Further to the north, grassy hills surround the peaceful Momela Lakes, each displaying a unique shade of green or blue. Sometimes, the lakes’ shallows take on a pinkish hue due to the presence of thousands of flamingos. These lakes are home to various resident and migratory waterfowl, and you can often spot shaggy waterbucks showcasing their large lyre-shaped horns along the water’s edge. Giraffes gracefully move across the grassy hills, mingling with herds of grazing zebras, while pairs of wide-eyed dik-dik swiftly disappear into the scrubby bushes.

While elephants are not frequently seen in Arusha National Park, and lions are entirely absent. You may catch glimpses of leopards and spotted hyenas skulking around during the early mornings and late afternoons. It’s during these times that the veil of clouds on the eastern horizon is most likely to dissipate, revealing the snowy peaks of Kilimanjaro, just 50km (30 miles) away.