overview of Arusha National Park
The Arusha National Park is one of the smaller national parks in Tanzania with a total of 13 7km only. This park was established in 1960 and is situated only 37km from Arusha town. The major attractions in this park are the Momella Lakes, the Ngurdoto Crater and the Meru Crater with its ash cone at 1,829 metres. A wide variety of animals can be found here. The most common are theAbyssinian black and white colubus monkeys, the velvet monkeys, the red forest duikers, hippos, elephants, giraffes, buffalos, bushbucks and sometimes the leopard.
Day trip from Arusha is possible - morning Walking Safari escorted by an armed ranger followed by an afternoon game drive to the Momella Lakes and Ngurdoto Crater. Black-and-white colobus monkeys are uniquely found here and there are other wildlife such as buffalo, hippo, giraffe, zebra, vervet monkeys, antelope and the occasional leopard to be seen here.Mkuru is situated on the north side of Mt Meru, not far away from the irrigated fields of Ngarenanyuki & the Momella gate, of Arusha National park. From a distance the area can be recognized through the remarkable shape of Ol Doinyo Landaree, the little mountain that looks like a pyramid. Masaai families live in traditional bomas scattered throughout the area. In the early morning, the warriors start wandering with their cattle in search of water & pasture. Young children take care of the goats & sheep, and sometimes assist their mothers in fetching water & collecting firewood.
Momella Lodge
- A village of elegant grey and white huts with thatched roofs, with 50 rooms all comfortably furnished
- It is an ideal stop over for those wishing to spend a night in this park
- or for those wishing to climb Mt. Meru
- The famous film by John Wayne, "HATARI", was filmed here in 1960/1.
- Room strategically placed to offer unique views of the surroundings
- Living up to highest industry standards
Oldonyo Orok
- With a total of 17 rooms, the lodge was originally built as a private house for the actor Hardy Kruger
- who fell in love with the area after the filming of the John Wayne film "Hatari"
- It is a privately run lodge that caters for small select groups
- Candle lit dinners, with fresh home cooking, are held in the timber and thatch living room
- backed by a huge roaring log fire and the sounds of the African night to complete the real feel of Africa.