Day Trips From Moshi and Arusha: How to Spend a Perfect Day in Northern Tanzania

What is the best day trip from Moshi?

For most people, the best day trip from Moshi is Materuni Waterfalls and a coffee tour. It is close, it shows you the green slopes of Kilimanjaro and the Chagga way of life, and it suits most fitness levels. If you would rather rest, choose Chemka Hot Springs. If you want wildlife and have only one day, choose a wildlife day trip to Arusha National Park or Tarangire. From Arusha, Arusha National Park is the obvious first choice, because it is so close.

Moshi and Arusha day trips compared

Prices are per person with two people sharing, from Moshi. Drive times are approximate, and they depend on your hotel and on the traffic and road conditions on the day.

How to choose a day trip that suits you

If you are about to climb Kilimanjaro

Keep the day gentle. A hot spring or a short walk will help you rest and shake off the flight, without tiring your legs. Save long hikes for the mountain.

If you have just come down from Kilimanjaro

Your knees will not thank you for more hills. Chemka is the classic choice, because warm water does wonders for tired legs, and you can spend the whole day floating and doing nothing.

If you want to see wild animals

Arusha National Park is close and full of variety, while Tarangire offers big herds of elephants for those willing to accept a long drive. See our guide to wildlife day trips.

If you are traveling with children

Chemka and Materuni work well, as long as you check that the walk suits their ages. Short drives matter more than you might expect with young children.

If you want to understand the place

A cultural day trip to a Chagga or Maasai community tells you more about Tanzania than any game drive can.

Browse Moshi and Arusha day trips by type

Our most popular day trips from Moshi

How a day trip fits into your Tanzania trip

Most flights land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, about an hour from Moshi, and many arrive late. A free day before your Kilimanjaro climb or safari gives you time to recover and adds a buffer in case your bags arrive late. A free day afterward is a pleasant way to wind down before your flight home, and evening departures are common.

If you can spare only a single day in Tanzania, perhaps during a business trip or a stopover, a day trip is still very worthwhile. Tell us when you land and when you leave, and we will suggest something realistic.

The best time for day trips near Moshi

You can take most of these trips all year. The drier months, from June to October and from January to mid-March, offer the easiest walking and the clearest views of Kilimanjaro. In the rains, from mid-March to May and in November, paths to Materuni can be slippery and the road to some spots can be slow, although the waterfalls are at their fullest and the hills are very green. Mornings tend to be clearer than afternoons, so if you want a view of the mountain, ask your guide to start early.

Your guide on a Moshi or Arusha day trip

Our guides have worked on Tanzania tours for 7 years. They are graduates of the College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka, and the National College of Tourism, and they hold certification from those institutions. On a day trip, a good guide does far more than drive. They arrange local entry, explain what you are seeing, keep you safe on the paths and translate when you meet people along the way.

How much does a day trip from Moshi cost?

Our day trips start from $150 per person for a local trip, and $265 per person for a national park, with two people sharing. A park costs more because of its fees. The vehicle and guide are shared across your group, so the price per person falls as your group grows. For example, the Materuni trip goes from $165 per person for two to $85 per person for six. We quote each trip in writing, and we tell you exactly what is included. Tips are not included, and they are appreciated. Common guidance is about $15 to $25 per traveler per day for your guide.

What to bring on a Tanzania day trip

Bring comfortable shoes, a light rain jacket, sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent and some small bills for tips and souvenirs. A warm layer helps on the mountain slopes in the morning, and swimwear and a towel are useful where you might swim. See a travel clinic before your trip, and ask about malaria protection, since Moshi and much of the surrounding lowland carry a risk.

Day trips from Moshi and Arusha: your questions answered

The simplest way to choose your day trip

If you are unsure, go to Materuni. If you are tired, go to Chemka. If you want animals, go to Arusha National Park. Then send us your date and hotel, and we will take care of the rest.