Walking Safari in Arusha National Park

“You could drive to most of the parks on Tanzania’s Northern safari circuit as part of a day trip from Arusha. These parks include Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater. To visit the Serengeti on a day trip, you would probably need to fly. Having more time to visit each park would obviously be preferable, but day trips can be excellent for those with limited time. It might also be possible to fly in/out to/from a park in 1 day from Arusha, and you will certainly find operators willing to take you on such a trip. If you do a fly-in-fly-out day trip, remember that you also get to enjoy a scenic flight on the way in and out. Another option for a 1-day safari could be Arusha National Park. Best known as the home of Mt Meru, you’ll really get to enjoy some of northern Tanzania’s most spectacular views on a visit to the park. Remember that the best views of Mt Kilimanjaro are actually from Kenya, not Tanzania, so Arusha National Park’s views could just be the best you’ll find anywhere in the country’s north. In addition to the scenery, the park also has some wildlife that includes zebra, giraffe, hippo and buffalo. Elephant is also possible, although the park doesn’t have a big population. The park also has a few leopard, spotted hyena and wildebeest.”

The nearest airport to Moshi is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Travel time usually takes around 40 minutes from JRO to Moshi.

“There certainly is enough to fill a day in Arusha, so much so that you will have to make some choices about your priorities. If getting to know Arusha on a city tour is how you’d like to spend your day, then count on spending time exploring and shopping in the city’s markets, visiting its museums (the Natural History Museum is good), and going on a tour of a local coffee plantation; the latter often ends up being many visitors’ favorite activity in the city. You could also consider choosing from a variety of cultural tours just outside the city. Most such tours include a visit to a local community or village close to Arusha, where you may share a meal with locals, get a tour of the village, take a walk with a local guide, or take part in some other activity or cultural demonstration. Choosing a cultural tour of this kind would, however, mean that you won’t have time on the same day for a city tour, although some cultural tours or packages offer half-day options.”

“Both private and group day safaris are possible from Arusha, and it all depends on what kind of trip you want to have. On a private day safari, you will pay more than you would for a group safari, because you will have to pay the entire costs of a guide, vehicle and other expenses that would be shared on a group safari. Having paid a little more, on a private day safari you should be able to custom design the itinerary in consultation with the tour operator, deciding which park or parks to visit, how long you will spend at each site and so on. You will, of course, be limited in how much you can cover in a day. But otherwise you should be able to design the safari according to your needs. Such decisions are rarely possible on a group safari, on which you’re more likely to be on a pre-organized itinerary. Apart from sharing costs, one plus of going on a group safari is the opportunity to meet and share experiences with like-minded safari travelers.”

“Day safaris from Arusha can be excellent for families, although depending on the age of your children, the tour operator may require you to pay for a private safari, rather than joining a group one. Most activities on a day safari are suitable for children, from viewing wildlife to visiting a local community on a cultural tour. Such trips can be wonderful opportunities for children to experience another culture, and perhaps even participate in activities such as dancing or cooking. Remember, however, that cultural tours out of Arusha may include a meal that some children may not like; always bring extra snacks, just in case. Also, when planning a day safari for your family, be realistic in how much ground you can cover and avoid itineraries where you’ll end up spending all day in the car.”