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ARUSHA NATIONAL
PARK The closest national park to Arusha town
&endash; northern Tanzania's
safari capital &endash; Arusha National Park is
a multi-faceted jewel, often overlooked by
safarigoers, despite offering the opportunity to
explore a beguiling diversity of habitats within a
few hours. The entrance gate leads into shadowy
montane forest inhabited by inquisitive blue
monkeys and colourful turacos and trogons &endash;
the only place on the northern safari circuit where
the acrobatic black-and-white colobus monkey is
easily seen. In the midst of the forest stands the
spectacular Ngurdoto Crater, whose steep, rocky
cliffs enclose a wide marshy floor dotted with
herds of buffalo and warthog. Further north, rolling grassy hills enclose the
tranquil beauty of the Momela Lakes, each one a
different hue of green or blue. Their shallows
sometimes tinged pink with thousands of flamingos,
the lakes support a rich selection of resident and
migrant waterfowl, and shaggy waterbucks display
their large lyre-shaped horns on the watery
fringes. Giraffes glide across the grassy hills,
between grazing zebra herds, while pairs of
wide-eyed dik-dik dart into scrubby bush like
overgrown hares on spindly legs. Although elephants are uncommon in Arusha
National Park, and lions absent altogether,
leopards and spotted hyenas may be seen slinking
around in the early morning and late afternoon. It
is also at dusk and dawn that the veil of cloud on
the eastern horizon is most likely to clear,
revealing the majestic snow-capped peaks of
Kilimanjaro, only 50km (30 miles) distant. But it
is Kilimanjaro's unassuming cousin, Mount Meru -
the fifth highest in Africa at 4,566 metres (14,990
feet) &endash; that dominates the park's horizon.
Its peaks and eastern footslopes protected within
the national park, Meru offers unparalleled views
of its famous neighbour, while also forming a
rewarding hiking destination in its own right. Passing first through wooded savannah where
buffalos and giraffes are frequently encountered,
the ascent of Meru leads into forests aflame with
red-hot pokers and dripping with Spanish moss,
before reaching high open heath spiked with giant
lobelias. Everlasting flowers cling to the alpine
desert, as delicately-hoofed klipspringers mark the
hike's progress. Astride the craggy summit,
Kilimanjaro stands unveiled, blushing in the
sunrise. About Arusha
National Park Size: 137 sq km (53 sq miles). Location: Northern Tanzania, northeast of Arusha
town. Getting there An easy 40-minute drive from Arusha.
Approximately 60 km (35 miles) from Kilimanjaro
International Airport. The lakes, forest and
Ngurdoto Crater can all be visited in the course of
a half-day outing at the beginning or end of an
extended northern safari. What to do Forest walks, numerous picnic sites; three- or
four-day Mt Meru climb - good acclimatisation for
Kilimanjaro. When to go To climb Mt Meru, June-February although it may
rain in November. Best views of Kilimanjaro
December-February. Accommodation A lodge, two rest houses, camp sites, two
mountain huts inside the park; two lodges at Usa
River outside the park and many hotels and hostels
in Arusha town. ROLE OF THE NATIONAL
PARKS The primary role of Tanzania' national parks is
conservation. The 14 national parks, many of which
form the core of a much larger protected ecosystem,
have been set aside to preserve the country's rich
natural heritage, and to provide secure breeding
grounds where its fauna and flora can thrive, safe
from the conflicting interests of a growing human
population. The existing park system protects a
number of internationally recognised bastions of
biodiversity and World Heritage sites, thereby
redressing the balance for those areas of the
country affected by deforestation, agriculture and
urbanisation. The gazetting of Saadani and Kitulo
National Parks in 2002 expanded this network to
include coastal and montane habitats formerly
accorded a lower level of protection. Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) is also
currently acquiring further land to expand certain
parks, and to raise the status of traditional
migration corridors connecting protected areas. By choosing to visit Tanzania you are supporting
a developing country's extraordinary investment in
the future. In spite of population pressures,
Tanzania has dedicated more than 42,000 square
kilometres to national parks. Including other
reserves, conservation areas and marine parks,
Tanzania has accorded some form of formal
protection to more than one-third of its territory
&endash; a far higher proportion than most of the
world's wealthier nations. Distance
and Flying Time to African Cities from World
Gateways Book advertising now - fax
604 681 6595, E-Mail africa@dowco.com |
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