Arusha National Park includes the Mount Meru Forest Catchment Reserve annexed in 2004. It has total area of 552 sq km (205.96 sq miles). The park, established in 1960, is the only one which has changed its name three times. Initially, it used to be called the Ngurdoto Crater National Park, by then the prominent features included the Momella Lakes, when Mount Meru Crater was annexed, the name changed to Meru Crater National Park. Later the name Arusha National Park was adopted.
This park is situated at latitude 3° 15’ S and longitude 36° 45’ E at its centre. It is the core of Mount Meru natural system and the source for several perennial and seasonal rivers that provide water to Arusha city as well as to the many settlements in the dry but densely inhabited Arumeru district.
The Arusha National Park is part of a larger regional ecosystem of Mount Meru-Kilimanjaro- Amboseli along the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley. At 4,566 MASL (14,990 ft), Meru is the fifth highest mountain in Africa, and is a dormant volcano.
A 40 minutes’ drive from Arusha and approximately 60 km (35 miles) from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
The best time to climb Mount Meru is between June and February while best views of the Kilimanjaro are between December and February.
