Previously three separate game reserves, the different areas of the park allow the traveler to experience vastly differing terrain and habitats.
All areas are terrific for birding.
Ngurdoto crater is the caldera of an extinct volcano. Although there is a ring road that allows fabulous views down into the lush crater interior there is no access to the interior. You may, however, climb up to the crater rim through the misty forest inhabited by the nimble black and white colobus monkeys that are the mascot of the park. Leopards are the main predator in this area and, strangely, there are no lions apart from the odd visitor. Momela is a tranquil watery region with seven lakes, lying between Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, where you may find the reedbuck, bushbuck and hippo.