Extraordinary African Safaris
Crater forests, the Momella Lakes, and giraffe on foot — a wonderfully varied park 45 minutes from town, and the best day-trip safari near Arusha.
Just 45 minutes from Arusha, this compact 552 km² park squeezes crater forest, alkaline lakes, and the lower slopes of Mount Meru into a single, gloriously varied day. With no resident lions, it’s one of the few places in northern Tanzania where you can leave the vehicle for walking safaris among giraffe, zebra, and buffalo, and canoe trips on the Momella Lakes.
The scenery shifts constantly — the jungle-clad Ngurdoto Crater (a ‘mini Ngorongoro’), the multi-hued Momella Lakes with their flamingos, and forest full of black-and-white colobus monkeys, with both Meru and Kilimanjaro on the horizon on clear mornings. It’s the ideal arrival- or departure-day safari.
Colobus monkeys and buffalo in the montane forest.
Approach giraffe and zebra on a guided walking safari.
Paddle past hippo and waterbuck, flamingos in season.
Look down into the forested Ngurdoto Crater before heading back.
Arusha NP is the smartest way to turn a wasted arrival or departure day into a real safari — and it offers what the big parks can't: walking and canoeing among wildlife. You won't see the Big Five (no lions or rhino), so come for variety, activity, and the chance to be on foot, not for predator drama.

These are the destinations we most often pair with Arusha National Park Safari, based on route flow, season, and how the wider itinerary fits together.
Crater forests, the Momella Lakes, and giraffe on foot — a remarkably varied park just 45 minutes from town, and Tanzania's best...
Plan This Stop →A dramatic 3–4 day trek to 4,566 m through a wildlife-rich national park — the smartest acclimatisation climb before Kilimanjaro, and a...
Plan This Stop →
Maasai bomas, Chagga coffee farms on Kilimanjaro's slopes, and bustling local markets — meet the people whose land makes the safari possible.
Plan This Stop →
The gateway to the Northern Circuit — a green, lively town beneath Mount Meru where almost every Tanzanian safari begins.
Plan This Stop →
Contact us now — we are always here to help with honest, expert advice at no cost.
Tell us about your dream trip and our Tanzania safari specialists will get back to you within 24 hours with a personalised itinerary and no-obligation quote.
A short planning brief gives our team enough context to suggest the right parks, route, pace and accommodation level.