Not every Tanzania safari needs the Serengeti to earn its place. This one stays closer to Arusha and finds something the northern circuit’s headline parks rarely offer, a genuine, near-guaranteed encounter with the black rhino, alongside wild dog, inside Mkomazi’s dedicated sanctuary.
You begin gently, with a night to recover from the flight before a full day in Arusha National Park itself, home to elephant, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, hippo and both black and white colobus monkey, alongside flocks of flamingo at Momella Lake. A walking safari to the Tulusia Waterfall, escorted by an armed ranger, adds a rare on-foot dimension most itineraries skip entirely. From there, the journey continues to Mkomazi National Park, a quieter, less-visited reserve built around a dedicated rhino sanctuary where sightings of both black rhino and wild dog are effectively guaranteed, alongside elephant, giraffe, zebra, eland and antelope.
A shorter, closer-to-Arusha safari for travellers who want something genuinely different from the standard northern circuit route, without sacrificing the sightings that make a Tanzania safari worth taking in the first place.
This itinerary suits travellers with limited time who still want a genuine wildlife encounter close to Arusha, without the drive time or cost of reaching the Serengeti or Ngorongoro. It's especially well suited to anyone specifically hoping to see the black rhino, since Mkomazi's sanctuary offers one of the most reliable sightings anywhere in Tanzania, and to travellers who enjoy a walking safari alongside the usual game drives.
This safari holds up well throughout the year, since neither Arusha National Park nor Mkomazi's rhino sanctuary depend on migratory movement the way the Serengeti and Maasai Mara do. June to October offers the clearest skies and easiest game viewing conditions, but rhino and wild dog sightings in the Mkomazi sanctuary remain reliable regardless of season.
You’ll be collected from either Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha Airport, where your guide is waiting to welcome you. The drive to your hotel is a relaxed first introduction, plenty of time to talk through the days ahead and get to know each other before the safari properly begins. On arrival at Outpost Lodge, dinner and a good night’s rest await, exactly what a long flight calls for.
After breakfast, you’ll be collected from Outpost Lodge and driven to Arusha National Park, home to elephant, giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, buffalo, hippo, both black and white colobus monkey, and flocks of flamingo. A stop along the way brings something a little different, a walking safari with an armed ranger accompanying you on foot toward the Tulusia Waterfall. From there, you’ll continue to Momella Lake, where the scenery, the flamingos and a picnic lunch brought along by your guide make for an easy, unhurried afternoon. You’ll drive back to Outpost Lodge for your overnight stay.
After breakfast, you’ll be collected and driven to Mkomazi National Park with a packed lunch for a full day of game driving. Today brings a genuine chance to see rhino, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, eland and antelope, as well as wild dog, alongside ostrich and impala. Inside the dedicated sanctuary, sightings of both black rhino and wild dog are effectively guaranteed, a rare thing anywhere in Tanzania. Dinner and your overnight stay follow at Mkomazi Bandazi Tented Camp.
A morning game drive after breakfast makes the most of the day’s best light, ideal for photography before the heat sets in. From there, you’ll drive to the Elephant Motel for a hot lunch before continuing on to either Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport for your onward flight. If you’re staying longer in Tanzania, your guide will instead take you to your hotel in Arusha to continue your trip.
Pricing
Rates vary by season, with low season from $1,450 per person and peak season (June to October) from approximately $1,900 to $2,200 per person. Final rates confirmed at time of booking.
Why travel with us
We keep group sizes intentionally small so every guest gets the attention, flexibility, and authenticity a safari deserves.
Our guides are born from the landscapes they lead. Decades of knowledge, sharp eyes, and a genuine passion for East African wildlife.
From comprehensive pre-trip briefings to 24-hour in-country support, your safety and comfort are always our first consideration.
Every safari we operate contributes to wildlife conservation and local community projects across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
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