Day Trips From Moshi - Compare 44 Tours

4.8/5 – 2,178 Tanzania Reviews

Moshi is a fascinating northern Tanzanian town, and the starting point of many a northern Tanzanian safari. It is best known as being the closest major town to Mt Kilimanjaro, although it’s also worth spending some time getting to know Moshi itself as a window on local life. It can also be the base for a cheap day trip to one of the two national parks not far from town. A day trip will give you a taste for what’s possible on any exploration of the country’s north. The views along the way should be incredible, thanks to the looming presence of both Mt Kilimanjaro (Africa’s highest mountain) and Mt Meru (Africa’s fifth-highest) not far away to the north.

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5 Questions About Day Trips from Moshi

Expert

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 Moshi?

“A safari is definitely possible from Moshi in 1 day. The two parks within reach of such an excursion are Arusha National Park and Mkomazi National Park. That said, going on safari may not be the best use of your time. That’s because the parks are around a two- to three-hour drive from Moshi, and you could end up spending between four to six hours of your day just driving to and from the parks. That might be worth it for one of the more famous parks, but neither Arusha nor Mkomazi has the same abundance or variety of wildlife to make such a rushed visit worth it. Remember also that you’ll probably miss out on seeing many of the animals if you only have a day for a safari. The early morning and late afternoon are when the animals are most active and easiest to see. So unless you leave Moshi very early or return very late (and I don’t recommend traveling in the dark), you’ll be en route to and from the park at those times.”

What parks can you visit from Moshi on a day trip?

“The two main parks to visit close to Moshi are Arusha and Mkomazi. The other nearby park is Kilimanjaro National Park, but that’s not really appropriate for a day trip as the main attraction there is climbing the mountain, which requires a multiday expedition. Arusha National Park is not a typical wildlife park. The main attraction is Mt Meru, either to climb it (which takes a return trip of around 4 days) or simply enjoy the views. The animals you can see in the park on a day trip include zebra, giraffe, buffalo and elephant. The other park you can visit on a day trip, Mkomazi, gets far fewer visitors. It also has Kilimanjaro views and terrific wildlife, of which elephants could be a big highlight. Another thing to do on your day trip could be a visit to Chemka Hot Springs, which lies south off the Arusha–Moshi road. These beautiful springs have a delightful forest setting, although they can be unpleasantly busy on weekends. Another possible excursion is to Lake Chala, a crater lake with blue-green waters 50km/31mi east of Moshi on the Kenya–Tanzania border.”

Can you hike Mt Kilimanjaro as a day trip from Moshi?

“You can certainly visit Kilimanjaro National Park in 1 day from Moshi, but hiking to the summit and back is something that can take a week or more. The only reason to visit the park on a day trip would be to go for a walk through the forest or in the foothills of the mountain as a way of preparing for a climb on a later occasion. This can be a good way to get a feel for the trail, do some early altitude acclimatization and maybe meet your guide or porters. But you can also do this when you come back to climb the mountain, so coming here on a day trip isn’t really necessary. Remember also that coming here to where the trails begin is not a way of getting a view of the mountain. The best views are actually from farther away, even from Moshi itself.”

Can I visit a coffee farm or take a local village tour near Moshi?

“Yes, both of these options are possible on a day trip from Moshi. On your excursion, the tour of the coffee farm will take in everything about how coffee is grown and processed, and possibly have a tasting at the end. It will usually be combined with another attraction, such as Chemka Hot Springs. But you can also combine this with a visit to a local village and even have time left over for the beautiful Materuni Waterfalls. What a fantastic day! A few tour operators offer affordable day trips of this kind, so ask around to make sure you get the best price and itinerary. Some companies may even be willing to customize your itinerary just for you.”

Are meals, entry fees and transport included in day trip packages?

“What’s included in the cost of your day trip will vary from one tour or company to the next. On most day tours, lunch, entry fees, guides and transport should be included in any quoted price. Some may also include breakfast if you’re making a really early start, and/or dinner if the excursion lingers into the evening. The most important thing with any quote is to always ask what’s included and what will cost extra. Reputable companies will provide you with a detailed list of inclusions and exclusions, so it should never be too difficult to understand exactly what you’re paying for.”

Tanzania Reviews

4.8/5 2,178 Reviews

Expert

Philip Briggs –

Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.

Africa’s Greatest Safari Destination

5/5

There is arguably no better safari destination than Tanzania. And, to be honest, I’m not even sure I should be using the word ‘arguably’ here! Tanzania’s superb network of wildlife reserves (including 22 national parks) is the most...

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Expert

Mary Fitzpatrick –

Mary is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including South Africa, Tanzania, East Africa and Africa.

Tanzania – Iconic Safaris, Beaches and Hiking

5/5

Few areas of the continent offer the amount, variety and accessibility of wildlife as Tanzania– and against such a scenic backdrop. Animals are abundant, species diversity is excellent, and evocative acacia- and baobab-studded landscapes...

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Flavia –

Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026

The journey of a lifetime

5/5

Tanzania was an extraordinary destination for our first safari: we had the opportunity to visit several parks, each with unique landscapes and an impressive abundance of wildlife. We were especially thrilled by Central Serengeti, where we...

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Cassandra Spicher –

Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026

From the kind people to the beautiful animals, everything was amazing.

5/5

The local people loved teaching us about their country and showing us all Tanzania had to offer. We felt safe and well cared for at every stop. I still can't believe we saw over 30 different kinds of animals, some of them so close we could...

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Bryan –

Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026

The whole country seems to be one big wildlife reserve.

5/5

An extraordinary experience although the Serengeti has become far to commercialised.
There are far too many vehicles and when a crossing or kill is broadcast it becomes a race which can be very dangerous.

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Paulo Matos –

Reviewed: Sep 16, 2026

Nature at its best

4/5

My Safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro parks was an unforgettable experience. To see all the big 5 in their Natural environment plus all the other beautiful animals I had the opportunity to see was absolutely amazing.

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Day Trips From Moshi - Compare 44 Tours

1-Day Untaped Park -Mkomazi National Park

1-Day Arusha National Park

1-Day Day Tour to Arusha National Park

1-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Climb via the Marangu Route

1-Day Mt Kilimanjaro - Day Trip

1-Day Kilimajaro Experince Hike the Marangu Route

1-Day Kilimanjaro Day Trip via Marangu Route

1-Day Mt Kilimanjaro Hiking via Lemosho Route

1-Day Materuni Waterfalls & Chagga Coffee Experience

1-Day Hike via Marangu Route to Mandara Hut

1-Day Base of Kilimanjaro

1-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Day Hike via Marangu Route

1-Day Maasai Boma and Kikuletwa Hotspring Tour

1-Day Kilimanjaro Hike Tour

1-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Hike

1-Day Kilimanjaro Hike Trip to Mandara Hut

1-Day Kilimanjaro Hike to Marangu Route

1-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Guided Hike from Arusha/Moshi

1-Day Marangu Route – Kilimanjaro Climb

1-Day Mkomazi National Park

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5 Questions About Day Trips from Moshi

Answered by

Anthony Ham

5 Questions About Day Trips from Moshi

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

What parks can you visit from Moshi on a day trip?

Can you hike Mt Kilimanjaro as a day trip from Moshi?

Can I visit a coffee farm or take a local village tour near Moshi?

Are meals, entry fees and transport included in day trip packages?

Tanzania Reviews

Africa’s Greatest Safari Destination

Tanzania – Iconic Safaris, Beaches and Hiking

The journey of a lifetime

From the kind people to the beautiful animals, everything was amazing.

The whole country seems to be one big wildlife reserve.

Nature at its best