Arusha National Park

Twiga Lodge

We had chosen beautiful Twiga Lodge as our base just outside the Arusha National Park, where we stayed with Erika and Paul, who also run a Safari company. Paul took us into the park, showing us all the spectacular areas of Arusha National Park. Besides of many animals living here, the landscape with Mt. Meru, the Ngurdoto crater and Momela Lakes was spectacular. The rain forest around the mountains was something we hadn’t seen before, with so many plants like moss and ferns living up in the trees.

Paul – our host and guide
Mt. Meru
Ngurdoto crater
Black-and-white colobus
Sykes’ monkey

There were so many butterflies in the park, small ones and very big ones, in all colours, but they would flutter by so fast, it was hard to get a good look. We were very happy when we managed to get a good picture of this butterfly, sucking nectar from a flower.

Momela Lakes @ Arusha National Park
Waterbuck

Momela lakes have a high concentration of minerals, ideal for algae and therefore for flamingos. We saw Lesser and Greater Flamingos, for sure more than hundred gathering at one of the lakes.

Clouds closing in @ Mt. Meru
Bushbock hiding
Mr. Warthog
Hiking group on the way to Mt. Meru
Fig tree arch

The seeds of the strangler fig, transferred by birds, start to grow in crevices atop other trees. These seedlings grow their roots downward and envelop the host tree while also growing upward to reach into the sunlight zone above the canopy. The original support tree often dies, so that the strangler fig becomes a tree with a hollow center.

Sykes’ monkey

Driving up high at the slopes of Mt. Meru, we crossed an incredible rain forest until we reached this lovely waterfall, many small antelopes, monkeys and birds inhabit this forest.

Back @ Twiga Lodge
Giant Eagle-owl
Erika – preparing our dinner

We were impressed by the diversity of Arusha National Park, with its impressive forests and their inhabitants, the lakes, the craters and the mountains. For sure a fascinating national park and we had enjoyed our tour with Paul very much, including the lovely dinner Erika had prepared for us.

We will head further west to Tarangire National Park next.

1 thought on “Arusha National Park”

  1. Torsten, DG7RO

    Viel Spass und Gute Fahrt auf dem Weg zur und in die Serengeti. Ngorogo nicht vergessen! Viel Erfolg beim Suchen/Sichten von Leos, Cheetah und dem Nashorn.

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