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10 Cool Day Trips from Arusha

In 2022, travel lovers can enjoy visiting exciting and scenic locations all around the world. An amazing location that any traveller must see is Arusha, a stunning district in Tanzania. Home to lush greenery, spectacular wildlife, colorful markets, and gorgeous landscapes, this region should be a part of every vacation in East Africa. Here are 10 cool day trips that you can take during your visit to Arusha.

 

  1. Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park is the most popular attraction of the region. Here, tourists can spot amazing wildlife such as zebras, buffaloes, giraffes, elephants, leopards, apes, blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, warthogs, bushbucks, hyenas, hippos, and gazelles! The park is ideal for bird watching as it is home to stunning birdlife including herons, parrots, flamingoes, woodpeckers, geese, and eagles! Travellers can enjoy game drives, and cycling tours to explore the Park.

 

  1. Mount Meru

Another great day trip location is Mount Meru, which is an hour away from Arusha. The active volcano is the fifth highest mountain in Africa as it has an extraordinary height of 4566m. Tourists can trek up the slopes and enjoy the stunning view of the various landscapes, which include grasslands, desert uplands, rainforests, and alpine meadows! They can also find around 400 species of colorful birds!

 

  1. Momella Lakes

Tourists can also visit the Momella Lakes, seven shallow alkaline lakes, named Small Momella, Big Momella, Tulusia, Lekandiro, Kusare, Rishateni, and El Kekhotoito. Visitors can relax on the grass and watch birds such as flamingoes, bee-eaters, weavers, eagles, turacos, pelicans, ducks, and herons! Tourists can also enjoy canoe rides, or spotting wildlife such as giraffes, waterbucks, and zebras.

 

  1. Olduvai Gorge

Travellers who are interested in history and archeology should plan a day trip to Olduvai Gorge where scientists discovered a fossil of the first human species, and evidence of some of the oldest known human species that date back around 1.9 million years ago. Known as the “cradle of humankind,” this is one of the most interesting spots for tourists to explore in Arusha. Tourists can also see ancient tools.

 

  1. Meserani Snake Park

Meserani Snake Park is home to dangerous snakes such as the Black or Green Mamba, African pythons, Puff Adders, and Egyptian Cobras. During a day trip here, visitors can hold snakes, baby crocodiles, or wild tortoises! The expert guides can teach them about each species!

 

  1. Tarangire National Park

The amazing Tarangire National Park is located 2 to 3 hours away from Arusha. Tourists can take a road trip to this top rated safari park and enjoy activities such as game drives, bird watching, and wildlife viewing. The park is home to huge herds of elephants and is known for its unique elephant migration. Tourists can also spot animals such as leopards, giraffes, gazelles, monkeys, and lions!

 

  1. Tengeru

Another great day trip location is Tenguru, a peri-urban town that is home to lush banana fields, traditional mountain homesteads, and small scale farms. At the coffee farms, tourists can learn about how coffee is produced in the region. Nearby, tourists can go canoeing at the scenic Lake Duluti and enjoy the view of Mount Meru.

 

  1. Ol Doinyo Lengai

Called “Mountain of God” by locals, Ol Doinyo Lengai is a stunning volcano located near the Gregory Rift. Tourists should take a day trip to this unique geological oddity as the lava fountains turn hard midair. One can climb the slopes of the rock formations surrounding the active volcano vents. This is the only volcano known to have carbonatite, a rare lava that is black, but cools to a white powder.

 

  1. Mshiri Village

Tourists should also visit Mshiri Village where they can interact with the Chagga people and witness the culture, and lifestyle of the mountain tribe. They can walk around the fertile fields and explore the thatched huts at Marangu Mtoni. The Mshiri Vocational Training School is an amazing spot for tourists to spend the day with young artisans and witness the traditional craft of woodworking.

 

  1. Ngurdoto Crater

Covered with a dense rainforest, the swampy Ngurdoto Crater is a great spot for a day trip. Nature lovers can walk around the area and observe the lush greenery and spot exotic birds such as geese, hornbills, and herons! The area is also home to animals such as warthogs, elephants, buffaloes, colobus monkeys, and hyenas!