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by Jerry W.
Bird In addition to
tourism, my chief industry is agricultural, with
coffee, vegetables and flowers for the European
market. I am well known as a center for jewelry
made from Tanzanite. I am the most popular staging
point for treks to the foothills and peaks of Mt.
Kilimanjaro. My airports
include Kilimanjaro International Airport near
Moshii and Arusha Airport for smaller domestic
flights. Ground transportation includes bus service
to Nairobi, Dodoma and Dar Es Salaam and other
points. I "The
changes in Arusha and area since our last ATA
Congress here in 1998 are astounding, with many new
hotels and services, such as the
East
African All Suites
Hotel,
where our media team had the pleasure of staying.
Near Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha is
gateway to the world's greatest wildlife spectacle
and known as Africa's Safari Capital." Muguette
Goufrani, Africa Travel Magazine, Vancouver, BC,
Canada. More
to come... Editor's
Congress Reflections .. Arusha National
Park 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 50km (30 miles) distant.
But it is
Kilimanjaro's unassuming cousin, Mount Meru - the
fifth highest in Africa at 4,566 metres (14,990
feet) &endash; that dominates the park's horizon.
Its peaks and eastern footslopes protected within
the national park, Meru offers unparalleled views
of its famous neighbour, 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. About Arusha
National Park Size: 137 sq km
(53 sq miles). Location: Northern
Tanzania, northeast of Arusha town. Getting
there An easy 40-minute
drive from Arusha. Approximately 60 km (35 miles)
from Kilimanjaro International Airport. The lakes,
forest and Ngurdoto Crater can all be visited in
the course of a half-day outing at the beginning or
end of an extended northern safari. What to
do Forest walks,
numerous picnic sites; three- or four-day
Mt Meru climb - good acclimatisation for
Kilimanjaro. When to
go To climb Mt Meru,
June-February although it may rain in November.
Best views of
Kilimanjaro December-February. Accommodation A lodge, two rest
houses, camp sites, two mountain huts inside the
park; two lodges at Usa River outside the park and
many hotels and hostels in Arusha town. |
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