09:00 · Park gate
Safari from Arusha: Four reserves, one day.
Arusha is the starting point for almost every safari in northern Tanzania, but really it is multi-day territory. With a return the same evening, four destinations work: Arusha National Park right outside town (45 to 60 minutes), Tarangire National Park with its elephant herds (around two hours), Lake Manyara (two to two and a half hours) and, as a very long day, the Ngorongoro Crater (three to four hours to the gate). For a first safari day Tarangire is the most rewarding choice. The Serengeti is not a day trip from Arusha.
Arusha National Park 25 to 35 km, 45 to 60 minutes; Tarangire around 120 km, two to three hours on tarmac according to operators; Lake Manyara 126 km, two to two and a half hours; Ngorongoro around 160 km to Lodoare Gate, two to four hours depending on the source, plus the drive along the crater rim and the descent. Times apply to 4x4s from hotels in Arusha.
On the same trip, also worth a look: Safari from Nairobi (National park 7 km from the centre, Nakuru and Amboseli as a long day), Safari from Zanzibar (Mikumi and Nyerere by air, back in the evening).
- Drive time
- Arusha National Park 25 to 35 km, 45 to 60 minutes; Tarangire around 120 km, two to three hours on tarmac according to operators; Lake Manyara 126 km, two to two and a half hours; Ngorongoro around 160 km to Lodoare Gate, two to four hours depending on the source, plus the drive along the crater rim and the descent. Times apply to 4x4s from hotels in Arusha.
- Big Five
- The only place you can see all of the Big Five on a day trip from Arusha is the Ngorongoro Crater: Safaribookings rates black rhino as common there, and lion, elephant and buffalo as common to abundant. Tarangire and Lake Manyara have no rhinos, Arusha National Park has no lions, and elephants are only seen there occasionally.
- Malaria
- The German Federal Foreign Office states a high year-round malaria risk for all of Tanzania below 2,500 metres, explicitly including the national parks. Arusha lies at around 1,400 metres and all four day-trip destinations are also below 2,500 metres; only the upper slopes of Mount Meru are higher, and no day trip goes there.
- Price
- TANAPA Conservation Fee Tarangire, Arusha NP and Lake Manyara, non-East Africans aged 16 and over, peak season 16 May to 14 March: 50 USD plus 18% VAT (59.00 USD)
- Best time
- The dry season from June to October is the best time for all four destinations, because the vegetation thins out and animals gather at predictable water sources. Safaribookings rates July to November as excellent for Tarangire, when the Tarangire River draws herds from the surrounding land; June and December are good, January to May fair.
