Arusha National Park, 25km east of town, is the city's most accessible piece of Tanzania's extraordinary wildlife landscape. The park covers Mount Meru, the Momela Lakes, and the Ngurdoto Crater — a mix of forest, savanna, and highland terrain compressed into a relatively small area. Colobus monkeys are common in the forest sections, and the crater rim looks out over a caldera floor that no vehicles enter, making it one of the few places in Tanzania's northern circuit where animals graze undisturbed.
The lakes are excellent for birdwatching: flamingos, herons, and ducks all use the crater lake system, which feeds from different volcanic sources and varies in chemistry from lake to lake. Walking safaris with an armed ranger are available here — one of the rare chances in Tanzania to approach wildlife on foot. For those with more time, the four-day climb of Mount Meru via the Momella route offers spectacular views of Kilimanjaro across the plain.