2-Day Arusha National Park Budget Safari
Overview
Discover the hidden gem of Tanzania’s northern circuit on this affordable 2-day budget safari to Arusha National Park. Often overlooked by those rushing to the Serengeti, this park offers an incredible diversity of landscapes within a compact area—from the lush montane forests of Mount Meru and the mysterious Ngurdoto Crater to the serene, flamingo-dotted Momela Lakes. Uniquely, this is the only park on the northern circuit where you can partake in a thrilling walking safari. Perfect for those short on time or seeking a budget-friendly weekend getaway, you will explore the wild on both 4×4 game drives and on foot, staying overnight at a comfortable budget campsite or tented lodge.
Safari Highlights
Detailed Itinerary
Arusha to Arusha National Park & Walking Safari
After a morning pick-up from your hotel in Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport, you will take a short drive (approximately 45 minutes) to the entrance of Arusha National Park. The park’s close proximity means you waste no time getting into the wild. You’ll start with a game drive around the Momela Lakes, a cluster of shallow alkaline lakes famous for their stunning birdlife, including flocks of pink flamingos, pelicans, and cormorants. Keep an eye out for giraffes, zebras, and waterbucks grazing on the shores. After a picnic lunch, you will embark on a unique guided walking safari accompanied by an armed park ranger. This allows you to experience the bush up close—smelling the wild herbs, examining animal tracks, and getting remarkably close to wildlife like giraffes and warthogs. You’ll also walk through the montane forest, your best chance to spot the rare and beautiful black-and-white colobus monkeys. In the late afternoon, head to your budget campsite or tented lodge on the outskirts of the park for dinner and an overnight stay.
Ngurdoto Crater & Return to Arusha
Wake up to the sounds of the forest and enjoy a hot breakfast at the camp. You will then drive into the park to visit the Ngurdoto Crater, a dramatic, steep-sided volcanic caldera often referred to as the "Little Ngorongoro." Due to the fragile ecosystem, vehicles are not allowed to descend into the crater, but you will drive along the rim to the various viewpoints, looking down at the swamp floor teeming with buffalo, warthogs, and sometimes elephants. Afterward, continue your game drive up the slopes of Mount Meru, passing through dense, moss-draped fig trees and ferns. The forest here is alive with turquoise, purple, and golden-horned chameleons, as well as trogons and hornbills. Enjoy a final picnic lunch before exiting the park. You will drive back to Arusha, arriving in the early afternoon for a drop-off at your hotel or the airport, marking the end of your short but action-packed budget adventure.
