Canoeing in Arusha National Park

Drifting on Momella: While most safaris keep you behind the window of a vehicle, a canoe safari invites you to become part of the landscape. Located just a short drive from Arusha town, the Momella Lakes in Arusha National Park offer one of the few places in northern Tanzania where you can combine a classic game drive with a serene paddling adventure. It is a peaceful, rhythmic way to experience the wild.

The Experience Your journey begins on the shores of Small Momella Lake, where you will be fitted with a life jacket and briefed by an expert guide. Gliding out onto the water in stable, two-person canoes, the first thing you notice is the silence—broken only by the dip of your paddle and the call of fish eagles.

As you navigate the shoreline, you aren’t just watching nature; you are floating in it. You might drift past pods of hippos eyeing you curiously from a safe distance, or watch thirsty giraffes and buffaloes bending down to drink just meters away. The shallow alkaline waters are often pink with flamingos, and on a clear day, the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro and the rugged slopes of Mount Meru provide a stunning backdrop to your voyage.