Best time to visit Arusha NP
Excellent time is: June, July, August, September and October
For fair views you may visit in: January, February, November and December
However we do not recommend that you travel inMarch, April and May.
Game viewing inside Arusha National Park is excellent all year round however best views are enjoyed during the dry season, which starts towards the end of June to the finish of September.
In Brief
The best time to visit: August – September
Best time to visit: June – September (the park is filled with numerous animals and they are easier to see)
Peak Season: Most months in the year however July – March (the park has several tourists although it never becomes very packed)
Low Season: April and May
Best Weather Conditions: June – October there is less rainfall
Worst Weather conditions: March and April since it is the peak of the wet season
Dry Season (from June to October)
It is easier to see the wild animals during this period since they normally gather around the common water holes and more so the vegetation is not that very thick. There is a lot of sunshine with less rainfall. The danger of getting infected with malaria is pretty minimal since there are very few mosquitoes. Carry warm clothes for the morning game drives especially from the month of June all through August since The early mornings are normally cold.
Wet Season (November to May)
The Scenery is green and very beautiful, there are less Crowds during the months of the low season (April as well as May) and the rates are generally lower. Although wild animals are easier to see during the dry season in Arusha National Park, this national Park offers amazing views of wild animals during the dry months.
This is the best time for watching birds since there are numerous migrant species within the park. Most of the Roads are muddy and very challenging to drive through. The peak of the rainy season is from March to May
Vegetation
Arusha National park covers an area of just 137 sq km, however it includes a wide range of wildlife habitats. The park has three distinct vegetation areas which include: the rocky Mount Meru, Ngurdoto Crater as well as the Momella Lakes. Associated to the altitude as well as the geology of this National Park you will find alkaline lakes, mountain rainforests, a volcanic crater in addition to open savannahs. During clear days you will enjoy clear views of Mountain Meru, the 5th highest mountain in the whole of Africa lying inside the park’s boundaries. You may as well have sights of the great mountain Kilimanjaro which is 50 km from this park.
Regardless of its small size, this Park has a profusion of wild animals and birds living in its different vegetation zones. Around the water sources, you will see reedbucks plus waterbucks, the bashful bushbucks plus duiker are commonly seen in the forested areas. The eco-system of Mountain Meru is greatly diverse, and habitat to a number of larger mammals, that are hard to see such leopards plus hyena.
Arusha National Park’s weather in general
The climate of Arusha National Park is usually moderate and enjoyable. The dry season begins in June up to September while there are 2 wet seasons: The ‘long rains’ Start in March up to May while the ‘short rains’ begin in October to the end of December. Normally during this season, it rains in the afternoons and hardly ever rains for the whole day. Arusha NP includes Mount Meru plus the area at the bottom of the mountain which usually receive more rainfall and its skies normally cloudy.
The Average annual temperatures are fairly consistent, the nights and early morning are breezy to cold, and it hardly ever becomes hot in the day. Visitors are advised to carry warm clothes for the early game drives since the mornings are cold
Dry season (June to October)
June, July, August, September and October
The Afternoon temperatures are about 21°C or 70°F. The days are generally clear with peaceful skies. It is likely for the short rains to begin in October, must they start early. At night It cools down and the temperatures drop to nearly 11°C or 52°F. The irregular cold fronts may lower the temperatures to freezing. For that reason, we strongly recommend that you carry warm clothes if taking a game drive in the early morning.
Wet season – November to May
Similar to the dry season, the temperatures are fair in the wet season too. The Afternoon temperatures are normally about 26°C or 79°F and the night temperatures are approximately 13°C or 79°F.
November and December (Short rains)
Between November to the end of December you will have 4 weeks of unpredictable rainfall, however it is hard to predict when they will start. It will hardly ever have a bad effect on your safari, since it is rare for it to rain the entire day. It usually rains in the afternoon. The Daytime temperatures are basically approximately 25°C or 77°F and at night and in the early mornings are nearly 13°C or 55°F.
January and February
Between the 2 rainy seasons, there is a dry season however it is hard to tell when this will start.
March, April and May (Long rains)
For the majority of the days it rain since this is the wettest time of the year although it hardly ever rains for the whole day. The skies are really cloudy and the Average minimal temperatures are approximately 26°C or 79°F and then at night 13°C or 79°F. Cold fronts commonly occur in April and May causing temperatures to get much colder.
What to do in Arusha NP
enjoy Forest walks; explore the different picnic sites; embark on a 3 – 4 days hike of Mt Meru the perfect acclimatization for a Kilimanjaro hike.
When to visit
for those interested in climbing Mt Meru, June to February is the best time though November is a rainy month.
Best views of MT. Kilimanjaro in December to February.
Accommodation
There are 2 lodges, 2 guesthouses, 2 mountain huts plus camp sites within the park; more accommodation can be found near River Usa outside the boundaries of the park, as well as several hostels plus hotels in Arusha town.
Arusha Safari Tanzania
How To Get Arusha
When To Visit Arusha National Park
Birding in Arusha
