Why Choose Arusha National Park from Moshi?

This day trip is a great option for travelers who want to combine wildlife, scenic landscapes, and mountain views without spending several days on safari. Arusha National Park offers a different experience from the larger northern-circuit parks, with its combination of Mount Meru, Ngurdoto Crater, Momella Lakes, montane forest, and open savannah. (Visit Tanzania - Land of the Kilimajaro) Perfect for: travelers staying in Moshi, Kilimanjaro climbers with an extra day, couples, families, photographers, and travelers looking for a short Tanzania safari experience.

1-Day Arusha National Park Safari from Moshi

Distance: Approximately 120 km from Moshi
Driving time: Approximately 2–2.5 hours each way
Safari duration: Full day

Your adventure begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Moshi, usually around 6:00 AM. First, you meet your professional safari guide. Then you set off for Arusha National Park in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof. The journey takes you through the scenic landscapes of northern Tanzania. When you arrive, your guide completes the park entry formalities, and your wildlife adventure begins.

Morning Game Drive

Enter the park and begin your game drive through its diverse landscapes. These include open grasslands, acacia woodland, montane forest and the beautiful areas around the Momella Lakes. Arusha National Park is home to a variety of wildlife, and you may encounter:

Giraffes, African buffaloes and zebras
Warthogs, waterbucks and other antelopes
Blue monkeys and black-and-white colobus monkeys
Also elephants and hippos
Flamingos and other waterbirds
As well as numerous other bird species

The park also offers magnificent views of Mount Meru, the second-highest mountain in Tanzania. In addition, on clear days you may see Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance (Visit Tanzania - Land of the Kilimajaro).

Ngurdoto Crater & Momella Lakes

Next, continue toward the Ngurdoto Crater viewpoint. From here, you can admire the dramatic volcanic landscape and the wildlife habitat below. Then explore the Momella Lakes, a beautiful group of alkaline lakes surrounded by grassland and forest. Depending on the season, the lakes can also attract large numbers of flamingos and other waterbirds (Visit Tanzania - Land of the Kilimajaro).

Picnic Lunch

At lunchtime, enjoy a packed picnic lunch at a designated picnic area inside or around the park. Meanwhile, the natural beauty of Arusha National Park surrounds you. Afterwards, continue with an afternoon game drive for more wildlife viewing and photography.

Optional Walking Experience

If you arrange it in advance and time permits, you can also add a short guided walk with a park ranger. In fact, Arusha National Park is particularly well suited to combining traditional game viewing with walking experiences (Visit Tanzania - Land of the Kilimajaro).

Return to Moshi

In the late afternoon, leave Arusha National Park and drive back toward Moshi. You then arrive in Moshi in the early evening, usually around 6:00–7:30 PM, depending on traffic and the day’s activities. Finally, your guide drops you off at your hotel, marking the end of your memorable Arusha National Park Day Safari from Moshi.