Arusha National Park Day Trip | Safari & Canoeing Near Arusha & Moshi Tanzania

Tour Overview

Arusha National Park is one of Tanzania's most diverse and beautiful parks, yet one of its most accessible — just one hour from Arusha. Offering game drives through varied habitats, canoe trips on the tranquil Momela Lakes, and Mount Meru dominating the skyline, this day trip is perfect for those wanting a full wildlife experience close to the city.

Day to Day Itinerary

Morning: Hotel Pickup — Drive to Arusha National Park

Pick up from your hotel in Moshi or Arusha at approximately 7:00am. Drive to the Momela Gate of Arusha National Park — just one hour from Arusha town. Enter one of Tanzania's most visually diverse parks, where the volcanic landscape of the Ngurdoto Crater, the alkaline Momela Lakes, and Mount Meru (4,566m) combine to create an extraordinary setting.

Morning: Game Drive and Ngurdoto Crater

Begin with a game drive through the forested Ngurdoto Crater — a smaller volcanic caldera within the park, accessible only on foot along the rim. The buffalo, warthog, baboon and bushbuck that live in the crater floor can be viewed from the rim lookout points. Continue through the montane forest and open grassland where giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, colobus monkey and dik-dik are commonly encountered. Buffalo and elephant are present in the park, and the prolific birdlife — over 400 species — is outstanding.

Midday: Canoe Trip on Momela Lakes — Picnic Lunch

The Momela Lakes are a series of shallow, alkaline lakes each with a slightly different colour due to varying algae concentrations — a remarkable geological feature. A guided canoe trip on the lakes offers a unique perspective on the wildlife, with flamingos, pelicans, African fish eagle and waterfowl all around you. Picnic lunch at the lakeside.

Afternoon: Return Game Drive — Return to Hotel

Afternoon game drive through the park's open areas, with Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro (on clear days) providing a dramatic volcanic backdrop. Depart the park in the late afternoon and return to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha by early evening.