Login
This compact, action-packed day trip offers an astonishing variety of landscapes and activities in one of Tanzania’s most accessible and underrated parks. While it may be small, Arusha National Park packs a punch with its stunning views of Mount Meru, tranquil alkaline lakes, lush montane forest, and rich wildlife. It’s the only park in Northern Tanzania where you can combine a classic game drive with a guided walk and canoeing.
Highlights:
Game Drive: Search for giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and the rare forest-dwelling Colobus monkeys.
Momella Lakes: Witness flocks of flamingos and other waterbirds against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Ngurdoto Crater: Often called “Little Ngorongoro,” peer into this volcanic calvette teeming with animals.
Optional Canoeing: A unique chance to glide across the serene Momella Lakes (at extra cost).
Best For: Those with a tight schedule, families, bird lovers, and anyone wanting a more active safari beyond just a game drive.
Price Includes
Price Excludes
Your professional guide will pick you up from your hotel in Arusha or Moshi.
Enjoy a briefing about the day’s adventure as you drive towards the park.
The early start helps maximize your time in the park when animals are most active.
Arrive at the main gate of Arusha National Park.
Your guide will handle the entry formalities while you soak in the first views and fresh mountain air.
Begin with a game drive through the forested foothills of Mount Meru. This is your best chance to spot troupes of black-and-white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys.
Proceed to the Ngurdoto Crater. While vehicles do not descend into the crater, you will drive along its rim, stopping at several viewpoints to look down into the swamp-filled floor where elephants, buffalo, and baboons can often be seen.
Enjoy a packed picnic lunch at a designated scenic spot, such as one overlooking the Momella Lakes or with views of Mount Meru.
After lunch, explore the area around the Momella Lakes. These shallow, alkaline lakes are a magnet for flamingos (seasonal), hippos, and a vast array of waterbirds like pelicans, storks, and kingfishers.
On a clear day, the reflection of Mount Kilimanjaro in the lakes provides an incredible photo opportunity.
Continue the game drive through open grasslands, where you are likely to see herds of zebra, warthogs, giraffe, and buffalo.
Option A: Guided Nature Walk (Highly Recommended & Often Included)
Embark on a fascinating guided walk from the Momella gate with an armed park ranger. This is a unique opportunity to experience the African bush on foot, learning about the smaller details like animal tracks, plants, and insects.
Option B: Canoe Safari (At Extra Cost – Must Be Pre-Booked)
For an additional fee, you can take a tranquil canoe ride on one of the Momella Lakes. This offers a completely different perspective to view the wildlife and birds from the water.
Begin your journey back towards Arusha or Moshi, reflecting on the diverse experiences of the day.
You will be dropped off at your hotel in the late afternoon.
+255 760 521 145
info.tours@smck.co.tz
