Home/Day trips/Momella Waterfall Hike, Mount Meru

Day trip · Full day · From Arusha

Momella Waterfall Hike, Mount Meru

A walk on foot through the montane forest on Mount Meru’s lower slopes to a waterfall, with an armed park ranger in front — because the buffalo that live here are real. About an hour from Arusha.

ArushaArusha National ParkMomella waterfallArusha

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LengthMost of a day · walking a few hours

ParkArusha National Park

Pick-upYour hotel in Arusha

ActivityModerate — forest paths, some uphill

Best monthsJune–October, December–February

Overview The route The day Rates Included Add-ons When to go Getting there FAQ Enquire

IOverview

On foot, on Meru, with a ranger in front.

The waterfall — often called Tululusia — lies in the forest on the lower slopes of Mount Meru, inside Arusha National Park. You drive from Arusha to the park, then walk there and back through montane forest with an armed park ranger, stopping for whatever you meet: colobus monkeys in the canopy, birds, and sometimes buffalo, giraffe or other animals in the glades.

It is a walk, not a climb. It does not go high on Meru and it is not a summit. Walking time is a few hours there and back, at your pace, with some uphill and paths that can be muddy. If you want the mountain itself, Meru is a multi-day climb; if you are here to acclimatise before Kilimanjaro, this is a sensible first outing on foot.

Major attractions · 3

01The waterfall on Meru’s lower slopes
02Montane forest on foot
03Colobus monkeys and forest birds

Trip detailsPrivate

Length: Most of a day · walking a few hours
Pick-up: Your hotel in Arusha
Start / end: Your hotel in Arusha, both ways
Activity level: Moderate — forest paths, some uphill
Group size: Maximum per walking group
Meals: Packed lunch
What to bring: Walking boots, rain jacket, water bottle, insect repellent
Best period: Jun–Oct · Dec–Feb
Minimum age: Ask us

Request a free quote →Questions? WhatsApp +255 762 914 714

IIThe route

Out to the park, into the forest on foot, and back.

About an hour each way from Arusha by road, then a short drive inside Arusha National Park to where the walk begins. The solid line is the way there and back; the dotted lines are other roads nearby.

01Arusha → Arusha National Park → Arusha~2 h road · ~1 h game

Overnight stopPassing throughSchematic, roughly to scale

IIIThe day

The day, hour by hour.

The whole day as it usually runs, from pick-up to drop-off. Times are approximate and bend around the traffic, the weather and how long you want to stay.

Momella waterfallADD IMAGE · Walkers and an armed park ranger on a forest path below Mount Meru, Arusha National Park

01/ 01

About an hour each way by road, and a few hours on foot with a ranger.

03°22′S 36°41′EDay 1 · Arusha → Arusha National Park → Arusha

Through Meru’s forest to the waterfall

Travel: ~2 h road
Game viewing: ~1 h
Meals: Packed lunch
Sleep: Homeward

About 08:00
Your guide collects you from your hotel in Arusha. East on tarmac, then north to the park gate, about an hour.
About 09:00
Into the park and a short drive to where the walk begins. You meet your armed park ranger and hear the rules for walking: single file, quiet, and do what the ranger says.
Morning
On foot into the montane forest on Meru’s lower slopes. The path climbs gently in places and crosses streams; the ranger stops for colobus monkeys, birds and tracks, and watches for buffalo.
Late morning
The waterfall. Time to rest, take photographs and eat your packed lunch beside the water.
Afternoon
Back through the forest the way you came, or by another path if the ranger chooses. Your vehicle is waiting at the end.
Mid-afternoon
The drive back out of the park, perhaps past the Momella lakes and the giraffe in the glades, and on to your hotel in Arusha.

Why the ranger carries a rifle

Buffalo live in this forest and can be dangerous on foot. An armed park ranger is required for walking in the park; the rifle is a precaution, and in practice the ranger’s job is mostly reading the bush and keeping you well away from trouble.

IVRates

Priced by group size, because the vehicle is shared.

Park fees, accommodation, vehicle, guide and meals as listed — per person, no booking fees. Rates move with the month and lodge availability; your quote is fixed once you book.

Private · price per person, sharing
Group size	1 person	2 people	3 people	4 people	5 people	6 people
From year	rate	rate	rate	rate	rate	rate

Single supplementamount

Children

Child policy: ages, sharing discount, lodge minimum ages

What moves the price

What changes itHow much

How many walk together
The vehicle, guide and ranger cost the same for one person or a small group, so the per-person price falls as the group grows.
Park and ranger fees
Set by the park authority, the same whoever you book with. We show them as their own lines.
Where we collect you
Arusha hotels are the standard pick-up. Moshi or a lodge further out adds driving time.

Not sure which level suits you? Tell us your dates, group and budget and we will send an itemised quote with named properties.

Request a free quote →

VThe fine print

What is in the price, and what isn’t.

✓Included

Private 4×4 vehiclePop-up roof, a window seat for everyone
A professional driver-guideYours for the whole day
An armed park ranger for the walkCurrent ranger fee — itemised on your quote
Hotel pick-up and drop-offAnywhere in Arusha
Arusha National Park entry feesCurrent park fee per person — itemised on your quote
Packed lunchEaten at the waterfall
Drinking waterIn the vehicle; bring a bottle to carry

–Not included

Tips for your guide and rangerWe send guidance with your booking
Drinks other than water
Walking boots and rain gearBring your own
Travel insuranceRecommended; it should cover walking

VIAdd-ons & changes

The plan is a starting point, not a package.

The changes people ask for most, each with what it costs you in days or hours. Not in the standard price — arranged on request, and most can be combined.

Same dayprice

Add a game drive past the Momella lakes

Stay in the park after the walk for a slow drive past the lakes and the Ngurdoto crater viewpoint.

Makes senseYou have the energy and the afternoon

Arusha National Park day trip →

+3–4 daysprice

Climb Mount Meru

The mountain above the waterfall: a multi-day climb with a ranger, and a strong acclimatisation for Kilimanjaro.

Makes senseYou want a summit, not a walk

Mount Meru →

Before a climbprice

Warm up for Kilimanjaro

Use this walk a day or two before the Lemosho route to test your boots and your legs.

Makes senseYou are climbing Kilimanjaro

The Lemosho route →

+1 dayprice

Materuni waterfall and coffee

Another waterfall, this one on Kilimanjaro’s lower slopes above Moshi, with village coffee.

Makes senseYou are staying near Moshi

Materuni waterfall →

+½ dayprice

A walk or canoe at Lake Duluti

A gentle half day close to Arusha, on a crater lake below Meru.

Makes senseYou want something easier

Lake Duluti →

VIIWhen to go

Rated for this route, not for the country.

The walk is possible all year. The dry months, June to October and roughly December to February, give firmer paths and clearer views of the mountain. In the long rains, April and May, the paths are muddy and slippery and the waterfall is at its fullest; good boots matter more then.

Jan

Warm, dry spell

Feb

Warm, dry spell

Mar

Rains building

Apr

Long rains, muddy paths

May

Long rains

Jun

Dry, cool

Jul

Dry, cool

Aug

Dry

Sep

Dry

Oct

Dry, warm

Nov

Short rains

Dec

Green, warm

Three bars — the route at its bestTwo — good, with trade-offsOne — possible, and quiet

VIIIGetting there

Getting there.

From your hotel

Pick-up anywhere in Arusha

Your guide collects you from your hotel in the morning and brings you back in the afternoon. Staying in Moshi or further out? Ask us; it adds driving time.

From the airport

Kilimanjaro International (JRO)

Not on a travel day: you will want to be rested and in walking clothes. Land the day before and spend a night in Arusha.

With a climb

Before Kilimanjaro or Meru

A good warm-up walk a day or two before a climb, on the same kind of forest paths the mountains begin with. Ask us how it fits your climb dates.

What else to budget.

Not part of the safari price, in order of how much they matter.

TipsYour guide and the ranger
Guideline
Personal spendingDrinks, crafts
Varies

IXWhy book with us

Only what we can prove.

Arusha, since 2010

A Tanzanian company, locally owned, running safaris and climbs from Arusha for more than fifteen years.

Licensed and registered

TALA-licensed through the Tanzania Tourist Board and registered with BRELA. Ask us for the numbers; we will send them.

One guide, one vehicle

The same guide drives you from the first day to the last. Nobody else joins your vehicle.

Every fee on its own line

Park, conservation and concession fees are shown separately on your quote, so you can see exactly what goes to the authorities.

XQuestions

Ten parks, three circuits.

Where the trip lands.

The roof of Africa.

The people behind the journey.

How you see it.

Honest reasons a trip costs less.

Out and back before dark.