Extensions & Day Trips
More Than Just
The Mountain
Add a day trip or two to your Kilimanjaro adventure. From waterfalls to hot springs, a real safari, and Tanzania's second-highest peak — all within easy reach of Arusha.
Add Day Trips To My ClimbMateruni Waterfall & Coffee Tour
The clearest waterfall in northern Tanzania
A 90-minute drive from Arusha through coffee plantations brings you to Materuni Village, where a guided walk leads to one of Tanzania's most spectacular waterfalls — a 150-metre cascade plunging into a emerald pool. The tour includes a genuine Mt. Meru coffee experience: you will see the entire process from cherry to cup, hand-picked and roasted over an open fire, and taste the result. This is one of the few genuinely local coffee experiences in northern Tanzania — not a tourist show, but a working smallholder farm.
What is Included
- ✓Round-trip transport from Arusha
- ✓Guided waterfall hike
- ✓Village walk and cultural introduction
- ✓Coffee tour and tasting
- ✓Lunch at the falls
Best time: Year-round — waterfall most powerful after rains (April–May, November–December)
Best for: Early arrivals and non-climbing companions
Add Materuni Waterfall To My Trip
Lake Chala
The caldera lake on Tanzania's border with Kenya
Lake Chala sits in a volcanic caldera on the border between Tanzania and Kenya, a 45-minute drive from Arusha followed by a 30-minute hike down to the lakeshore. The water is an extraordinary turquoise, framed by steep crater walls, and the lake supports a surprising variety of wildlife — colobus monkeys in the surrounding forest, Nile crocodiles basking on the shores, and over 200 bird species recorded in the area. It is one of the most beautiful and least-visited natural sites within easy reach of Arusha.
What is Included
- ✓Round-trip transport from Arusha
- ✓Guided hike to the lake
- ✓Boat ride on Lake Chala
- ✓Lunch by the lake
- ✓Birding guide
Best time: June–October — clearest water and best wildlife viewing
Best for: Photographers, birders, and anyone wanting off-the-beaten-path Tanzania
Add Lake Chala To My Trip
Chemka Hot Springs
Natural thermal pools in the Kilimanjaro foothills
Chemka Hot Springs — also known as Kikuletwa Hot Springs — is a series of natural thermal pools fed by underground springs at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. The water is consistently warm (around 38°C), crystal clear, and surrounded by dense fig trees and riverine vegetation. Unlike the more famous hot springs in Natron, Chemka is a genuinely relaxing and beautiful spot, with small waterfalls and natural rock slides. It is popular with local families on weekends and is increasingly discovered by visitors who stumble on one of northern Tanzania's best-kept secrets.
What is Included
- ✓Round-trip transport from Arusha
- ✓Guided access to hot springs
- ✓Lunch pack
- ✓Time to swim and relax
Best time: Year-round — water temperature consistent. Weekdays less busy.
Best for: Post-climb recovery, families, and anyone who loves natural swimming holes
Add Chemka Hot To My Trip
Arusha National Park Safari
A compact safari with big game within an hour of Arusha
Arusha National Park is small by Tanzanian standards — 137 km² — but remarkably diverse: it contains Mount Meru, the second-highest peak in Tanzania, as well as Momella lakes, forest, and savannah ecosystems within a single park. You will typically spot buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, and colobus monkeys (the park has two species). The drive to Small Simba kopje and the Momella Lakes provides good wildlife viewing in a short time. For climbers doing an acclimatisation day before Kilimanjaro, Arusha National Park is the ideal active rest — genuinely scenic with real wildlife, close enough to Arusha that no full day is lost.
What is Included
- ✓Round-trip transport from Arusha
- ✓Full-day game drive in modified Land Cruiser
- ✓Professional guide
- ✓Park fees
- ✓Lunch
Best time: Year-round — easier wildlife spotting in dry season (June–October)
Best for: Acclimatisation day before Kili, families, and anyone who wants a safari without the long drive
Add Arusha National To My Trip
Mount Meru Climb
Tanzania's forgotten peak — and the best altitude training for Kilimanjaro
Mount Meru is Tanzania's second-highest mountain at 4,562 metres — a serious peak in its own right, and the best preparation available for Kilimanjaro. The route follows the same ridgeline that Kilimanjaro guides use for their own training, passing through forest, moorland, and alpine desert before the final push to Meru's summit. The views of Kilimanjaro from the top are extraordinary — on a clear morning you can see Kibo Peak from a completely different angle than from the ground. Unlike Kilimanjaro, Meru sees very few tourists, so the experience is remote and wild even on the popular routes.
What is Included
- ✓All park fees
- ✓Professional guide and assistant guide
- ✓Camping equipment
- ✓All meals on the mountain
- ✓Porters at 3:1 ratio
- ✓Safety equipment including pulse oximeter
Best time: October–March — clearest skies and best views of Kilimanjaro
Best for: Climbers wanting altitude training, experienced hikers seeking a challenge, or anyone who wants a second summit
Add Mount Meru To My Trip
The Smart Climber's Advantage
Why Add Day Trips to Your Kili Climb
Altitude Training
Mount Meru at 4,562m is the best real-altitude preparation for Kilimanjaro. Summiting Meru before Kili measurably improves your summit probability.
Active Rest Day
Arusha National Park and Materuni are active without being draining — perfect for the day before your climb when you want to be awake and moving but not fatigued.
See More of Tanzania
Most clients have at least one full day in Arusha before their climb starts. Rather than waiting in a lodge, use it. Tanzania has more to offer than just Kilimanjaro.
Common Questions
Day Trip FAQs
Ready to Add Day Trips to Your Climb?
Tell us your climb dates and we will build a day trip itinerary that fits. Materuni, Chemka, Meru — any combination works.