ARUSH A NATIONAL PARK FULL DAY TRIP FROM ARUSHA

Departs daily from your Arusha hotel, airport or residence.

Thinking of the best things to do in Arusha within a short time? Embark This enchanting full-day safari to Arusha National Park by Twinklestar Tours & Safaris offers a fantastic opportunity to experience diverse landscapes and wildlife in a relatively short amount of time.

Arusha National Park, nestled in northern Tanzania near Arusha city, is a captivating and diverse protected area despite its relatively small size of 137 square kilometres (around 53 square miles). Established in 1960, initially as Ngurdoto Crater National Park, it was later expanded and renamed in 1967 after the inclusion of the Mount Meru area, taking its name from the local Waarusha people.

Arusha National Park offers a unique blend of stunning scenery, diverse habitats, and engaging activities, making it a worthwhile destination for wildlife enthusiasts and those seeking a different kind of safari experience.

ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK FULL DAY SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS

Scenic Landscapes: The park boasts remarkably varied terrain within its compact area. This includes the Meru Crater funneling the Jekukumia River in the west, the extinct Ngurdoto Crater with its lush swampy floor in the southeast (often called “Little Ngorongoro”), and the picturesque Momella Lakes in the northeast, known for their different algal colors and abundant birdlife.
Mount Meru: Dominating the park is Mount Meru, Tanzania’s second-highest peak (4,566 meters/14,978 feet) and Africa’s fifth-highest. Its eastern slopes and summit are within the park boundaries, offering challenging and rewarding hiking opportunities with stunning views, including Mount Kilimanjaro on clear days.
Unique Activities: Unlike many other Tanzanian parks, Arusha offers walking safaris with armed rangers, providing an up-close experience with wildlife. Canoeing on the Momella Lakes is another popular activity, offering a different perspective on the animals and birdlife along the shores.
Diverse Wildlife: While you might not see the same concentration of big cats as in the Serengeti National Park or Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Arusha National Park is home to a variety of animals, including the world’s largest population of giraffes, Cape buffaloes, zebras, waterbucks, warthogs, and various monkey species, most notably the elegant black and white colobus monkey, which is readily seen here. Elephants and hippos are also present. Birdlife is prolific, with over 400 recorded species, including flamingos and many forest-dwelling birds.
Accessibility: Its proximity to Arusha town (approximately a 45-minute to 1-hour drive) and Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) makes it an easily accessible destination, ideal for day trips or as an introduction to Tanzania’s safari wonders.
Stunning Views: On a clear day, you can enjoy magnificent views of both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru (weather permitting).

TOUR INCLUDES

Use of Private 4 x 4 Land Cruiser Jeep
Services of an experienced English-speaking driver/ guide.
Arusha national Park National Park entry fees.
Game viewing drives
Buffet Lunch at Arusha National Park
Bottled drinking water in safari vehicle
Pick up /drop off at Arusha hotel or residence.
Government taxes and local levies

TOUR EXCLUDES

Bottled & Soft Drinks
Items and services of a personal nature
Tips & Gratuities

7:00 - 8:00 AM:

Pick up from your hotel in Arusha by your safari guide and driver in a 4×4 safari vehicle.

8:00 - 9:30 AM:

Drive to Arusha National Park (approximately 1 to 1.5 hours). Enjoy the scenery along the way, passing through coffee plantations and local villages.

9:30 - 10:00 AM:

Complete Park entry formalities at the gate. An armed ranger will likely join you for the walking safari portion of the day.

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Walking Safari:

Embark on a guided walking safari with the armed ranger. This offers a chance to experience the bush up close, learn about the flora and fauna, and potentially see animals like giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and various antelopes on foot from a safe distance. A popular destination during the walking safari is the Tululusia Waterfall.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Game Drive around Ngurdoto Crater:

After the walking safari, you’ll proceed with a game drive around the Ngurdoto Crater. This area is known for its lush rainforest and the chance to spot buffaloes, waterbucks, baboons, and various bird species. You might also visit the Ngurdoto Museum for insights into the park’s ecosystem.

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Picnic Lunch:

Enjoy a packed lunch at one of the designated picnic sites within the park, often with scenic views of the Momella Lakes or the surrounding landscapes.

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Game Drive and/or Canoe Safari at Momella Lakes:

In the afternoon, you’ll explore the area around the Momella Lakes. You can opt for a game drive to see the diverse birdlife, including flamingos, and animals coming to the water to drink. Alternatively, you can take an optional canoe safari on one of the lakes for a unique perspective of the wildlife along the shores (this usually incurs an extra cost).

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM:

Begin your drive back towards the park gate. Enjoy a final game viewing opportunity as you exit the park.

5:00 - 6:30 PM:

Drive back to your hotel in Arusha, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening.

TAILOR MAKE YOUR SAFARI TOUR PACKAGE

A tailormade tour with Twinkle Star Tours will put you in control of what you would like to do and experience in your safari to Africa. The above is just an indication of what an itinerary can be like.

Choose from an extensive list of safari accommodations to suit your needs, budget and style. Add on additional safari activities or choose from our range of day tours to make the perfect bespoke safari package tour.

Twinkle Star Tours take pride in making sure that your safari package is completely customisable. Receive a full breakdown itinerary via email containing everything in once place making your African journey smooth and easy.

To discuss any of our safari tours and packages or discuss any amendments you would like to make speak to our expert team who will be able to help make your safari dream a reality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Arusha National Park located?

The park is located in northern Tanzania, approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour (around 51 km or 31 miles) northeast of Arusha town. It’s also relatively close to Kilimanjaro International Airport (about 35 km or 21 miles).

How big is Arusha National Park?

Arusha National Park is one of Tanzania’s smaller national parks, covering about 137 square kilometres (53 square miles).

How do I get to Arusha National Park?

By Road: The park is easily accessible by road from Arusha town (about a 1-hour drive to the Momella Gate).
By Air: You can fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is about a 45-minute drive to the park.

When is the best time to visit Arusha National Park for wildlife viewing?

The dry season, from June to October, is generally best for wildlife viewing as animals congregate around water sources, and vegetation is less dense.

When is the best time for bird watching?

When is the best time to climb Mount Meru?

The best times for climbing Mount Meru, which is located within the park, are during the dry seasons: June to October and January to February.

What is Arusha National Park known for?

Arusha National Park is known for its diverse landscapes, including Mount Meru, Momella Lakes, and the Ngurdoto Crater (Little Ngorongoro). It’s also famous for its walking safaris, canoeing on the Momella Lakes, and the chance to see black and white colobus monkeys. It boasts a large giraffe population and diverse birdlife.

OUR REVIEWS

Heather B

22 June 2024

Birthday in Africa! Daniel made the entire trip AWESOME! He exemplified the people of Kenya: kind hearted, hard working and caring! He educated us at every sighting and made sure we saw everything we should see. I would highly recommend! Daniel’s commitment to my and my husband’s happiness and “getting us the perfect picture”, was priceless! Thank you Daniel!!!!!!!

Heather B

22 June 2024

60th birthday bucket list extravaganza!! An amazing journey that we will never forget! Our guide, Daniel made sure of that! He exemplified the people of Kenya, caring, kind hearted, hard working and true! He educated us at each animal sighting and made us feel safe and welcome!! He went out of his way to make our vacation FABULOUS!! Thank you Daniel!

travelling

20 May 2024

At day at Nairobi National Museum An excellent tour. The guide was well informed and attempted to address all our questions. The exhibit was well designed and informative

Tigerwala

15 March 2024

Excellent introduction to Kenyan safaris Enjoyed an exceptional customized tour of Amboseli NP with Twinkle Star tours. The owner, James, is a master of customer service. He responded promptly to my questions, checked in on me during my trip, and even personally delivered some Kenyan coffee to me at my hotel since I didn't have time to get it myself. Amboseli NP was excellent! I had some incredible wildlife sightings including elephant/lion interactions, my first cheetah, and incredible bird life. I also spent a couple of hours visiting a village of the amboseli masai, which was really interesting. My driver Daniel spoke english very well and was able to position the vehicle in just the right way to help me get some great shots of the wildlife. Great tour overall. Very pleased with my experience.

Fabpk2024

8 March 2024

nice experience March is the good season for the visit, 3 days would have been more pleasant. the lodge was good (wood fire, super clean room, opposite a water point with elephants, hypopos, buffaloes etc. evening and morning => guaranteed amazement). Mosquito repellent cream in the evening. My driver was Daniel (effective) I recommend

Sandeep

5 March 2024

Professional and friendly service My experience with the service and Omollo, the guide was very delightful. I recommend this service if you had very little time and wanted to make use of it to learn Kenya's history and culture.

Scenic50063297567

26 February 2024

完美难忘的10天Safari之� 很开心在多家对比后选择了Twinkle star，詹姆斯为我们安排了非常棒的10天safari之� ，也按� �我们的要求定好了� �店。表扬一下我们的司机Robbert，他是一位非常好的司机，专业向导，在保证我们安� �的前提下，不去打扰动物，尊重爱护着每一个动物，我觉得这是现在很多� 行社向导所没有的优点，我要为Robbert点赞。感觉时间过的非常快，意犹未尽，现在非常期� 下次非洲之行！

Genevieve

10 February 2024

Amazing week long luxury safari We had the most amazing custom experience with James and Twinkle Stars. We were taken care of from start to finish by experienced and friendly guides. We opted to combine Kenya and Tanzania but in hindsight would pick one or the other so as not to have to do so much travel. The Masai Mara is spectacular in January and we could have easily spent a week there.

Fredsasking

26 November 2023

Very pleased Toured with Twinkle Star during October 2023. 6 days, three hotels, one driver/guide. Each hotel was very different as were the sites. Accommodation ranged from very good to the nicest hotel ever. George knows the parks and the animals. He knows where they are and where they are going. I would use Twinkle Star/James again and would ask for George as my guide.

Malte W

20 November 2023

Nice tour! Booked a last minute tour for Nairobi. The guide was very friendly and the tour overall nice. Would recommend!