Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park is much smaller than some of the more popular parks in the region, but it’s also much less time-consuming to get to. Some full-day tours include morning and afternoon game drives; others offer one game drive and one walking safari. Armed rangers lead walking safaris, and even on a private park tour, you should expect to be with other travelers during the walking portion.

• Arusha National Park is known for black-and-white colobus monkeys and giraffes, but there are no lions or rhinos in the park.

• Travelers with limited mobility should opt for a tour that does not involve a walking safari.

• Wear sun protection and comfortable shoes, and bring a rain jacket or poncho if you’re visiting outside of the dry season.

Arusha National Park is about a 45-minute drive from Arusha town or an 80-minute drive from Moshi. Most private and group tours to the park include round-trip transportation from Arusha or Moshi hotels, so you won't have to worry about getting there alone.

The best time to visit the park is during the dry season, which runs from June through early October. However, these are also the busiest months to visit the park, and you’ll get fewer crowds if you’re willing to visit at the tail end of the long rains (in May) or the beginning of the short rains (in late October).

Arusha National Park has a large population of Masai giraffes and is particularly worth visiting if you want to see the majestic creatures. This particular subspecies is the national animal of Tanzania and is characterized by its jagged markings that look more like leaves than typical giraffe spots. They’re most commonly found in a part of the park known as the “Little Serengeti.”