Extra Day in Arusha

Arrive in Arusha and transfer to your lodge in the forested foothills of Mount Meru. Wander the forest and gardens, relax by the pool, or enjoy the view from your private veranda as you anticipate the adventures ahead.

Rise early for breakfast, then head into Arusha National Park for a full day of exploration. At just 212 square miles, this relatively small national park protects the peaks and eastern foothills of Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth tallest mountain. It also offers the opportunity to explore an enticing diversity of habitats within a single day.

The park’s entrance leads into a shadowy montane forest inhabited by inquisitive blue monkeys and some particularly colorful birds—turaco, Narina trogon and bar-tailed trogon. Watch also for jovial black-and-white colobus monkeys playing in the canopy, since this is the only place in the region where they are readily seen. Our initial destination is the steep-sided Ngurdoto Crater, which is often called “Little Ngorongoro” due to a swampy floor that attracts herds of Cape buffalo and warthog. From there, we’ll seek out the ancient fig tree forests and see towering Mount Meru’s waterfalls that run crystal clear from its slopes.

After stopping for a picnic lunch at a special campsite, we’ll head for the seven spring-fed Momela Lakes. Each alkaline lake is a different shade of blue or green, dependent upon different algae, and filled with abundant bird life, including flamingos. The waters also support shaggy waterbucks that display their large lyre-shaped horns along the shore. Throughout the park, it is common to encounter giraffe, zebra and elephants, among many other species. While lions are not found in the park, watch for leopards and spotted hyenas slinking around in the late afternoon. This evening, join our Expedition Leader and the rest of our safari group for a welcome dinner (commencing Day 1 of your safari adventure).