Arusha National Park

I had a nice day out in Arusha National Park today. The park is very close to Arusha and is one of the smaller parks. It has several different ecosystems including Savannah, Montane Forest and Alkaline Lakes. It isn't packed with wildlife like some of the parks further north, but it has its own charm and is an easy day trip from Arusha.

The highlight of the park for me is the healthy population of Colobus Monkeys. The are one of the most attractive monkeys with long flowing black and white hair. They look like they just came out of a hair salon. I think the secret to their silky hair must be in the conditioner they use (monkey spit):


They usually like high in the treetops, but in Arusha NP the trees are growing on the seep side of a crater so you can get a good view of them:


They look like sort of a cross between a monkey and a skunk:


The park also has quite a few Giraffe:




A Giraffe's long tongue is evolved get the tasty Acacia leaves without getting stabbed by their protective thorns:


The park has several Alkaline Lakes which are attractive homes for Flamingos:


Flamingos like to eat the Blue-Green Algae that grows in Alkaline lakes. It's the Blue-Green Algae that makes them pink. Wait, you're saying, why doesn't it make them Blue-Green? Well that's because Blue-Green Algae is Red, what color did you expect it to be? Some Botanist wanted to call the stuff Red Algae, but that name was already taken by another species. I think Red Algae is Green, but what do I know, I'm not a Botanist.