Arusha National Park is one of the only parks in Tanzania where walking and canoeing safaris are permitted, and this full-day outing puts both on the same itinerary. In the morning, an armed park ranger leads you on foot across open montane plains where zebra and giraffe graze at close range and there is no vehicle between you and the landscape.
In the afternoon, you swap boots for a paddle and glide silently across the shallow Momella Lakes, home to pods of hippos and flocks of flamingos, with Mount Meru rising directly overhead. A stop in the park's montane forest brings a good chance of spotting black-and-white colobus monkeys in the canopy. It is a slower, more physical way to experience a Tanzanian park, and a natural add-on to a wider safari or Kilimanjaro climb.
Armed escort across open plains, on foot
Silent paddling among hippos & flamingos
Forest, plains & lake views of Tanzania's second peak
Arusha National Park is a rewarding day trip year-round, though the dry months of June through October offer the clearest views of Mount Meru and the easiest walking conditions. The Momella Lakes hold water throughout the year, so canoeing is available in every season, with the green months from November to May bringing lusher scenery and more birdlife to the lake shore.
Early pickup from your Arusha hotel and a short drive to the park gate, where you meet your armed ranger and safari guide. Set out on foot across the open montane plains, where the absence of a vehicle brings you closer to grazing zebra, giraffe, and buffalo than a typical game drive allows. Your ranger points out tracks, plants, and smaller wildlife along the way.
Continue into the park's montane forest, keeping an eye on the canopy for black-and-white colobus monkeys, before stopping for a picnic lunch with views over the Momella Lakes and Mount Meru.
Swap boots for paddles and set out by canoe across the shallow Momella Lakes. Glide quietly past pods of hippos and flocks of flamingos, with your guide pointing out birdlife along the shoreline. The stillness of the water offers a completely different vantage point on the park than the morning's walk.
A final short game drive back toward the park gate, with one more chance at Mount Meru views, before your driver returns you to your hotel in Arusha.
Prices are per person for the complete full-day walking and canoeing safari, including hotel pickup and drop-off in Arusha. Rates decrease with larger groups.
| Group Size | Price (Per Person) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Person (Private) | $280 | Available |
| 2–3 People | $220 | Available |
| 4+ People | $180 | Available |
Price includes everything: armed park ranger, safari guide, canoe and paddling equipment, all park and canoeing fees, packed breakfast, picnic lunch, and hotel transfers within Arusha. No hidden costs.
Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), a short drive from Arusha town. This day trip is easy to add on before or after a longer safari or Kilimanjaro climb.
Your guide will pick you up from any hotel in Arusha town center. Pickup time is typically 7:30 AM, with return by around 4:00 PM.
Arusha National Park is roughly a 45-minute drive from Arusha town. Transport is by private vehicle to the park gate, where the walking and canoeing portions of the day begin.
Closed-toe walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a light rain jacket in the wetter months. A change of clothes is useful in case of splashes during canoeing.
Arusha, Tanzania • Established 2015
Nashivai Safaris is a locally owned and operated safari company based in Arusha, Tanzania. Beyond our multi-day safaris, we run a range of day trips from Arusha for travellers with limited time or looking to add something different to a longer itinerary.
After a week of game drives, being on foot with the ranger felt completely different. The canoe stretch with the hippos in the distance was the highlight of the whole trip.
— Marcus T., Australia • July 2024Perfect add-on before our Kilimanjaro climb. Easy pace, great guide, and we saw colobus monkeys we hadn't spotted anywhere else on the trip.
— Hannah R., Ireland • September 2024
