There are many excellent day trips that are possible departing from Moshi or Arusha. Exploring nature and cultural tours that will give you a glimpse of life in rural Tanzania unknown to most tourists. We highly recommend that you schedule a day trip the first day after arrival in Tanzania. It serves as time to recover from a long flight and as protection in case of flight delays/missed connections/ lost luggage. But if your departure flight is late in the day, it also makes a good activity on your departure day. These trips do not require much advance booking and can be added even on one day notice. Listed below are some of the most popular activities, but there are other options also. Feel free to contact us for more information and further ideas.
For a taste of what a Mt Kilimanjaro trek is like, you can participate in a one day trek through the rainforest on Marangu Route. After breakfast we will pick you up at your hotel and drive to Marangu Gate at Mt Kilimanjaro National Park. After registration procedures you along with your English speaking guide will go on a lovely, but sometimes wet hike through the rainforest. When reaching Mandara Hut, you will enjoy a lunch. Afterwards you can proceed a bit further to a scenic overlook of Maundi Crater. From there it will be time to hike back to the park gate where our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to your hotel by late afternoon.
The Chagga tribe is a large tribe which is the predominant tribe in the Mt Kilimanjaro area. While most of the Chagga have adapted fully to a modernized lifestyle and customs, in small villages you can still find the traditional way of life. You will be driven to a small village on Mt Kilimanjaro just outside of the national park. You will visit a small banana farm and small coffee farm, learning hands-on how coffee is cultivated and processed. You will go on a short hike to a wonderful waterfall where you will have a chance for a swim if you like, or to just relax and enjoy nature. The path to the waterfalls is steep so footwear other than flip-flops is strongly recommended. The local village women will prepare a traditional Chagga lunch for you. Afterwards you will be returned to your hotel in Moshi/Arusha. This is perhaps the most popular daytrip combining nature and local culture.
You can choose either of the two offerings below as a day safari.
Arusha National Park is a small park located just an hour's drive from Moshi or 30 minutes from the city of Arusha. It is a lovely park with a variety of landscapes: plains, forest, lakes, and Mt Meru - the second highest mountain in Tanzania. Surprisingly, it is not heavily visited. This might be due to the fact that some of the most popular safari animals are not present such as lions, cheetahs, rhinos, and elephants. The park does have plenty of giraffes and antelopes. In addition to vehicle safaris there are options for walking safaris (with an armed park ranger) and canoe rentals. A day safari would include park fees and taxes, an English-speaking guide (other languages are possible with enough notice), safari vehicle with pop-up viewing roof, picnic style lunch inside of the park, and drinking water. If you choose to have some time spent on a walking safari, a park ranger will be there for your protection and for local knowledge. Because of the small size of the park this destination is seldom done as more than a day trip from Moshi or Arusha.
Tarangire National Park is further away compared to Arusha National Park. It is 3.5 hours from Moshi, or 2 hours from Arusha. The variety of animals is much greater, with a very large number of elephants. There is a very good chance of finding lions and if you are fortunate you might find leopards. Included in the day trip are park fees and taxes, a safari vehicle with pop-up viewing roof, English-speaking guide (other languages available with an early enough request), picnic-style lunch, and drinking water.
Maji Moto means hot water in Swahili (Maji = Water, Moto = Hot). A drive through some small villages brings you to this area. The beautiful hot spring is nestled into the forest, and features naturally warm water heated from the earth, ancient tree roots and diving caves. Great for relieving tired muscles after conquering Kilimanjaro, but you don't really need an excuse to relax and enjoy. You can refresh yourself in the water and it is safe to swim (don't mind the small fishes nibbling at dry skin cells, they are harmless). Lunch will be brought for you to enjoy before we return you back to your hotel. This is a popular day trip option for those who want to kick back and relax in nature.
From Moshi/Arusha we will take you to the western side of the base of Mt Kilimanjaro. You will get a chance to go inside a boma (Maasai hut), witness and participate in singing and dancing, comparing your jumping skills with the Maasai warriors, and to buy authentic Maasai ornaments and jewelery and onsite. You will have time to spend watching and participating in the Maasai daily duties and traditions. Transportation, local contribution, drinking water, and lunch will be included along with an English speaking guide (with advance notice, other languages most likely can be arranged).
If you want a deeper immersion experience, we also offer a 2 days version of this trip. Contact us for full details.
Located very close to Moshi town, this forest hike is not strenuous but gives you a chance to connect with nature. Commonly seen animals include black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, antelopes, warthogs, dik-diks and various bird species including African spoonbills. The area is surrounded by rice fields that you will cross enroute. This is not a strenuous activity and can be extended to have a boxed lunch enjoyed in the forest, or kept to a 3 hour activity (travel to the forest and back included in the 3 hours).
Departing from the city of Arusha this is a 30 minute drive to the hike starting point. Although close to the city, you will soon find youself in a peaceful, lush rainforest envirionment which will make you forget that you are close to a city. The hike will involve negotiating some steep and possibly slippery terrain and wading through some streams, so waterproof shoes/boots with good support are essential. It is reccommended to take time to enjoy the flora and fauna found along the way to the waterfalls. You will have a local English-speaking guide which is important since the trail is not marked and negotiating your way through the terrain is made much easier with local knowledge and support. Napuru Waterfalls is 78m high and during much of the year has a high water volume flowing. Even from a distance, you will be wet, so dress appropriately for this experience. A lunch will be served and drinking water provided during this wonderful excursion. Total hiking distance is 4-5 km but there are options for a more meandering route that can lengthen the experience. This is not the easiest hike due to slippery and steep terrain and the fact that you will be wet from wading through streams and the mist from the waterfalls, but anyone with moderate fitness can enjoy this adventure with proper footwear and clothing. You will want sun protection, water protection, and insect protection. This is a half day to full day excursion depending on whether you want a longer hiking route and how much time you would like to spend on the trail and at the waterfalls.
Departing from your hotel in Arusha, we drive to visit a Maasai village where you will get an opportunity to interact with the Maasai and learn about their traditional culture. While some Maasai have adapted their lives to modern culture, the traditional and authentic Maasai lifestyle is still found in rural areas. After spending some time to get a firsthand understanding of the Maasai lifestyle and culture, we will drive to the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre. This is the biggest Arts & Crafts Gallery in Africa. In addition to handmade carvings, paintings, and other crafts, you will find Tanzanite jewellery. Tanzanite is a rare and beautiful gem only found in Tanzania. There is a cinema section in the centre where films about the some of the countries 120 tribes are featured. Your guide can take you to shops if you wish to purchase locally handmade souvenirs. This is a full day tour. The maasai villlage is outdoors where you might want to have sun and insect protection. The Cultural Heritage Centre is indoors. It is a large centre so comfortable shoes for walking through the centre should be considered.
Located in Arusha city center, this is an interesting museum with three separate building each with a different focus. The first building focuses on Mankind and Envirionment and features artifacts from Olduvai Gorge, wildlife, indigenous cultures and a botanical garden. The second building explores the history of German colonialism in Tanzania. The third building has a photo exhibition and stuffed animals. There is also a small but excellent art gallery. This museum is clearly run down and in need of attention, but the exhibits on display make this visit worthwhile. Centrally located in the Arusha City Centre, this is an easy location to access if you are staying in Arusha and the visit does not require much time or expense.
For more information or to request a price quote for any of these tours please contact us.
natureprotector28@gmail.com