Day Trips From Moshi - Compare 55 Tours

4.8/5 – 2,074 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.”

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4.8/5 2,074 Reviews

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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

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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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Mary Fitzpatrick –

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

Tanzania – Classic African Safari Destination

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

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Marjolijn –

Reviewed: Feb 25, 2026

Beautiful country, great food, lovely people. Many become rafiki's. Hakuna matata!

5/5

I would recommend visiting all four parks: Serengeti, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater Conservation and Manyara Lake National Park. It is doable is 4 days, however some parts are quite a long drive. Hence, a day rest in between...

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Janice Killion –

Reviewed: Feb 24, 2026

Stunning scenery and wildlife, incredibly friendly and open locals

5/5

Traveling to Tanzania fulfilled a lifetime dream. We spent two weeks on safari, waking up early every day to fresh rich coffee and breakfast before heading out for a full day of wildlife viewing. We witnessed it all, sometimes just parked...

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Hans van der Burg –

Reviewed: Feb 20, 2026

Amazing country, beautiful nature and people are so welcoming

5/5

Thanks to Mountain Warriors we had an amazing 2-day safari. Well taken care off, all well prepared. The drivers went up and beyond to give us the experience needed and we seen more than we can process :-) The respect for nature and...

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David John Collier –

Reviewed: Feb 20, 2026

The very best safari destination in the world bar none!

5/5

I have done lots and lots of safaris in the last 50 years to many different African countries but my latest and first trip to Tanzania was the very best ever! Meru Slopes Tours and safaris surpassed my wildest expectations and delivered a...

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Day Trips From Moshi - Compare 55 Tours

1-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Climb via the Marangu Route

1-Day Ngorongoro Crater Tour

1-Day Escurssion Tarangire National Park

1-Day Mkomazi National Park Breathtaking Trip

1-Day Arusha Park Game Drive and Walking Tour

½-Day Waterfalls & Coffee Traditions of Materuni

1-Day Kilimajaro Experince Hike the Marangu Route

1-Day Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Day Trip

1-Day Mt Kilimanjaro - Day Trip

1-Day Kilimanjaro Booking with Waterfalls, and Culture

1-Day Kilimanjaro Hike Trip to Mandara Hut

1-Day Kilimanjaro Hike Tour

1-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Tour

1-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Hike via Shira Route

1-Day Marangu Route to Mandara Hut on Mount Kilimanjaro

1-Day Kilimanjaro Hike for Scenic View & Photography

1-Day Trekking via Marangu Route Kilimanjaro

1-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Day Hike via Marangu Route

1-Day Base of Kilimanjaro

1-Day Kilimanjaro – Mandara Hut

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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 – Classic African Safari Destination

Beautiful country, great food, lovely people. Many become rafiki's. Hakuna matata!

Stunning scenery and wildlife, incredibly friendly and open locals

Amazing country, beautiful nature and people are so welcoming

The very best safari destination in the world bar none!