competition with Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. But nevertheless undeserved. Because Arusha National Park offers a lot that the big parks cannot.

Visit to the Momella Lakes

Those who go by car through the Arusha National Park, usually drive at the beginning of the tour on the slopes of the Ngurdoto crater. From the end of the road on the northern side of the crater rim, you can not only look at the bottom of this huge bowl. In the other direction, the view sweeps over wide land and silver water surfaces shining in the sun – the Momella lakes. Formed in their present shape about 6000 years ago during a violent eruption of the volcano Mt. Meru, these lakes are home to many waterfowl and welcome source of drinking water for the animals that live between Meru and the lakes. A road leads through this impressive lake landscape, which is home to thousands of flamingos depending on the season. Incidentally, the lakes, which are fed by underground springs, are very different despite their proximity to each other. Various minerals and the algae that grow as a result not only provide colors ranging from green to turquoise, but are also the reason why each lake is a favorite for very different bird species. So a drive around the lakes with different viewpoints is a must in Arusha National Park.

When giraffes cross the lake

But it doesn’t have to stop at just driving around. Because the small Momella Lake invites you to a very special adventure, a canoe safari. Two kilometers long and 600 meters between the two shores at its widest point, it is not as small as its name suggests. It is rather the second largest of the seven lakes here and maximum 10 meters deep, on him you can move for two to two and a half hours by canoe.

Incredible view of Mt. Meru & Kilimanjaro

Waterbucks, bushbucks and reedbucks can be admired on the shores, also giraffes come to drink. Warthogs cavort near the water, an incredible number of birds can be found around the lakes and of course on the water. And the greatest adventure is to see one of the huge buffalos quenching their thirst at a safe distance on the small Lake Momella or to wait for a hippo to stick its mighty head out of the water. And if there really is no animal around, you can get an incredible view of the nearby Mt. Meru and on clear days even see the majestic Kilimanjaro in the opposite direction. By the way – even though Meru may seem a bit lost in the size of Africa’s neighboring highest mountain – it is, after all, Tanzania’s second highest mountain and the fifth highest on the entire continent. Waterbucks, bushbucks and Red Duiker can be seen on the shores, also giraffes come to drink. Warthogs cavort near the water, an incredible number of birds can be found around the lakes and of course on the water. And the greatest adventure is to see one of the huge buffalos quenching their thirst at a safe distance on the small Lake Momella or to wait for a hippo to stick its mighty head out of the water. And if there really is no animal around, you can get an incredible view of the nearby Mt. Meru and on clear days even see the majestic Kilimanjaro in the opposite direction. By the way – even though Meru may seem a bit lost in the size of Africa’s neighboring highest mountain – it is, after all, Tanzania’s second highest mountain and the fifth highest on the entire continent.

Active on the road

After many hours in the car you will love the possibility of physical activity in a canoe (please do not forget sunscreen). And if you want to be a bit more active, you can combine your stay with a hiking safari on the slopes of Mt. Meru. Or climb it up to its 4566 meters high summit. But that’s another story…