The closest national park to Arusha town–northern Tanzania's safari capital–Arusha National Park is a multi-faceted jewel, often overlooked by safari goers, despite offering the opportunity to explore an attractive diversity of habitats within a few hours. The National park is an easy 40-minute drive from Arusha. Approximately 60 km (35 miles) from Kilimanjaro International Airport and which covers about 137 sq km (53 sq miles) of the total area.

Arusha National Park is among the fewer National Parks in Tanzania which offers a walking safari to the visitors of the park escorted with an armed ranger around the park. This tour is one of the popular safaris in Tanzania which gives you a room to see wildlife at a closer range. Among others are the African Buffaloes, varieties of antelopes as well as numerous number of birdlife such as pelican, flamingo and other residential and migratory birds.

The entrance gate leads into shadowy montane forest inhabited by inquisitive blue monkeys and colorful turaco and trogons–the only place on the northern safari circuit where the acrobatic black-and-white colobus monkeys are 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 50 km (30 miles) distant.

But it is Kilimanjaro unassuming cousin, Mount Meru-the fifth highest in Africa at 4,566 metres (14,990 feet)–that dominates the park's horizon. Its peaks and eastern foot slopes protected within the national park, Meru offers unparalleled views of its famous neighbor, 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.