Top Activities to do in and around Arusha, Tanzania
Staying in Arusha either at the start or end of the safari gives you various options for day trips into nature, culture, and relaxing or more sportive activities. Go out for more beautiful nature, some fun, and new experiences, and come back home to retire to the campfire.
Relaxing
Waterfall Kilasia or Kinukamori at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Its crystal-clear water originates in the natural springs of volcanic rocks on Kilimanjaro. This picturesque spot is great for swimming or just relaxing and enjoying the refreshing breeze from the waterfall. The 2-hour drive through Moshi will take us to Marangu Village, where a short 20-minute hike will bring you to the Kinukamori Waterfall. Along the way, you will pass thru a beautiful forest past tall Eucalyptus trees among many others. At Kinukamori a picnic lunch can be served.
Hotsprings at Kikuletwa – Thermal Kilimanjaro water to relax and swim in these natural water springs. Swing over the water as a Tarzan on a rope or have little fish eat away dead skin.
Lake Chala – A beautiful and undiscovered crater lake with deep blue waters where you can swim or walk along the lake with a lot of birdlife. Along the top rim, 100 meters above the lake is a great restaurant for lunch with spectacular views.
Golf with a view – At just walking distance from Kili Villa the beautifully landscaped golf course with challenging water hazards including the resident crocodile offers an amazing golf experience at the only championship golf course in Tanzania.
Canoeing on Lake Duluti canoeing
Glide across the smooth surface of this small Crater Lake and view the Giant kingfisher, Fish eagle, Darters, and many more. Surrounded by forested crater walls this is a very special and quiet 1.5-hour canoeing experience. A well-trained guide will accompany the safari. He will ensure your safety and enjoyment while explaining more about the natural environment, wildlife, and cultures living in and around the lake.
Arusha National Park canoeing
Enjoy a peaceful and scenic canoeing safari following the shorelines of small Momella Lake inside Arusha National Park. On this 2-3 hour canoe safari, you can expect to see buffaloes, bushbuck, giraffes, hippos, water birds, and beautiful views of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro. A well-trained guide will accompany the safari. He will tell you about the natural world in and around this lake.
Mountain biking to Usa River and Tengeru Villages
This is a short and easy 2-hours ride mainly on single-track trails through the farming villages on the outskirts of Arusha. Most of this ride is flat and the tracks are moderate to good. You will encounter local Tanzanian farmers, kids, and general farming communities. The ride is partly shaded. An experienced mountain biking guide leads the ride.
Usa River, Tengeru village, and Mount Meru (Half or full day)
This 3-hour to full-day ride will take you through the farming villages of Usa River as well as Tengeru. You will also ride a bit up the lower slopes of Mount Meru, into the lush farms of these slopes. This ride will be strenuous with steep up-and-down tracks following forest trails. Most of the tracks are in moderate to good condition. An experienced mountain biking guide leads the ride.
Bike to Arusha National Park (full day)
A full-day mountain bike safari inside Arusha National Park. This ride is designed to give you both wildlife and cultural experience. Our guide will meet you at Rivertrees Country Inn in the morning and transfer you to Arusha National Park. You will enjoy a short game drive through the park on your way to Ngorodoto Crater from where you will start your ride. The ride mainly goes around the rim of the Crater with stunning views into the Crater. A ranger will accompany the ride since it is possible to encounter buffalo. Other animals likely to be seen are Colobus Monkeys, Sykes Monkey, giraffes, various bird species, and great scenery.
The ride is partly on a gravel track and partly on a small animal track that can allow for some muddy riding. There are steep up and steep down parts during this ride.
Lake Duluti walk
Enjoy a beautiful 2,5 hours walk under the canopy of the Lake Duluti forest on the shores of the lake. From this location, you have the perfect opportunity to view both forest and water birds. An experienced guide will assist you in identifying all the lesser-known animals and trees.
Arusha city tour (Half or full day)
During this tour, our guide will pick you up and drives you through Arusha and show you some of the sights and sounds of this vibrant city. You will have the opportunity to visit a village market and the main Arusha market. You can also visit a school or a church and have a drink in a local pub.
You will be taken for lunch and the tour will continue for a short while after lunch visiting a few local farms as well as a flower farm and a coffee farm where farming is done for export.
Visit Usa River and Tengeru market
These are two short 1,5 hour tours where guests are walked from either Rivertrees Country Inn or Lake Duluti Serena to the local food and vegetable markets close to the properties. Your guide will tell you more about the process of local markets and helps you to communicate with the sellers.
Polish graves
This is a historical site to World War ll when Polish refugees found their way to Africa. On this 2-hour tour, a guide will accompany you to the graves in Tengeru (close to Lake Duluti). At the site, a local guide will provide you with more details about the significance of this cemetery.
Arusha National Park Game Drive
Enjoy the thrill of getting up close and personal with the bigger wildlife as well as the smaller bush creatures, on a 1-day game drive. You can spot the black-and-white colobus monkeys, hippos, giraffes, buffaloes, bushbucks, hyenas, and leopards. Also, more than 400 species of birds have been recorded in the park, such as pelicans, flamingos, hornbills, fish and snake eagles, and buzzards. The park’s three most significant features include Mount Meru (Tanzania’s second-highest peak), the beautiful Momela Lakes, and the 3km wide Ngurdoto Crater. When the clouds are clear you can even see the snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro.
