2-Day Private Safari from Arusha
from$620Per Person
What Does the Arusha & Tarangire 2-Day Safari Include?
This is a 2-day, 1-night private safari from Arusha that visits two national parks. Day 1 is spent in Arusha National Park, with a guided walking safari on the lower slopes of Mount Meru and a visit to the Momella Lakes. Day 2 is a full game-drive day in Tarangire National Park, known for its large elephant herds and baobab trees. Prices start from $620 per person, with the night spent in Arusha.
The two parks feel very different. Arusha National Park is green and mountainous, with forest, lakes, giraffes, buffaloes, colobus monkeys and often flamingos, and it is one of the few northern parks where you can walk with an armed ranger. Tarangire is drier savannah, where you may see elephants, giraffes, zebras, impalas and, with luck, lions or leopards. Sightings vary with season and animal movement, and no species can be guaranteed.
Because both parks are within reach of Arusha, the driving is moderate for a 2-day trip, and you avoid the long transfers of a Serengeti safari. The sections below cover each day, the wildlife you may see, the best season, prices and what to pack.
Trip at a Glance
| Duration | 2 days, 1 night |
|---|---|
| Start and finish | Your hotel in Arusha |
| Parks | Arusha National Park and Tarangire National Park |
| Activities | Walking safari with an armed ranger, game drives, Momella Lakes; optional canoe trip |
| Tour type | Private, with a 4x4 safari vehicle and an English-speaking driver-guide |
| Overnight | Arusha, at your chosen accommodation level |
| Physical level | Easy: one guided walk, otherwise vehicle-based |
| Price | From $620 per person (budget); mid-range and luxury options available |
Safari Highlights
- A guided walking safari with an armed ranger in Arusha National Park
- Views of Mount Meru, Tanzania's second-highest mountain
- The Momella Lakes, which often attract flamingos
- Colobus monkeys in the montane forest
- A full day in Tarangire among baobabs and some of northern Tanzania's largest elephant herds
- A private vehicle, so you set the pace at sightings
What Happens on Each Day of the Safari?
Day 1: Walking Safari and Momella Lakes in Arusha National Park
Day 1 is a relaxed, mostly vehicle-based day with a guided walk. After breakfast, your guide collects you in Arusha for the drive of about 50 minutes to Arusha National Park, past farms and small villages.
At the park, an armed ranger joins you for a walking safari across the plains and up the lower slopes of Mount Meru, with views over the park. Walking lets you notice tracks, plants and birds that are easy to miss from a vehicle. Wear comfortable shoes, keep together and follow the ranger's instructions at all times.
You then drive to the Momella Lakes, a group of shallow alkaline lakes that often attract flamingos, for a picnic lunch. In the afternoon you can add an optional canoe trip on one of the lakes or continue with a game drive through forest and grassland, looking for giraffes, buffaloes, zebras and black-and-white colobus monkeys. You return to Arusha for dinner and the night.
- Meals: Lunch and dinner
- Overnight: Arusha, at your chosen accommodation level
- Driving: About 50 minutes each way from Arusha
Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Tarangire National Park
Day 2 is a long game-drive day that starts early. After breakfast, your guide meets you at your hotel for the drive of roughly two to two and a half hours to Tarangire National Park.
Tarangire is known for its ancient baobab trees and for having one of the highest elephant densities in northern Tanzania, especially in the dry season, when herds gather along the Tarangire River. You may also see giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, impalas, warthogs, vervet monkeys and many bird species, and lions and leopards are possible. Lunch is a picnic at a designated site inside the park.
In the late afternoon you drive back to Arusha and are dropped at your hotel, which ends the safari. Arrival times vary with traffic and road conditions, so avoid booking an evening flight on this day.
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch
- Overnight: Not included; the safari ends at your hotel in Arusha
- Driving: Roughly 2–2.5 hours each way between Arusha and Tarangire
Route: Arusha → Arusha National Park → Arusha (overnight) → Tarangire National Park → Arusha. Drive times are approximate and depend on traffic, road conditions and stops.
Photos from Arusha and Tarangire National Parks
What Wildlife Can You See in Arusha NP and Tarangire?
Arusha National Park is best for giraffes, buffaloes, colobus monkeys and flamingos, while Tarangire is best for elephants and gives you the better chance of seeing lions. The table is a general guide only; wildlife moves, and no sighting can be guaranteed.
| Animal | Arusha National Park | Tarangire National Park |
|---|---|---|
| Elephant | Occasional | Often, especially June–October |
| Giraffe | Often | Often |
| Buffalo | Often | Often |
| Zebra | Often | Often |
| Black-and-white colobus monkey | Often in the forest | Not usually seen |
| Flamingo | Often on the Momella Lakes | Not usually seen |
| Lion | Rarely | Sometimes |
| Leopard | Rarely | Sometimes, with luck |
| Birdlife | Rich, including water birds | Rich, including hornbills and raptors |
When Is the Best Time for This Safari?
This safari runs year-round, but June to October is usually best, especially for Tarangire's elephants. The table shows what to expect in each season.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Main dry season | June–October | The easiest game viewing; elephants gather along the Tarangire River. Cool mornings and dusty tracks; the busiest period. |
| Short rains | November–December | Brief showers, greener scenery and fewer vehicles. Wildlife begins to disperse. |
| Short dry spell | January–February | Usually warm and fairly dry, with good viewing in both parks. |
| Long rains | March–May | The wettest period, especially April and May. Lush scenery and quiet parks, but some tracks can be muddy. |
How Much Does This Safari Cost in 2026–2027?
- ✓ Public campsites or basic tented camps
- ✓ Shared ablution facilities
- ✓ Camp meals cooked in field
- ✓ Same parks, guide & vehicle
- ✓ Comfortable lodge rooms or en-suite tents
- ✓ Private bathrooms, hot showers
- ✓ Restaurant meals and bar service
- ✓ Wi-Fi at lodge (where available)
- ✓ Upmarket tented camps or lodges
- ✓ Private deck, premium service
- ✓ Full board dining, bush breakfasts
- ✓ Same private vehicle and guide
Prices are starting rates per person. All tiers include park fees, a private 4×4 vehicle, an English-speaking guide and meals during the safari; the final price depends on group size, travel dates and the accommodation chosen.
Contact us for a personalised quote based on your exact dates and group size.
What Affects the Price?
- Accommodation level: budget, mid-range or luxury, as shown in the price tiers.
- Group size: the private vehicle and guide cost is shared, so the per-person price falls as your group grows.
- Travel dates: some lodges charge higher rates in peak season.
- Optional extras: the canoe trip and a Maasai village visit cost extra.
- Park fees: these are set by the park authorities and can change, so we confirm your price in writing before you pay.
What Is Included in the Price?
Professional English-Speaking Guide
Your driver-guide leads the game drives and explains the wildlife, landscapes and park rules.
Park Entry Fees
All park entry and concession fees for both parks are included.
Packed Lunch
A packed lunch on each park day, eaten at a designated picnic site inside the park.
Bottled Water
Bottled drinking water is provided in the vehicle throughout the safari.
Game Drives
Game drives in Arusha National Park and Tarangire National Park, plus the guided walking safari in Arusha National Park.
Pick-Up and Drop-Off
Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Arusha or nearby accommodation.
Government Taxes and Levies
All applicable government taxes and levies.
What Is Not Included?
International Flights
Flights to and from Tanzania are not included.
Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry and extra snacks.
Tips and Gratuities
Tips for your guide, driver, and other service providers are not included.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included. We strongly recommend a policy that covers medical treatment and evacuation.
Alcoholic Beverages
Alcoholic drinks are at your own expense.
Visas and Entry Fees
Tanzania visa fees and other entry costs are not included.
Where Will You Stay?
The night between the two park days is spent in the Arusha area, at the level you choose. We confirm the exact property when we send your quote, based on availability and season.
Budget Camping
A campsite or basic tented camp with shared facilities. You visit the same parks with the same guide and vehicle as on the higher tiers; only where you sleep differs.
Mid-Range Lodges & Tented Camps
Comfortable lodge rooms or en-suite tented camps with private bathrooms, restaurant meals and Wi-Fi where available. A good balance of comfort and cost.
Luxury Lodges & Camps
Upmarket lodges and tented camps with private decks, premium furnishings and full-service dining, for travellers who want more space and comfort after a day in the parks.
Is This Safari Right for You?
This safari suits travellers who want two contrasting parks, a guided walk and moderate driving in two days. If your priority is lions, the Big Five or the Serengeti, another route will suit you better.
A Good Fit If You…
- Have two days and want variety rather than one park
- Want to walk in a national park with an armed ranger
- Want to see elephants and giraffes
- Want to rest after a Kilimanjaro climb without very long drives
- Are on your first safari and want an easy introduction
Consider Another Safari If You…
- Want the best chance of the Big Five: choose the 2-day Tarangire & Ngorongoro safari
- Want Ngorongoro Crater: see the 2-day Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara safari
- Have more time: compare 3-day safaris
- Only have one free day: see our 1-day safaris
What Should You Pack?
Pack for warm days, cool mornings and a short walk. Neutral colours are best, and avoid dark blue and black in Tarangire because they attract tsetse flies.
- Comfortable walking shoes for the walking safari
- A fleece or light jacket for early mornings
- Neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, beige)
- Sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Camera with a zoom lens; binoculars are provided in the vehicle
- Passport, as details are recorded at the park gates
- Small notes for tips, and any personal medication
