1 dayArusha National Park
1-Day Arusha National Park Safari
A full safari day 45 minutes from town, with the option of a ranger-guided walking safari.
From
$250 USD pp
Destination
Arusha National Park
Twenty minutes from town, at the foot of Mount Meru: forest, crater grassland and alkaline lakes, and one of the few Tanzanian parks where you can walk with a ranger.
Arusha National Park packs an unusual amount of variety into a small area. Ngurdoto Crater is a miniature Ngorongoro ringed by forest; the Momella lakes carry flamingo and waterbirds; and the montane forest holds black-and-white colobus monkeys.
There are no lions here, which is exactly why guided walking safaris are permitted. Walking among giraffe, buffalo and zebra changes the whole experience — you hear and smell the bush instead of watching it through glass.
On a clear morning Kilimanjaro floats above the Momella lakes. It is the ideal first or last day of a trip, or a full safari day for volunteers with limited time.
Highlights
- Ranger-guided walking safari
- Ngurdoto Crater viewpoints
- Canoeing on Momella (seasonal)
- Views of Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru
Wildlife you can expect
- · Masai giraffe (unusually high density)
- · Black-and-white colobus monkey
- · Cape buffalo, zebra, warthog
- · Flamingo on the Momella lakes
- · Bushbuck and red duiker
- · No lions — walking safaris allowed
Best time to visit Arusha
Good all year. Clearest Kilimanjaro and Meru views from June to October and late December to February.
Check your own travel month →Safaris that visit Arusha
View itinerary
Guides about Arusha
Planning
Arusha Travel Guide: Where to Stay and Start a Safari
Everyone passes through Arusha and almost nobody plans for it. Two days here make the rest of the trip better.
Culture
Materuni Waterfalls and Chagga Coffee Tour: The Full Guide
A waterfall on Kilimanjaro's lower slopes, coffee roasted by the family who grew it, and an afternoon in water the colour of glass.
Volunteering
Combining Volunteering and Safari in Tanzania
This is how Fruits & Love started: volunteers with a free weekend and a country full of national parks two hours up the road.
Arusha safari FAQ
- When is the best time to visit Arusha?
- Good all year. Clearest Kilimanjaro and Meru views from June to October and late December to February.
- How far is Arusha from Arusha?
- 45 minutes by road We collect you from your hotel in Arusha or from Kilimanjaro Airport, and the drive is part of the trip — the road out of town crosses Maasai country and the Rift Valley escarpment.
- What animals will I see in Arusha?
- Masai giraffe (unusually high density), Black-and-white colobus monkey, Cape buffalo, zebra, warthog, Flamingo on the Momella lakes, Bushbuck and red duiker, No lions — walking safaris allowed. Sightings are never guaranteed, but your guide radios with other drivers and knows where the resident animals have been feeding that week.
- Which safaris include Arusha?
- 1-Day Arusha National Park Safari. Prices start at $250 per person in USD, including park fees.
- Are park fees included in your Arusha prices?
- Yes. Every quote we send includes national park and conservation area entry fees, the vehicle, your driver-guide, accommodation and meals. Park fees are set by the Tanzanian authorities and are the same for every operator, which is why unusually cheap quotes normally cut corners on vehicles or food.