Arusha National Park Day Trip

Arusha National Park is a small yet diverse national park in Tanzania, located near Arusha City. It’s a convenient and easily accessible destination, making it ideal for a day trip safari, or as a starting point for longer safaris through Tanzania’s Northern Circuit. The park’s landscape includes wetlands, forests, and volcanic features.

While it lacks the large predator populations of parks like the Serengeti, Arusha National Park is home to a rich variety of mammals, such as giraffes, Cape buffalo, zebras, waterbucks, warthogs, and hippos. The park’s forests are one of the best places to spot black-and-white colobus monkeys. Leopards and hyenas are present, but rare to see.

With over 400 species of birds recorded within the park boundaries, the park is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Highlights include forest species like the Narina trogon and water birds, such as flamingos and pelicans, near the Momela Lakes region of the park.

One of the main draws of Arusha National Park is the ability to do ranger-guided walking safaris, allowing guests to get a closer look at wildlife, plants, and waterfalls on foot over the course of an hour and a half or so.

NOTE: For all day trip itineraries, it is necessary to already be in Arusha City, our starting point, on the morning of departure. It is not possible to do excursions on the same day as your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), regardless of arrival time, due to the time required for arrivals and transfers.