Across the Great Migration

Mount Meru Game Lodge offers unique ‘Cultural and Educational’ walks into Usa River, a small township of approximately 20,000 inhabitants located a few minutes on foot from the property. These walks provide a unique insight to our guests, without the nuisance factor of hawkers, on what authentic life for Tanzanians really entails. They are guided by our own staff, are offered free of charge to guests of the lodge and are very much appreciated by all who participate in them. (The walk takes about two hours).

Cultural & Educational walks offered FOC

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This ride will take you through the farms and villages at the foot of Mount Meru and surrounding areas. Rides are generally 2 to 3 hours long and can be tailored to any fitness levels.

Mountain Biking 35 USD Per Person

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Enjoy the coolness of the forest with lots of birds and monkeys overhead. Our naturalist will lead the way and explain the flora and fauna of the area (It Takes about 1½ - 2 hours).

Lake Duluti Walk 35 USD per person + 30 USD Transport per minibus (1 to 5 people)

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This is in a small peaceful Crater Lake (Lake Duluti) that is located close to Arusha town. You will enjoy a 2 hour canoe ride while viewing water birds and the pristine surrounding forest.
It is the best way to spend a relaxing morning or lazy afternoon on water and in touch with nature.

Canoeing 35 USD per person + 30 USD for Transport per minibus (1 to 5 people)

Take a tour in a local coffee farm and learn how farmers plant coffee trees, take care of the plantation and pick ripe coffee berries. Experience different steps from drying, roasting and grinding. Make your own cup of coffee while enjoying a magnificent view of the Lake Duluti (two to three hours).

Coffee Tour 30 USD pp + 30 USD for Transport per minibus (1 to 5 people)

Descend to the floor of the Crater for game viewing drives. Often described as the “Eighth Wonder Of The World,” the Ngorongoro Crater is a spectacular natural sanctuary for over 25,000 animals, including the black rhino. It is also a conservation area inhabited by the Maasai tribe.

Take a day trip to Olduvai Gorge. Also known as the “Cradle of Mankind,” it is one of the most important and controversial Palaeolithic finds in recent history.

Enjoy an easy 90-minute wildlife walk around the lodge and Crater rim with our resident naturalist. On this purely educational tour, you will see an array of bird species, wildlife and plants and flowers while enjoying spectacular views of the Crater floor below. Morning and evening walks are offered.

Escorted by an armed ranger, you will enjoy a two-hour walk through the diverse landscapes of the Crater highlands, from the grassy plains to the mountainous forest. Along the way you will view various wildlife and interact with Maasai cattlemen.

Visit authentic Maasai villages, all of which belong to the national Cultural Tourism Programme, and learn more about Maasai homesteads, traditional cattle markets and women's handicraft groups.

The Empakaai Crater is a beautiful 6-kilometre wide, 300-metre deep caldera containing a natural forest and a soda lake that serves as a famous Flamingo breeding site. From the north and eastern rim you can take in dramatic views of the Great East African Rift Valley, Lake Natron and the cone of the active Oldoinyo Lengai Volcano.

Cultural talks are offered evenings at the bar area at 9:00 p.m. Our resident naturalist will discuss the Maasai culture, their activities, their lifestyle and their co-existence with wildlife within the Ngorongoro conservation area. You will also learn about the Ngorongoro ecosystem and biodiversity.

Our expert field guides offer daily game excursions in modern, open-sided vehicles to get you up close to the myriad of wildlife species that call this wilderness home. All vehicles have power points where you can recharge your devices and are fitted with fridges to keep your drinks deliciously frosty.

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The thrill of experiencing the African plains on foot is immeasurable – the sights, sounds, and smells of the bush tantalise your senses and reveal one of the most intimate ways to understand and become one with nature. Walking with the wildlife of the area and getting closer means you can truly appreciate their beauty. You’ll be walking at a comfortable pace and have the time to absorb all there is to see and learn; memories that will stay with you for a lifetime.

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Visit nearby Merenga village to learn about the Kuria tribe, their culture, traditions and way of life. You can also stop off at the community vegetable gardens, mentored and sponsored by Asilia, to collect fresh produce for your evening meal. Please note that cultural and community visits are at an additional cost.

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Few experiences compare with gliding serenely over the vast plains of the Serengeti in a hot-air balloon with teeming wildlife below. (at an additional cost)

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Calling all passionate photographers! Join us for a photographic safari experience in our specialised photography vehicles. The vehicles have drop-down sides for photographers to capture low, eye-level photographs. Beanbags, foam camera rests, power points, fridges and 360º swivel seats promise to make your wildlife photography experience a dream!