Day Trips From Arusha - Compare 306 Tours

4.8/5 – 1,867 Tanzania Reviews

Arusha is most people’s entry point for Tanzania’s world-famous Northern safari circuit. Within reach of a day trip from the city are some incredible safari destinations, among them the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Natron, and Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Arusha National Parks. To make this work, especially for the Serengeti, you may need to fly to and from Arusha, but many Arusha-based safari operators can offer both driving and flying tours that make each destination work on a day trip. Arusha is also a fascinating provincial northern Tanzanian city in its own right, with numerous cultural day trips on offer close to the city.

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5 Questions About Day Trips From Arusha

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Answered by

Anthony Ham

Anthony has written numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including ‘Tanzania’ and ‘East Africa’. He writes about Tanzania and the wider region for magazines and newspapers worldwide. He is also the author of ‘The Last Lions of Africa’, part of which is set in Tanzania.
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Can you do a safari as a day trip from Arusha?

“You could drive to most of the parks on Tanzania’s Northern safari circuit as part of a day trip from Arusha. These parks include Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater. To visit the Serengeti on a day trip, you would probably need to fly. Having more time to visit each park would obviously be preferable, but day trips can be excellent for those with limited time. It might also be possible to fly in/out to/from a park in 1 day from Arusha, and you will certainly find operators willing to take you on such a trip. If you do a fly-in-fly-out day trip, remember that you also get to enjoy a scenic flight on the way in and out. Another option for a 1-day safari could be Arusha National Park. Best known as the home of Mt Meru, you’ll really get to enjoy some of northern Tanzania’s most spectacular views on a visit to the park. Remember that the best views of Mt Kilimanjaro are actually from Kenya, not Tanzania, so Arusha National Park’s views could just be the best you’ll find anywhere in the country’s north. In addition to the scenery, the park also has some wildlife that includes zebra, giraffe, hippo and buffalo. Elephant is also possible, although the park doesn’t have a big population. The park also has a few leopard, spotted hyena and wildebeest.”

How do I find a reliable operator for a day trip from Arusha?

“The best place to find a reliable operator that organizes day trips from Arusha is on the tours page for Arusha on SafariBookings.com. Apart from seeing what each operator has to offer in terms of their packages and day trips, you can also read reviews by travelers who have actually gone on one of these trips, as well as see the rating given to each operator by travelers.”

Is there enough to see on an Arusha city tour?

“There certainly is enough to fill a day in Arusha, so much so that you will have to make some choices about your priorities. If getting to know Arusha on a city tour is how you’d like to spend your day, then count on spending time exploring and shopping in the city’s markets, visiting its museums (the Natural History Museum is good), and going on a tour of a local coffee plantation; the latter often ends up being many visitors’ favorite activity in the city. You could also consider choosing from a variety of cultural tours just outside the city. Most such tours include a visit to a local community or village close to Arusha, where you may share a meal with locals, get a tour of the village, take a walk with a local guide, or take part in some other activity or cultural demonstration. Choosing a cultural tour of this kind would, however, mean that you won’t have time on the same day for a city tour, although some cultural tours or packages offer half-day options.”

What are the options for private vs group day safaris from Arusha?

“Both private and group day safaris are possible from Arusha, and it all depends on what kind of trip you want to have. On a private day safari, you will pay more than you would for a group safari, because you will have to pay the entire costs of a guide, vehicle and other expenses that would be shared on a group safari. Having paid a little more, on a private day safari you should be able to custom design the itinerary in consultation with the tour operator, deciding which park or parks to visit, how long you will spend at each site and so on. You will, of course, be limited in how much you can cover in a day. But otherwise you should be able to design the safari according to your needs. Such decisions are rarely possible on a group safari, on which you’re more likely to be on a pre-organized itinerary. Apart from sharing costs, one plus of going on a group safari is the opportunity to meet and share experiences with like-minded safari travelers.”

Are day safaris suitable for families, and are there any child-friendly options?

“Day safaris from Arusha can be excellent for families, although depending on the age of your children, the tour operator may require you to pay for a private safari, rather than joining a group one. Most activities on a day safari are suitable for children, from viewing wildlife to visiting a local community on a cultural tour. Such trips can be wonderful opportunities for children to experience another culture, and perhaps even participate in activities such as dancing or cooking. Remember, however, that cultural tours out of Arusha may include a meal that some children may not like; always bring extra snacks, just in case. Also, when planning a day safari for your family, be realistic in how much ground you can cover and avoid itineraries where you’ll end up spending all day in the car.”

Tanzania Reviews

4.8/5 1,867 Reviews

Expert

Mark Eveleigh –

Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for Condé Nast Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.

As a safari destination Tanzania has it all!

5/5

Tanzania as a safari destination has it all. If this is your first safari and your ambition is to get some amazing sightings and rack up the big 5 as soon as possible, then Ngorongoro Crater is probably the best place in the world to do...

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Sue Watt –

Sue is an award-winning writer who specializes in African travel and conservation. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet.

The perfect safari destination

5/5

With almost a quarter of this vast country dedicated to wildlife reserves and national parks, Tanzania is justifiably regarded as Africa’s premier safari destination. It’s one of my favourite countries, not just for the bush, beaches...

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Ellen Maryati –

Reviewed: May 28, 2025

Paradise

5/5

I went to Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire in low season. I was afraid that I won’t see lots if animals because it’s rainy season. Turns out the weather is great, just a little bit rain, saw lots of animals, perfect scenes, and saw...

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Liviu Cira –

Reviewed: May 17, 2025

Tales of Tanzania

5/5

Hi! We went to Tanzania for a safari trip and came back with unforgettable memories! The safari was beyond expectations. Seeing animals in their natural habitat was blissful. From a group of 13(!) lion cubs chilling together under...

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Corinne Conrad –

Reviewed: May 14, 2025

Tanzania, with its diverse wildlife and magical landscapes, evokes deep emotions with every encounte

5/5

Our adventure began in Tarangire National Park, with our first encounters with wildlife: majestic elephants, curious giraffes, striped zebras, and lazy wildebeests… The magic took hold immediately. The next day, as we left the region, the...

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Joy Frech –

Reviewed: May 4, 2025

EPIC

5/5

Good day, we had a wonderful time in Tanzania, our safari was more then we expected, our driver Rajab amazing, we still converse on WhatsApp.
the sites, animals, accommodations, food and new friendships. thank you Tanzania

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Day Trips From Arusha - Compare 306 Tours

1-Day Tarangire Trip

1-Day Trip Tour to Lake Manyara National Park

1-Day Ngorongoro Crater Rhino Safari

1-Day Private Ngorongoro Safari

1-Day Discover the Crater of Ngorongoro

1-Day Tarangire National Park Experience

1-Day Trip to Tarangire National Park Tour

1-Day Wildlife Safari in Unesco World Heritage Site

1-Day Wonderful, Arusha NP Day Trip

1-Day Meserani Snake Park, Reptile Tour & Maasai Culture

1-Day Visit to Tarangire National Park

1-Day Meserani Snake Park and Arusha City Discover

1-Day Materuni Waterfalls, Coffee& Kikuletwa Hot Springs

1-Day Arusha - Ngorongoro Crater

1-Day Tarangire National Park Tour from Arusha Town

1-Day Safari to Ngorongoro Crater and High Land Forest

1-Day Ngorongoro Crater Safari

1-Day Lake Manyara National Park Safari

1-Day Ngorongoro Crater Excursion

1-Day Lake Manyara National Park Safari Tour

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5 Questions About Day Trips From Arusha

Answered by

Anthony Ham

5 Questions About Day Trips From Arusha

Can you do a safari as a day trip from Arusha?

How do I find a reliable operator for a day trip from Arusha?

Is there enough to see on an Arusha city tour?

What are the options for private vs group day safaris from Arusha?

Are day safaris suitable for families, and are there any child-friendly options?

Tanzania Reviews

As a safari destination Tanzania has it all!

The perfect safari destination

Paradise

Tales of Tanzania

Tanzania, with its diverse wildlife and magical landscapes, evokes deep emotions with every encounte

EPIC