The Momella Lakes at a glance
The Momella Lakes lie in the middle of Arusha National Park, below Mount Meru. Seven lakes make up the group, and Small Momella is one of them. The lakes are alkaline and hold water all year. Their mineral content differs from lake to lake, and so do the colors of the algae.
Small Momella is the one with fresh water flowing in as well, so it is not simply the same as the others. Do not assume that every lake is fresh water. For most visitors the lakes are a stop on a game drive, with flamingos and other water birds in the shallows and Meru in the background.
Our pick: the Momella lakes by private 4x4
A private day with Momella lakes and a waterfall, fees included, for travellers who want their own vehicle.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Momella Lakes and Arusha National Park tours
Safari day trips, walks and canoe options with live prices and availability.
Flamingos and other birds
What to expect and what not to promise yourself.
Flamingos use the wetlands and pans of the park in different seasons. There is no fixed month in which they arrive, and numbers change from year to year. Treat a flock as a pleasant surprise and not as part of the plan. Even without flamingos the lakes are worth a stop for other water birds and for the setting under the volcano.
Plan the lakes as one stop on a longer drive. The wildlife page covers other animals you can see on the same drive, from giraffes and buffalo to the black-and-white colobus monkeys in the forest.
Arusha National Park canoeing
The canoe trip on Small Momella Lake.
The park offers canoeing on Small Momella Lake, and you arrange it in advance. It is not a drop-in activity, so ask your operator or the park to confirm a time before you travel. Ask about departure days, the minimum age and the current boat price when you book, and be careful with any promise of daily canoe safaris.
In the 2023/24 tariff a two-hour canoe trip cost $20 for international visitors aged 16 and over and $10 for ages 5 to 15, or TZS 5,000 and TZS 2,000 for East African citizens. Those numbers are a reference. Confirm the current price and add the park entry fee. See the park fees page for the full list.
Viewpoints and how to plan
Where to stop and what to combine.
The viewpoint over the lakes
There is a marked Momella Lakes viewpoint. Road conditions can change, so ask at the gate whether you can drive to it.
Combine with a game drive
The lakes sit on the usual loop of a day trip. A game drive can include the lakes, the forest and a stop at the Ngurdoto Crater rim.
Ngurdoto Crater →Add a walk
Short walks with a ranger are possible. Arrange them at a gate, and read the fee list first.
Arusha safari →For most visitors with a single day, a good plan is a morning game drive that includes the lakes, then the crater rim, and a canoe trip only if you can confirm it in advance.
Momella Lakes: frequently asked questions
Are there flamingos at the Momella Lakes?
Flamingos use the lakes and wetlands at certain times, but there are no guaranteed flocks and no fixed arrival months.
How many Momella Lakes are there?
Seven lakes make up the group. Small Momella is one of them.
Can I go canoeing on the Momella Lakes?
The park offers canoeing on Small Momella Lake. Arrange it in advance, since it is not a daily drop-in activity.
Is the water in the Momella Lakes fresh?
No, not all of it. The lakes are alkaline and differ in minerals. Small Momella also receives fresh water.
How much does a canoe trip cost?
In the 2023/24 tariff, $20 for international visitors aged 16 and over and $10 for ages 5 to 15, for two hours. Confirm the current price before you go.