Day Trips
There are many excellent day trips that are possible departing from Moshi or Arusha. Exploring nature and cultural tours that will give you a glimpse of life in rural Tanzania unknown to most tourists. We highly recommend that you schedule a day trip the first day after arrival in Tanzania. It serves as time to recover from a long flight and as protection in case of flight delays/missed connections/ lost luggage. But if your departure flight is late in the day, it also makes a good activity on your departure day. These trips do not require much advance booking and can be added even on one day notice. Listed below are some of the most popular activites, but there are also other options. Feel free to contact us for more information.
One Day Mt Kilimanjaro Trek - Marangu Route (non-summit trek)
For a taste of what a Mt Kilimanjaro trek is like, you can participate in a one day trek through the rainforest on Marangu Route. After breakfast we will pick you up at your hotel and drive to Marangu Gate at Mt Kilimanjaro National Park. After registration procedures you along with your English speaking guide will go on a lovely, but sometimes wet hike through the rainforest. When reaching Mandera Hut, you will enjoy a lunch. Afterwards you can proceed a bit further to a scenic overlook of Maundi Crater. From there it will be time to hike back to the park gate where our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to your hotel by late afternoon.
Coffee/Waterfall Tour
The Chagga tribe is a large tribe which is the predominant tribe in the Mt Kilimanjaro area. While most of the Chagga have adapted fully to a modernized lifestyle and customs, in small villages you can still find the traditional way of life. You will be driven to a small village on Mt Kilimanjaro just outside of the national park. You will visit a small banana farm and small coffee farm, learning hands-on how coffee is cultivated and processed. You will go on a short hike to a wonderful waterfall where you will have a chance for a swim if you like, or to just relax and enjoy nature. The path to the waterfalls is steep so footwear other than flip-flops is strongly recommended. The local village women will prepare a traditional Chagga lunch for you. Afterwards you will be returned to your hotel in Moshi/Arusha.
1 Day Safari
You can choose either of the two offerings below as a day safari.
Arusha National Park is a small park located just an hour's drive from Moshi or 30 minutes fromt he city of Arusha. It is a lovely park with a variety of landscapes: plains, forest, lakes, and Mt Meru - the second highest mountain in Tanzania. Surprisingly, it is not heavily visited. This might be due to the fact that some of the most popular safari animals are not present such as lions, cheetahs, rhinos, and elephants. The park does have plenty of giraffes and antelopes. In addition to vehicle safaris there are options for walking safaris (with an armed park ranger) and canoe rentals. A day safari would include park fees and taxes, an English-speaking guide (other languages are possible with enough notice), safari vehicle with pop-up viewing roof, picnic style lunch inside of the park, and drinking water. If you choose to have some time spent on a walking safari, a park ranger will be there for your protection and for local knowledge. Because of the small size of the park this destination is seldom done as more than a day trip from Moshi or Arusha.
Tarangire National Park is further away compared to Arusha National Park. It is 3.5 hours from Moshi, or 2 hours from Arusha. The variety of animals is much greater, with a very large number of elephants. There is a very good chance of finding lions and if you are fortunate you might find leopards. Included in the day trip are park fees and taxes, a safari vehicle with pop-up viewing roof, English-speaking guide (other languages available with an early enough request), picnic-style lunch, and drinking water.
Maasai Tribe
You will get a chance to go inside a boma (Maasai hut), witness and participate in singing and dancing, comparing your jumping skills with the Maasai warriors, and to buy authentic Maasai ornaments and jewelery and onsite. Typically these visits are on hour in duration. Another good spot to visit the Maasai is in west Kilimanjaro. As a day trip from Moshi or Arusha you will have a longer time to spend watching and participating in the Maasai daily duties and traditions. There is a two day version also where you will be even more fully immersed in their culture.
Rau Forest Walk
Located very close to Moshi town, this forest hike is not strenuous but gives you a chance to connect with nature. Commonly seen animals include black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, antelopes, warthogs, dik-diks and various bird species including African spoonbills. The area is surrounded by rice fields that you will cross enroute. This is not a strenuous activity and can be extended to have a boxed lunch enjoyed in the forest, or kept to a 3 hour activity (travel to the forest and back included in the 3 hours).