Destination
Arusha works as a starting point all year. For Arusha National Park, TANAPA names June to October and December to February as the peak seasons, so book lodges early for those months.
Written by the Africa Bound Tours team in Arusha · checked · 11 sources
Arusha is the town in northern Tanzania where most safaris begin, and it's where our office is. You land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, spend your first night here and set off for the parks the next morning. TANAPA calls Arusha the safari centre of northern Tanzania. It's also the headquarters of the East African Community.
Distance. TANAPA puts Lake Manyara about 125 km away by tarmac, two to two and a half hours, and Tarangire two and a half to three hours. Long-haul flights land at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Arusha's own airport (ARK) handles the domestic flights some of our trips use for the Serengeti and Zanzibar.
Sixteen of our published trips start or finish here. On most the first day runs the same way. Someone from our team meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport with a sign, gives you a short briefing on the trip ahead and takes you to your hotel in Arusha. Next morning you leave for the parks, often for a first game drive at Lake Manyara.
A few trips add a day in or near town first. The 11-Day Tanzania Classic, 11-Day Great Migration Safari and 13-Day Wet Migration Safari include a guided town tour of markets and craft centres, with an optional coffee tour in the afternoon. The 8-Day Tanzania Classic Tour spends day two at the Materuni waterfalls on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, with a coffee tour. The 10-Day Active Safari finishes with an Arusha city tour that takes in the Tanzanite Museum.
At the end, most trips drive back to Arusha for lunch before the airport transfer. Bush-and-beach trips fly on from Arusha Airport to Zanzibar. The 16-Day Kenya and Tanzania Private Safari can also drive back to Kenya from here.
It's the nearest park to town. TANAPA gives the drive as half an hour on one page and 45 minutes on another, with the main entrance at Ngongongare Gate near Usa River. That makes it easy to fit into a single day. Inside you'll find:
Leopard and spotted hyena live here too. TANAPA lists them as occasional sightings, best at dawn and dusk.
None of our published trips includes the park as standard. If you'd like a day there, or a walk before the long drives, ask us on plan your trip and we'll build it in.
Yes. Mount Meru, 4,566 m, stands inside Arusha National Park. Climbers sleep in the Miriakamba and Saddle huts, and TANAPA suggests the climb as acclimatisation before Kilimanjaro. Its advice for Meru is simple: acclimatise properly and keep to the hut and ranger schedule.
As a starting point, Arusha works all year. For Arusha National Park, TANAPA names June to October and December to February as peak seasons and advises booking early for those months. Our guide to the best time to visit Tanzania covers the parks further out.
Entry fees depend on whether you're a citizen, resident or non-resident, on your age, and on activities such as walking, canoeing or the Meru trek. Vehicle and camping fees can apply as well. Fees change, so check TANAPA's current schedule before you travel. Walking safaris and canoeing must be guided, off-road driving is restricted, and drones need permission in advance. For the rest of your preparation, see our Tanzania travel tips.
International flights land at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). On our trips someone from our team meets you there with a sign and takes you to your hotel in Arusha. Arusha Airport (ARK) handles domestic flights, and several of our itineraries fly from it to the Serengeti or on to Zanzibar.
One night is enough for most people, and it's what most of our trips include: arrive, get a briefing, sleep, and leave for the parks after breakfast. If you're arriving on a long overnight flight, or want to see the town, a few of our itineraries add a day for a guided town tour, a coffee tour or the Materuni waterfalls.
TANAPA gives the drive as half an hour to 45 minutes by tarmac road from Arusha, and about an hour and a half from Moshi. The main entrance is Ngongongare Gate near Usa River, towards the Momella area. Domestic flights into Arusha (ARK) or Kilimanjaro (JRO) can be met with a transfer, so it works as a first or last outing on a trip.
Yes. TANAPA puts the park half an hour to 45 minutes from Arusha, so a day is enough to drive to Ngurdoto Crater and the Momella Lakes and add a guided walk or a canoe on the lakes. It isn't in our standard itineraries, so tell us if you'd like it added before or after your safari.
Yes. Mount Meru (4,566 m) is inside Arusha National Park, close to town. Climbers sleep in the Miriakamba and Saddle huts, and TANAPA suggests the climb as acclimatisation before Kilimanjaro. TANAPA asks climbers to acclimatise properly and follow the hut and ranger schedule. See our Kilimanjaro page if you're planning both mountains.
Yes, in Arusha National Park. TANAPA calls it one of the few Tanzanian parks where guided walks let you get close to nature, with giraffe, buffalo and zebra in the open glades. Walks must be guided by authorised guides, and TANAPA asks walkers to follow ranger instructions and carry water, sun protection and insect repellent.
6days
Private · Migration · Calving
This Safari is exactly how it sounds, “short and sweet”. It is ideal for Adventurers that do not have a lot of time but would like to see all the best parts of the Northern Safari Circuit of Tanzania. Highlights include…
6days
Camping
Private · Active
Highlights include Manyara National Park, the World-Famous Serengeti, the UNESCO Heritage site of the Ngorongoro Crater and Mto wa Mbu Cultural Activities. It’s everything that you would want to treat yourself in a safar…
8days
Private
This Safari is for those who are interested in more than just your typical game drives! It combines some amazing activities for Adventurers who like to have a little more physical and active component. Highlights include…
8days
Private · Big Five
An eight-day northern-circuit safari linking Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire.
From US$4,410 per person (2 sharing, Comfort level), Apr–May 2027
10days
Private
This Safari is exactly how it sounds, “short and sweet.” It is ideal for adventurers who do not have a lot of time but would like to see all the best parts of the Northern Safari Circuit of Tanzania. Highlights include L…
10days
Private · Active
This Safari is everything you would ever want to see and experience! Great for families or the inner child in you that wants to learn about everything and do it all – Active. Highlights include Materuni water falls & cof…
Park · Northern circuit
Park · Northern circuit
Park · Kenya
Conservation area · Northern circuit
Arusha 3.37° S · 36.68° E
Who is coming, roughly when, and what you would love to see. Someone from our Arusha team reads every request and replies with ideas and a first itinerary.
