We will have a full day in the Arusha area before starting our August 2008 safari. We are staying at Kigongoni Lodge,arriving the night before on the KLM flight from Amsterdam. The Kigongoni Lodge is 10km from Arusha along the Moshi road. Any comments on the Kigongoni lodge?
What activity would you recommend for the full day? This is our first trip to Tanzania.Our safari will start the next day with a morning flight to the northern Serengeti.
Thanks
Dugi

dugi
we stayed at kigongoni in march 2006 and it was very pleasant!
the food was very good, very good wine liste and extremly nice chalets with wunderful vistas.

as that was our last night before heading back to europe after a 3 week tanzania safari we were glad to do NOTHING and just relax and enjoy the lodge!

it shouldn't be a big fuss to visit arusha NP or drive to the momella lake. there you could have lunch at HATARI lodge if it's nut too fussy after a long-haul flight and just facing a taz-safari.

or maybe you hire a taxidriver booked via the lodge and shop around arusha markets accompanied by the driver.

the safari company should be prepared to store your purchases and provide them for pick up before you fly back to ams in case you don't stop-over in arusha prior to your long-haul.

happy planning!

div

After the long flight and late arrival, you might not want a full days activities before commencing safari.

Most Arusha based tour operators work with or support local schools or orphanages, so ask and try to arrange a visit.

If not this, inquire about a visit to N'gresi village, an agricultural community on the slopes of Mt. Meru.

This way you fill-up a few hours, maybe even with your guide/drive go around Arusha town; then relax at Kigononi for your upcoming adventure.

We usually head out to Arusha National Park our first day in the Arusha area. It's a pretty area, with woodlands that you probably won't see elsewhere. You also have a good chance to see the black and white colobus monkeys with the long, white, fluffy tails. With an armed park ranger, you can also walk back to a waterfall. It's nice to get out and stretch your legs that first day. We usually take a picnic lunch and stay for most of the day. There is a nice hilltop picnic area with great views of Mt. Meru and Mt. Kilimanjaro.

I agree that Arusha National Park is well worth a visit, even if you want to keep it short and not stay all day. The park is really beautiful, a nice contrast to other areas on Tanzania's northern circuit. We also really enjoyed canoeing on the lake -- Green Footprint Adventures does this activity, but any tour operator should be able to set this up for you, if you're interested. It was a nice change of pace from riding around in the vehicle.

I can also vouch for the Arusha National Park, cancel it though if it is raining as you cannot maximise the viewpoints and the monkeys also hide during heavy rain.

Thanks to all including the usual suspects for the info and excellent suggestions.I can see myself enjoying all of your recommendations.I will keep this list, as I am told I can decide after I get there.

Dugi

Dugi Otok - sa Jadrana?

my vote would be to wander around the town, maybe visit a few markets. Aren't you curious to see what the rest of the area looks like? It seems to me that when we all visit Africa, we concentrate on parks and game to the exclusion of all else, and these countries are vibrant, alive places with people who wake up, go to work every day (or not), and otherwise have lives. This is interesting too.

Dobar dan, bushperson
My father was born on the island Dugi Otok(Long Island-in the Adriatic Sea), Croatia in the year 1898.
Gary(Dugi)

Momliz
I agree. In my lifetime of independent travel, mingling and interfacing with the people has always been a highlight of any trip.
As you see, both divine and sandi have suggested those type of activities.
Dugi

While in ARusha, we visited Ng'risi Village (or however you spell it) and loved that. Also walked around with a guide and visited a nice Maasai market--outdoors, and an area where a lot of weddings went for their photographs. See www.pbase.com/pattyroth if you want to see the photos we took both places.

Patty

Fantastic Photos!!!

Dugi

Dugi, Thanks for visiting my site! Patty