ARUSHA TOWN - DAY TRIP
Welcome To Arusha!
While it may not be the Tanzanian capital, Arusha is the undisputed safari capital of Tanzania, if not the world.
A bustling city that acts as the gateway to such legendary parks as Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, Arusha is a sometimes dizzying but always charming mix of cultures, styles, and peoples that every safari enthusiast will someday pass through.
Serviced by both Arusha Airport and Kilimanjaro Airport, Arusha is the starting point and finishing point for most Tanzanian safaris.
Tour Idea to Get you Dreaming.
Our Favorite Tours Showcasing the Best of the Arusha Town
Day Trips from Arusha Whether you're in Arusha for business or pleasure, the city offers a wealth of fun day trips and excursions. Maybe you've got a day to spare ahead of your Mount Kilimanjaro climb, or maybe you're killing time before joining us on safari. Regardless of the reason, we've got a number of fun day trips and tours for you to choose from.
Arusha National Park Day Trip
The most accessible national park in Tanzania, Arusha National Park is just a short (1 hour) drive from Arusha town.
While the park is not home to any big cats or larger mammals, it is an ideal place to spot buffalo, zebras, warthogs, and a variety of primates. In fact, Arusha National Park is the best place in Tanzania to spot black and white colobus monkeys.
With fewer dangerous animals to worry about, Arusha National Park is the ideal place to take a canoe safari or walking safari. With a picnic lunch prepared by Shadows of Africa, this is the perfect way to start (or finish) a longer safari adventure.
Lake Manyara or Tarangire Day Trip
Located between 1.5 and 2.5 hours from Arusha, the twin parks of Lake Manyara and Tarangire offer the more quintessential safari experience.
Tarangire is most famous for having Tanzania’s largest elephant population, so if seeing a Tembo in the wild is on your bucket list, this is the perfect place for it. Conversely, Lake Manyara is famous for being one of only two places in the world where you can see tree-climbing lions. It is also a great place to take a canoe safari or a quick walk on the treetop walkway.
Ngorongoro Day Trip
While the Ngorongoro Conservation Area lies approximately four hours’ drive from Arusha, it is possible for a particularly ambitious traveler to make the trip in a single day. While we don’t usually advise this due to the rushed itinerary, it’s a great way to see the World-Heritage listed Ngorongoro Crater when time isn’t on your side.
Departing early in the morning, you’ll arrive at Ngorongoro Crater in time for a picnic lunch and an afternoon game drive. Short of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro is the best place in Tanzania to spot the Big Five. Rhinos, elephants, buffalo, and lions are especially common sightings at the verdant floor of this stunning natural wonder.
You’ll return to Arusha after dark, so be prepared for a long day!
