Day tour to Arusha National Park: Mt. Meru and Momela Lakes

Six to eight hours tracking wildlife through forest, crater and lakeside in a single day

A day tour from Arusha to Arusha National Park includes private transport, a live guide, lunch and all park fees. The route covers the Ngurdoto Crater, the Momela Lakes where buffalo and giraffes gather year-round, and the highland forest where colobus monkeys move through the canopy. Pickup from your Arusha hotel starts around 9 a.m., with afternoon return to your accommodation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day trip to Arusha National Park

• Meet at hotel in Arusha at 0900hrs
• Travel to Arusha National Park
• Visit Ngurdo Crater
• Observe wildlife around Momela Lakes
• Have lunch at picnic place
• Continue afternoon wildlife tour
• Return to Arusha and hotel drop off

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Arusha around 9 a.m. and a drive into the park's lower slopes, where highland forest blankets the terrain. The route takes you to the Ngurdoto Crater first: a stop where you walk the rim and watch for buffalo, waterbucks, giraffes, warthogs, zebras and baboons that move through the crater floor year-round. Bird species shift with the season, but sightings are steady. Many visitors pause in the forest sections to scan the canopy for troops of rare colobus monkeys, a draw that sets this park apart from busier northern circuit stops.

The Momela Lakes are the afternoon focus. Game viewing here runs at a laid-back pace: no rushing between stops, no crowded viewing platforms. You spend time at the water's edge watching the same animals that gathered at the crater, now drinking and grazing in the open. Lunch is taken at a picnic spot within the park, so you eat surrounded by the landscape rather than retreating to a lodge. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one additional language, and stays with you throughout the day to point out wildlife and answer questions about the park's ecology and history. The region was even used as a filming location for the 1962 film "Hatari."

The afternoon continues with more time allocated for wildlife observation before the return drive to Arusha and drop-off at your hotel. Bottled water is provided throughout the day. The entire outing is private (your own vehicle and guide), so the pace and stops are yours to shape within the day's frame.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Arusha hotel.
• a live guide for the full day.
• entry to Arusha National Park and all park fees.
• lunch at a picnic spot in the park.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• return transport and hotel drop-off.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (16 to 49 years) · Senior (50 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 19 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Simba Adventures

Is this one for you?The six to eight hour window fits a full day from Arusha without requiring an overnight stay, which makes it the standard choice for travelers on the northern circuit who want to see the park before moving on to longer safaris. If you have only a morning or afternoon free, this tour will not fit your schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals can I expect to see at Arusha National Park?

Buffalo, waterbucks, giraffes, warthogs, zebras and baboons are present year-round at both the Ngurdoto Crater and the Momela Lakes. Many visitors also see rare colobus monkeys in the highland forest canopy, and bird species vary by season.

How much time do I spend actually watching wildlife versus driving?

The tour runs six to eight hours total, with substantial time allocated at the Ngurdoto Crater and the Momela Lakes for observation. The forest sections also include stops to search for colobus monkeys, so wildlife viewing is woven throughout rather than compressed into one or two brief stops.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Lunch is included and taken at a picnic spot within the park itself, so you eat in the landscape rather than returning to town.