Despite the small size of the park, common animals include giraffe, buffalo, zebra, warthog, the black-and-white colobus monkey, the blue monkey, flamingos and more. African elephants and leopards are present, but rarely seen. The park is at the base of Mount Meru, which is good for climbing. Birdlife in the forest is prolific, with many forest species more easily seen here.
Though very accessible, Arusha NP isn't on many safari itineraries. This is mainly because it doesn't offer a chance of seeing the Big 5. It has a range of habitats including forest – home to the black-and-white colobus monkey – and is excellent for birding.