Momella Lakes Day Trip Pricing

$110 – $190 per person USD
Price includes park entrance fees, which push this trip toward the higher end of our standard day-trip range. It varies further by group size and whether you add the canoe session.
Full DayWalking Safari OptionCanoe Add-OnPrivate Vehicle

Pricing Breakdown by Tier

Component Entry (fair, not cheap) Midrange Luxury / VIP
Price Per Person $110–$130 $130–$190 Not offered for this trip

Overview

At a Glance

  • Duration: Full day, roughly 7 hours including drive time
  • Route: Arusha → Momella Gate → lake circuit game drive → optional walk or canoe → Arusha
  • Wildlife: Your guide will search for giraffe, buffalo, and colobus monkey, depending on season and movement
  • Special Feature: One of the only Tanzanian parks allowing a guided walking safari
  • Best Suited For: Travelers with one spare day who still want a real park experience

This is a day trip to Arusha National Park, home to the Momella Lakes. You take a game drive around the lakes, then choose a guided walk or a canoe session. Mount Meru stands close behind it all.

The park sits about 45 minutes from Arusha, the shortest drive of any major park nearby. A morning game drive circles the lakes, often turning up giraffe and buffalo. Midday brings your choice of activity: walking with an armed ranger, or paddling the calmer lake waters.

This trip suits travelers with only one day free, before a flight or a longer safari. It also suits anyone curious about a walking safari, a rare option in Tanzania's parks.

Highlights

🐾

A guided walking safari, permitted here alongside a normal game drive.

🐾

A game drive circling the Momella Lakes, often reflecting Mount Meru.

🐾

Your guide will search for giraffe, buffalo, and colobus monkey along the way.

🐾

The shortest drive of any major park near Arusha, about 45 minutes each way.

🐾

An optional canoe session on the calmer lake waters.

🐾

The shortest drive of any major park near Arusha, about 45 minutes each way.

🐾

A private vehicle and guide, not a shared tour group.

🐾

Flexible timing, easy to fit around a flight or another commitment.

Route Snapshot

Arusha → Momella Gate → Lake Circuit Game Drive → Optional Walk or Canoe → Arusha

The trip runs as a loop from Arusha. No overnight stay is needed.

What is the daily itinerary?

  • Day Trip Tour: Momella Lakes Day Trip

What happens each day of the tour?

Day Trip Tour

Momella Lakes Day Trip

Meals: L (picnic)Start: Arusha (approx. 7:30 AM)Finish: Arusha (approx. 2:00–3:00 PM)Distance: ~40 km each wayDrive Time: ~45 minutes each way
The drive to Momella Gate is short, past coffee farms and small villages. Once inside the park, the road opens onto a string of lakes, each a different shade of blue or green depending on mineral content. Giraffe often stand at the water's edge, unbothered by the vehicle's slow pace. Midday brings a choice. Some guests join a guided walk near the forest edge, led by your guide and an armed ranger, a rare chance to move on foot through Tanzanian bush. Others prefer the water, paddling a canoe across the calmer lake, close enough to hear waterbirds calling from the reeds. A picnic lunch follows, often with Mount Meru still visible above the treeline. The drive back to Arusha arrives in the early afternoon, in good time for a flight or an evening in town.

What accommodation is included?

⛺

Central Arusha Hotels

Central Arusha Hotels
The most common base for this trip, about 45 minutes from Momella Gate by road.
Suggested Base
🏞️

Lodges Near the Park

Lodges Near the Park
A handful of lodges sit closer to the park itself, cutting drive time for guests who want an earlier start.
Closer Option
🎒

No Overnight Needed

No Overnight Needed
: This trip returns to your existing hotel the same day. No separate accommodation is required.
Day Trip Only

What is included and excluded?

What's Included?

Arusha National Park entrance and conservation fees
Private 4x4 vehicle with driver-guide
Guided walking safari with armed ranger, or canoe session (your choice)
Picnic lunch
Bottled drinking water during the trip
Hotel pickup and drop-off in Arusha
All required government taxes on included services

What\'s Not Included?

International flights
Visa fees
Travel insurance
Tips for your guide and ranger
Canoe session, if selected in addition to the walking option
Alcoholic drinks
Personal expenses

Why Book with Generous African Tours?

🕵️‍♂️
KPAP & Local Experts
Our guides have 10+ years of tracking experience, knowing exactly where the wildlife migrates and how to escape the crowds.
🚙
Custom 4x4 Vehicles
Travel in safety with custom-modified Toyota Land Cruisers featuring charging ports, large windows, and a pop-up roof.
⭐
Tailored Hospitality
We handpick clean, high-service safari lodges and luxury camps, ensuring delicious meals and excellent comfort after game drives.

Best Time to Visit Tanzania Safari

The best time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is during the dry months of January-March and June-October, when the weather is stable with less rain.

Jan
🌤
Dry Season
Clear
Feb
🌤
Dry Season
Clear
Mar
🌧
Short Rains
Wet
Apr
🌧
Long Rains
Wet
May
🌧
Long Rains
Wet
Jun
⭐
Peak Dry
Excellent
Jul
⭐
Peak Dry
Excellent
Aug
⭐
Peak Dry
Excellent
Sep
⭐
Peak Dry
Excellent
Oct
🌤
Dry End
Good
Nov
🌧
Short Rains
Quiet
Dec
⭐
Good Season
Festive
Peak season
Good season
Low / rainy season

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

What makes a walking safari different from a normal game drive?

You move on foot, guided by a ranger and your guide, rather than staying in the vehicle. It's a slower, quieter way to notice details a drive would pass by.
FAQ

Will I definitely see giraffe or buffalo?

No sighting is ever guaranteed. Your guide will search known areas near the lakes, and sightings depend on season and animal movement that day.
FAQ

How much does this trip cost?

Between $110 and $190 per person, depending on group size and whether you add the canoe session.
FAQ

Can I do both the walk and the canoe in one day?

It's possible, though it makes for a fuller day. Most guests choose one to keep the pace relaxed.
FAQ

Is this trip suitable for children?

Yes, in general. The walking option asks for a bit more stamina and attentiveness than the game drive, so consider your child's age and energy level.
FAQ

How far is this from Kilimanjaro International Airport?

Momella Gate sits close to the airport road, making this an easy trip to combine with an early or late flight.
FAQ

Will I see the Big Five here?

No. Arusha National Park doesn't hold lion or rhino populations. Its draw is giraffe, buffalo, colobus monkey, and the walking safari option, not Big Five tracking.
FAQ

What should I pack?

Comfortable closed shoes for walking, sun protection, and a light jacket, since the highland air can turn cool in the shade.
FAQ

Is this trip suitable for solo travelers?

Yes. Solo travelers can book this trip, with the vehicle and guide dedicated to your day regardless of group size.
FAQ

How far in advance should I book?

A few days' notice is usually enough, though booking a week ahead is safer during busy travel months.

Tour Gallery