2 days Materuni Village & the Waterfall
A Chagga village on Kilimanjaro’s southern slopes, a waterfall at the head of the valley, and coffee grown, roasted and ground in front of you.
Culture & Hiking
Arusha National Park in a Day
The one northern park where you can drive, walk and paddle in the same day, thirty minutes from town under the wall of Mount Meru.
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At a glance
- Destinations
- Arusha National Park · Momella Lakes · Ngurdoto Crater
- Best for
- Wildlife safari, Hiking
- Travel style
- Budget · Drive, Ferry/boat
- Activity level
- Moderate — walking days on forest and mountain paths
- Best time to travel
- June to October and January to February usually offer drier conditions for the Arusha National Park walk and game drive. The forest can still be wet, and views of Meru and Kilimanjaro depend on cloud on the day.
- Start and end
- Arusha, there and back
Why this journey
- A walking safari on foot with an armed ranger
- Canoeing on the Momella lakes
- Ngurdoto crater, sometimes called the Little Serengeti
- Tululusia waterfall, the tallest in the park
- Thirty minutes from Arusha, so no long transfer at either end
Day by day
Arusha National Park is small and unusually varied — Ngurdoto crater, the Momella lakes, montane forest and Meru above all of it. Because there are no lions, you are allowed out of the vehicle, which is why the day includes a walk and a canoe.
Morning departure
— Begin your adventure with a convenient hotel pick-up in Arusha and enjoy a scenic drive through beautiful landscapes to Ngongongare Gate, the main entrance to Arusha National Park.
Game drive
— Embark on a game drive toward Momela Gate, where you may encounter elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and other wildlife surrounded by acacia woodlands.
Guided walking safari
— Enjoy a guided walking safari through diverse landscapes, passing the famous fig tree tunnel and experiencing the park's rich flora and fauna up close.
Tululusia Waterfall visit
— Visit Tululusia Waterfall, the tallest in the park, surrounded by lush vegetation and offering excellent photography opportunities.
Picnic lunch
— Relax and enjoy a delicious picnic lunch at a scenic location while taking in the peaceful atmosphere of the park.
Canoe safari
— Experience a peaceful canoe safari on the Momela Lakes, where you'll observe colorful birdlife such as flamingos, herons, and kingfishers, along with other aquatic wildlife.
Ngurdoto Crater exploration
— Continue to the Ngurdoto Crater, often called the 'Little Serengeti,' with open views and good chances to spot wildlife and capture memorable photographs.
Return to Arusha
— Conclude your adventure with a comfortable drive back to your hotel in Arusha.
Stay and travel
A day trip, so there is no overnight stay. You start and finish at the agreed pick-up point.
A 4×4 with a roof hatch and a window seat for everyone, driven by your guide throughout.
Camps fill, and roads change with the rains. Where something has to change we substitute at the same level and tell you before you travel, not after.
Included and excluded
What is included
- Every activity named in the day-by-day
- Accommodation as listed, or a similar alternative if a camp is full
- Meals as noted against each day
- Transfers between the agreed pick-up and drop-off points
- Park, reserve and conservation area fees
- An English-speaking Tanzanian driver-guide
- A 4×4 with a roof hatch, or the vehicle the route calls for
- Drinking water through the day
- Government taxes
- Boat safari and transfers
- TANAPA armed ranger where the park requires one
Not included
- International flights, airport taxes and visa fees
- Travel, medical and baggage insurance
- Personal spending — drinks, laundry, telephone
- Tips for your guide and crew
- Anything not listed as included
Practical information
- Activity level
- Walking days on forest and mountain paths, some of them steep and often wet underfoot. Ordinary walking fitness is enough.
- Visas, insurance and tipping
- A visa is arranged before travel or on arrival. Travel and medical insurance is a condition of booking. Tipping is customary and we will suggest a range rather than set one.
Related journeys
Every route here can be changed
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