Arusha is one of the most breathtaking and spectacular locations in Tanzania, and should be visited by everyone who takes a trip to the stunning East Africa. A must see tourist spot for travel lovers, this region is home to heavenly scenes of natural beauty, amazing wildlife, lively and bustling marketplaces, and a rich archeological and colonial history. Here are some top outdoor activities you can enjoy in and around Arusha on your trip.
- Explore Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park is one of the top rated safari parks in Tanzania, and is a great spot for a cycling tour, game drive, or walking safari. Tourists can enjoy wildlife viewing as the park is home to animals such as monkeys, giraffes, elephants, hippos, gazelles, hyenas, and buffaloes! The park is ideal for bird watching as travelers can spot beautiful and colorful birds such as geese, herons, parrots, eagles, woodpeckers, and flamingoes!
- Climb the summit of Mount Meru
Tourists can take a day trip from Arusha to Mount Meru, which can be reached after a one hour drive. This spectacular mountain is one of the top rated places in Tanzania for travel lovers to visit. The mountain stands at 4566m, and is one of the highest mountains in East Africa. Tourists can enjoy hiking and climbing to the top, during which they can go through a number of stunning landscapes, including dense rainforest, grassland, alpine meadow, and desert upland. The climb can take 3-4 days and is a must-have experience for adventure lovers. From the summit, they can enjoy a breathtaking aerial view of the forest and the nearby coffee plantations. During the hike, tourists can find wildlife such as baboons, giraffes, elephants, warthogs, black and white colobus monkeys, and buffaloes!
- Learn about History at Olduvai Gorge
Near Arusha, Olduvai Gorge is a must-see location for travelers who would like to learn about the region’s rich history and heritage. At Olduvai Gorge, also known as Oldupai, scientists in the 1960s discovered evidence of the earliest humans. They discovered a fossil of the first human species, dating back around 1.9 million years ago, as well as many ancient tools. Known as the “cradle of humankind,” this is a great spot for a hike, during which tourists can enjoy watching wildlife such as giraffes, elephants, and lions!
- Canoe at Momella Lakes
The Momella Lakes are situated near Arusha, and are a great spot for boating, canoeing, and bird watching. The seven shallow, alkaline lakes are named Tulusia, Small Momella, Big Momella, Kusare, Lekandiro, Rishateni, and El Kekhotoito. Here, tourists can find wildlife such as dik diks, waterbucks, zebras, and giraffes, and spot amazing birdlife as the region is home to ducks, pelicans, herons, eagles, and flamingos!
- Hike at Ngurdoto Crater
One of the top locations in the Arusha region is the swampy Ngurdoto Crater. The area is covered with a dense rainforest, and is home to many exotic and migratory birds, and animals such as giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, hyenas, duikers, antelopes, colobus monkeys, baboons, warthogs, and dik diks. The volcanic crater is 3.6km wide and 100m deep, and tourists can hike along the crater rim. From there, they can enjoy a mesmerizing view of the surroundings, which include the vast Arusha National Park and the stunning Mount Kilimanjaro. Bird watching here is excellent as tourists can spot hornbills, geese, herons, bee-eaters, and turacos. This is a wonderful location for nature lovers to explore.
- Day trip to Tarangire National Park
From Arusha, tourists can take a day trip to Tarangire National Park, where they can find elands, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, impalas, waterbucks, wild dogs, gazelles, mongooses, badgers, lions, monkeys, and baboons! Here, tourists can also witness the extraordinary elephant migration, and see huge herds of elephants. The park is one of the best safari parks in Tanzania, and exploring it is a great outdoor activity to do near Arusha!
