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Safaris From Arusha - Compare 5,262 Tours

4.8/5  –  2,189 Tanzania Safari Reviews

Arusha is where some of the best safaris in Africa become possible. This large Tanzanian city is the main gateway town for northern Tanzania, a region that has some of the best parks anywhere on the continent. A lot depends on how much time you have, but everything becomes possible in this remarkable place, from the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino) to the great migration, Africa’s greatest wildlife spectacle involving some 2.5 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle. And there are so many other possible wild and incredible animal encounters in between. Flights regularly connect Arusha with airstrips within the parks and reserves of Tanzania’s north and there is also an excellent road network fanning out from the city.

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5 Questions About Tanzania Safaris from Arusha

1. Where can I go on a safari from Arusha?
2. How much time do I need for a Tanzania safari from Arusha?
3. Can I see the Big Five animals on a safari that leaves from Arusha?
4. Should I go for a road or fly-in safari?
5. Are cultural experiences or village visits included in safari itineraries from Arusha?
 
 

5 Questions About Tanzania Safaris from Arusha

Answered by Anthony Ham

Where can I go on a safari from Arusha?

“There are too many possibilities to list here, so I’ll stick to the most amazing ones! The closest national park to Arusha is Arusha National Park, which can be visited on a day trip from the city. It does have some wildlife, but the main reason to visit is for the incredible views of Mt Meru. A little farther afield, but easily reached on a two- to three-hour drive from Arusha are Tarangire National Park and/or Lake Manyara National Park. Both of these are world-class safari parks. Beyond Lake Manyara and high atop the Rift Valley escarpment (the steep slopes that drop into the Rift Valley) are Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park. If you were to visit these three national parks and Ngorongoro, you would have one of the most wonderful safaris possible. Other possibilities from Arusha include Mkomazi or Kilimanjaro National Parks, while Lake Natron, Lake Eyasi and the West Kilimanjaro region are also within reach.”

1

How much time do I need for a Tanzania safari from Arusha?

“How much time do you have? Another way to answer this question is simply this: the more time you have for your safari from Arusha, the better your experience will be. With just 1 day, you could visit Arusha National Park, which is right on Arusha’s doorstep. If you wish to climb to the summit of Mt Meru, however, count on at least 4 days in the park. If you have 2 to 3 days, you could visit either Tarangire National Park or Lake Manyara National Park, although it would probably be a little rushed. An extra couple of days would mean that you could visit both parks. Add on an extra day for Ngorongoro and at least 3 more to visit the Serengeti. If you’re willing to fly instead of drive, you could travel to Ngorongoro or the Serengeti by plane and get a taste of both places in 3 to 4 days.”

2

Can I see the Big Five animals on a safari that leaves from Arusha?

“Seeing the Big Five is certainly possible on your safari. Four of these (excluding rhino) are commonly seen across most of the parks (namely Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Tarangire), although the big cats are never guaranteed. Leopard in particular can be elusive, although they’re often seen in the Seronera region of the Central Serengeti. One unusual highlight might be the tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara. Although there are rhinos in the Serengeti, they’re really hard to see. The best place to see rhinos in northern Tanzania is Ngorongoro Crater. Apart from the Big Five (which was first described by early-20th-century hunters, in recognition of the most dangerous animals to hunt), other wildlife highlights might include cheetah, zebra, giraffe, spotted hyena, hippo, crocodile and many more species.”

3

Should I go for a road or fly-in safari?

“A fly-in safari is an excellent idea, if you can afford it. Flying means that you can leave Arusha in the morning and be among the animals in the Serengeti (or just about anywhere else in northern Tanzania) by lunchtime. It really is an excellent way to make the most of your time, leaving more time free to be out on safari trails looking for animals. Flying also comes with the benefit of offering incredible views of this spectacular part of the country, so much so that an air transfer very quickly becomes a scenic flight. The main problem with flying is that it can be very expensive, and it can’t usually be part of what many would consider to be cheap or affordable safari tours or packages. You’ll spend more time traveling between the parks if you travel by road, although that can have the advantage of taking you closer to local life, with many more opportunities to meet locals along the way.”

4

Are cultural experiences or village visits included in safari itineraries from Arusha?

“Cultural experiences or village visits are certainly possible, but they are not always included unless you ask for them to be. Most of these experiences operate as day trips from Arusha. They’re often offered by tour operators as a chance to fill in a spare day in the city, either at the beginning or end of your safari itinerary. Operators offer hundreds of different possibilities for exploring northern Tanzania and most of them begin in Arusha. That means that if you would like to go on a tour or village visit, either choose an itinerary that includes one, or ask your tour operator if you can add it to your itinerary.”

5

Tanzania Safari Reviews

4.8/5 2,189 Reviews
Expert
Mary Fitzpatrick  –  
United States US

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...

Full Review

Expert
Tim Bewer  –  
United States US

Tim is a travel writer who has covered 10 African countries for Lonely Planet's Africa, East Africa and West Africa guidebooks.

Crowded Favorites and Well-Kept Secrets
5/5

Tanzania is home to Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater; and this fact alone makes a solid case for declaring it Africa’s best safari country. But, of course, there’s much more that just these two places. Most visitors stick...

Full Review

Arkadiy Koltsov  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Oct 1, 2026
Incredible
5/5

We were in Tanzania on a 6 day Safari tour. The whole experience was amazing. The wildlife we were able to see was above and beyond our expectations! We had an awesome encounter with all big 5. And zebras, wildebeest, baboons! The...

Full Review

Tom  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026
4/5

The reason I give Tanzania 4 stars is the over-tourism occurring in the Serengeti and the Ngoronogoro Crater and Conservation Area. Tarangire is creeping up towards the realm of losing its quiet charm as well.

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Elena ********  –  
Italy IT
Reviewed: Sep 25, 2026
An Unforgettable First Journey and a Thousand Reasons to Return
5/5

Returning from an unforgettable tour of the northern parks—a circuit I consider mandatory for a first trip to Tanzania—I wanted to share my impressions. While a scorching summer was raging in Europe at the end of August, to our pleasant...

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Paul Wilson  –  
New Zealand NZ
Reviewed: Sep 21, 2026
Pretty impressive pleace
5/5

had a five day safari in Tanzania (got reduced to 4 days at last minute due to a Airport strike in Narobi) Safari was with Suricata Safaris They rejigged our Safari with 24 hr notice - not a problem Safari was very well organised and...

Full Review

All 2189 Tanzania Safari Reviews