2-Day Safari from Arusha, Tanzania

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If you find yourself in Arusha pre or post trekking mount Kilimanjaro and want to go on safari then this post is for you! Keep reading on how you can do a 2-day safari from Arusha.

Is a 2 Day Safari Worth it?

I say yes and here is why! Safaris and animal sightings are all based on luck. You could get really lucky and see all the big 5 + other animals within 2 hours of venturing into your safari adventure. Of course the longer you go on safari the more chance you have at extending your luck but 2 days is plenty of time to see lots of animals and enjoy each park.

If you are in Tanzania for another adventure (i.e., to summit mount Kilimanjaro or lay on the beach in Zanzibar) and want to squeeze in a safari experience in Arusha and only have 2 days, I say go for it!

All this being said, I am going back to East Africa a few years frow now to do a trip that is dedicated to a safari where I am hoping to spend at least a week at a few National Parks in both Tanzania and Kenya.

Why Arusha?

Arusha is located at the foot of Mount Meru and is considered the gateway of Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit. You can visit the following National Parks from Arusha.

Destination	Distance (from Arusha town)	Drive Time (approx.)
Arusha National Park	30 km / 19 mi	45 min – 1 hr
Tarangire National Park (main gate)	120 km / 75 mi	2 – 2.5 hrs
Lake Manyara National Park (main gate at Mto wa Mbu)	125 km / 78 mi	2 – 2.5 hrs
Ngorongoro Crater (Loduare Gate / Crater Rim)	155–180 km / 96–112 mi	3.5 – 4.5 hrs

If you only have 2 days for a safari from Arusha, you can easily pick 2 parks and visit 1 each day. While Arusha National Park is close by, I recommend picking 2 of the other 3 as you will see a lot more diversity in these parks. This being said, Arusha National Park offers a walking tour which you may find interesting!

Getting to and from Arusha

Getting to and from Arusha is very easy. There are 2 airports that you can use to get in and out. Arusha (ARK) airport is just outside the city and connects domestically and regionally while the Kilimanjaro (JRO) airport which is about 45-60 minutes away is well connected to international destinations.

Best Season for a Safari?

Typically the dry seasons (June-October & January–February) are considered ideal for game-viewing because animals concentrate around water, and the roads are more reliable. That being said, I visited Kruger National Park in South Africa in May (rainy season) and still saw loads of animals and of course the lush green bush. If you find ourself outside of the dry season, don’t dismiss a safari as there is still plenty to see!

Picking a Safari Company

There are so many safari companies to choose from in Tanzania. If you are climbing mount Kilimanjaro, most outfitters also run safaris so you should ask them first. I climbed Kilimanjaro with Ian Taylor Trekking and did a 2-day safari from Arusha with them. They were really great and I really enjoyed my safari experience! The guides were very knowledgeable about the parks, animals and their behaviors as well was the ecosystems.

• What are the exact lodges/camps we’ll be staying in (name and location)?
• Are they inside or outside the national park?
• Are all meals included? (Breakfast/lunch/dinner/packed lunch boxes?)
• Food during the game drives (boxed lunch? picnic?)
• Is there running hot water and electricity (hours per day)?
• Are rooms/tents en suite or shared facilities?
• Airport transfers?
• Are park fees included?
• Other inclusions and exclusions?
• What is your guide-to-guest ratio on group safaris?
• What type of vehicle will be used (4×4 Land Cruiser, pop-up roof, air-conditioning)?
• Is it private or shared with others?
• How many passengers per vehicle?
• Is there a guaranteed window seat for everyone?
• What is the exact day-by-day plan (departure times, park entry times, overnight stops)?
• Restroom breaks (how often, where etc.)?
• Is the itinerary flexible if I want to spend more time in a park I love?
• How much actual “game drive” time is included each day?
• Are there optional activities (walking safari, night drive, balloon flight, cultural visit)?
• What is the cancellation/refund policy?

2-Day Safari from Arusha

If you want to make the most of your 2-day safari from Arusha, my best recommendation is to visit Tarangire and Ngorongoro. Lake Manyara is no doubt beautiful but I think the combination of Tarangire and Ngorongoro will give you the best shot of seeing diverse wildlife and landscapes in just 2 days.

Day 1 – Tarangire National Park

Located about 120 km (75 mi) southwest of Arusha, Tarangire is part of Tanzania’s famed Northern Safari Circuit yet feels wonderfully wild and unhurried. Spanning 2,850 sq km (1,100 sq mi), it takes its name from the Tarangire River, a permanent ribbon of water that sustains life here long after other rivers have dried. The park was officially established in 1970, and its altitude varies between 900 m and 1,600 m, giving it a warm but not blistering climate.

On day 1 of your 2-day safari from Arusha, leave the city early morning so that you have a good bit of time to drive around in the park.

Tarangire is well known for elephants and is often referred to as the “The Kingdom of Elephants” as it hosts one of the largest elephant populations in Tanzania. The park is also recognizable for its ancient baobab trees, some estimated to be over 1,000 years old. The baobabs store water in their trunks, sustaining animals and themselves through drought.

Another great part about Tarangire is that it’s not as popular as Ngorongoro or Serengeti and will therefore be a much more peaceful experience.

My Experience at Tarangire

I saw lots of wildlife in the park, especially elephants. My favorite memory was seeing elephants at a watering hole. An entire heard made their way to the water including several baby elephants. One was about 2 weeks old and was so cute! I also saw lots of birds and herbivores like Zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, buffalo, impala and waterbucks. The funniest sight was seeing 3 giraffes drink water with their legs spread wide! “Pumbas” or warthogs were also prevalent. In addition to the animals, I also really enjoyed the giant baobab and umbrella thorn trees. I’ll let the pictures do the talking!

We had a lovely picnic lunch overlooking the Tarangire river and left the park in the late afternoon to head towards the Ngorongoro area. We spent the night at the Ngorongoro Farm House (see below for more!).

Day 2 – Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is located about 180 kilometers (112 miles) west of Arusha and includes the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater. This “crater” was formed about two to three million years ago when a large volcanic mountain collapsed following a major eruption. The crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact volcanic caldera, measuring roughly 20 kilometers (12 miles) in diameter and 600 meters (2,000 feet) deep. Although called a crater, it is actually a caldera! Life does not exist in a crater but does in a caldera. It is also not called a national park (but a conservation area) as it is a multiple-use area where wildlife coexists with semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists who are permitted to live and graze their cattle within its boundaries.

The crater floor supports a permanent population of around 25,000 large animals, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, wildebeests, zebras, hippos, and one of the few remaining populations of black rhinoceros in Tanzania. Interestingly, the “crater” acts as a natural enclosure, keeping much of the wildlife contained year-round, and that no giraffes are found inside the “crater” due to the steep walls and limited acacia trees for browsing. The combination of geological, ecological, and cultural features makes Ngorongoro one of the most studied and visited conservation sites in Africa.

My Experience

We reached the gate almost as soon as they opened and then drove down to the crater floor. The rim of the crater is lush, almost rain forest like and we saw Maasai huts as we drove down. There was a thick fog all around us and I was a bit worried the fog would follow us down the the “crater” floor but things cleared out by the time we got down.

We saw so much wildlife on the floor. From lions and hyenas to herds of hippos just laying around in the sun. My favorite two encounters were a pair of ostriches mating. The male started doing this highly animated dance before approaching the female and my second was a herd of buffaloes chasing away two lionesses from their territory.

Below is the entire episode of the lionesses and the herd of buffalos.

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A post shared by MM (@shortgirlontour)

Where to Stay

If you are visiting Ngorongoro the next day ,then try and stay as close to the park or inside it if you can. I stayed at the Ngorongoro Farm House, which was just outside the park and had the most perfect experience. It’s nestled on 500 lush acres of coffee plantation in the Ngorongoro highlands and has cottage-style rooms, a swimming pool overlooking farmland and volcano peaks. I loved a few things about this hotel.

1. The setting was stunning! They grow all sorts of fruits, vegetables and flowers which make for one stunning backdrop against the setting sun in the evening.
2. They also offer tours of the farm
3. The room was nice and spacious. They offer turn down service where they will put down the nets and have a warm hot water bottle waiting for you
4. They have a happy hour with free cocktails and snacks during sunset
5. They provide a picnic lunch with a wide variety of food and snacks ranging from pasta, rice, chicken, to make your own sandwiches, quiche, popcorn, fruit, yogurt, cookies, cake etc!
6. The staff were absolutely lovely! So attentive and friendly!

I would definitely visit here again during my next visit to Tanzania!

Whether you stay here or elsewhere, you should definitely consider staying as close to Ngorongoro as possible because you would want to get to the gate as soon as they open.

Lake Manyara

Lake Manyara is smaller than Tarangire and Ngorongoro but is still packed with wildlife. It’s located around 2-2. hours rom Arusha and is actually close to Tarangire. Lake Manyara is the perfect “introductory safari” due to its compact size. About two-thirds of the park is actually covered by the lake itself! At Manyara, you will be surrounded by green forests, the glistening lake (sometimes filled with flamingos) and of course wildlife including tree climbing lions.

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