Tarangire National Park Day Safari
Elephants, ancient baobabs and a river that pulls in the animals when the land dries out: Tarangire is the easiest big-game day out from Arusha and the best first safari for anyone who only has a day.
Arusha (Tanzania)
Arusha & the Northern Safari Circuit
Arusha is where northern Tanzania begins: a busy highland town beneath Mount Meru, a short drive from Tarangire's elephants and baobabs, Lake Manyara's forest and flamingo shallows, the great caldera of Ngorongoro and, to the east, the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro above Moshi.
Multi-day safaris and Kilimanjaro climbs are the classic Tanzanian trip, but they are out of scope here. This guide is built from single days that start and end at your hotel: a day safari in Tarangire, a long day in Ngorongoro Crater, a gentle day in Lake Manyara or Arusha National Park, a waterfall walk and coffee ceremony at Materuni, a swim at the Chemka hot springs, a Maasai village visit, a browse at the Cultural Heritage Centre and the Marangu Gate hike to Mandara Hut. It then matches you to a base, from a quiet lodge on the edge of Arusha to a lakeside lodge, a mid-range hotel in Moshi, a Karatu lodge for the crater and a budget hostel in town. Park fees are charged per day and change, so always ask what your tour includes.
Don't miss
Tarangire National Park Day Safari
Elephants, ancient baobabs and a river that pulls in the animals when the land dries out: Tarangire is the easiest big-game day out from Arusha and the best first safari for anyone who only has a day.
Ngorongoro Crater Day Trip
A volcanic caldera with its own wildlife-packed floor, reached from Arusha in a very long day. Plan for a dawn start, a descent by 4x4 and a picnic lunch beside the hippo pool.
Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour
A walk through banana groves and Chagga farms on Kilimanjaro's lower slopes to a tall waterfall, finished with a coffee ceremony from bean to cup. The most popular non-safari day out in the Arusha and Moshi area.
Lake Manyara National Park Day Safari
A compact park at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment with groundwater forest, a soda lake and the lions that rest in trees. The shortest drive of the northern parks makes it a comfortable day from Arusha.
Things to do in Arusha & the Northern Safari Circuit
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Ngorongoro Crater Day Trip
A volcanic caldera with its own wildlife-packed floor, reached from Arusha in a very long day. Plan for a dawn start, a descent by 4x4 and a picnic lunch beside the hippo pool.
Lake Manyara National Park Day Safari
A compact park at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment with groundwater forest, a soda lake and the lions that rest in trees. The shortest drive of the northern parks makes it a comfortable day from Arusha.
Arusha National Park Day Trip
The closest park to town packs a crater, shallow coloured lakes, giraffe and colobus monkeys into one day, with walking safaris and canoeing on offer. A good gentle start, and a lighter way to see wildlife than the longer parks.
Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour
A walk through banana groves and Chagga farms on Kilimanjaro's lower slopes to a tall waterfall, finished with a coffee ceremony from bean to cup. The most popular non-safari day out in the Arusha and Moshi area.
Chemka (Kikuletwa) Hot Springs
A spring-fed pool of clear blue water under fig trees in the plains between Moshi and Arusha, warm enough to swim in. Easy, restful and the best way to follow a safari or a hike.
Kilimanjaro Day Hike to Mandara Hut (Marangu Gate)
Walk the first leg of the Marangu route through Kilimanjaro's rainforest to Mandara Hut and back in a day. You do not reach the summit, but you do stand on the mountain, and the day suits fit walkers who cannot spare a week.
Maasai Village Visit
A half-day cultural visit to a Maasai community outside Arusha, with songs, dances and a look at village life. Done well it is memorable; done badly it is a staged stop, so the choice of host matters.
Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre
One compound in Arusha holding art and artifacts from Tanzania and East Africa, from carvings to gemstones, books and clothing. A good rest-day browse before or after a safari.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge
Dodoma Road, Arusha
A tented-lodge style retreat on Dodoma Road on the edge of Arusha, with large plantation-view rooms, a spa and pool, and the Cultural Heritage Centre two minutes away. The calm, comfortable splurge before or after a safari.
Check rates →Lake Duluti Lodge
Tengeru, Lake Duluti
A lodge in a nature reserve a minute's walk from Lake Duluti, with a pool, spa and canoeing on the doorstep. Quiet, green and well placed for Arusha National Park and the road to Moshi.
Check rates →Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel
Shanti Town, Moshi
A mid-range Moshi hotel two minutes from the Clock Tower with a pool, a rooftop bar that guests praise for Kilimanjaro views, and a base for Materuni, Chemka and the Marangu day hike.
Check rates →The Retreat at Ngorongoro
Tloma, Karatu
A lodge in the Tloma area of Karatu with mountain views, a pool, a spa and fireplaces in the rooms. The right overnight stop to make the Ngorongoro Crater day trip far less rushed.
Check rates →Arusha Backpackers Hotel
Central Arusha (Sokoine Road)
A budget hostel and hotel on Sokoine Road with dorms and private rooms, a rooftop terrace, bar and restaurant, and a walk to the Clock Tower and the Maasai Market. The cheap, social base in town.
Check rates →Arusha & the Northern Safari Circuit guides
First-Timer's Guide to Arusha and the Northern Safari Circuit
How to use Arusha as a gateway to northern Tanzania with single-day trips only: what to book ahead, how to get around, how many days to allow and where each park and village day fits.
Where to Stay in Arusha, Moshi and Karatu
Which base suits which day trips: quiet lodge on the edge of Arusha, a lakeside lodge at Tengeru, a mid-range Moshi hotel, a Karatu lodge for Ngorongoro and a budget hostel in town.
