Lake Duluti — Attraction in Arusha

The lake and restaurants are pretty but I had a terrible experience with the restaurants lying to me about entrance fees. They will look at you and make up a price out of the blue. I heard 15, 13 and 10 USD entrance fees for tourists. There's one price for boat lake entrance (seems it's 5 USD for foreigner, though you pay for boat hire too)) and a different price for the one hour walk around the lake. I suggest going to the final restaurant place (where the hike starts) and talking to the tourist office directly and not to any random people on the way. Then I can recommend hiring Hosea, who works with the final restaurant (run by an Israeli couple called Vika and Alex). Hosea took us around the lake properly and charged 22K for foreigner (10usd) and 10K for local (which perhaps can be cheaper). The first time I went on the boat I had a guide called Stephen/Steven - I really dont recommend him, because he took us a bit near the trees and then he just cut across the lake to the "island" and then just cut back to the dock. The main attraction of the lake is actually the trees and birds around the edge of the lake. We came into the first restaurant (with the fountains) to talk about the prices of boat hire, and we spoke for 10 minutes. After that they wanted to charge us entrance fee to the restaurant! Anyhow they said 100K for a boat for 2 tourists and 2 locals. Eventually they brought the price down to 70, but we went to the second restaurant to negotiate. Eventually we hired from the final 3rd restaurant and seemingly actual boat place for 60K. I think we still overpaid for all of us. The government entrance fee you pay to the restaurants, and I imagine they just pocket it. Then for food I recommend the Israeli restaurant near the tourist office - there's a big variety of different dishes,...

Lifted from nature reserve website

Lake Duluti Forest Reserve is located in the Northern part of Tanzania - Arumeru District, Arusha Region. The Lake has an area of 62.3 ha with its deepest point reaching 700m. Roundabout the lake there is a natural forest. The lake’s outstanding tourism attraction features are the volcanic and green colored water of the Lake and the absence of any above ground stream feeding it; apparently, the Lake receives water from underground flows.

The natural forest roundabout the lake is teeming with wildlife that include reptiles such as green mambas, and monitor lizards; different bird species that include grey herons, fish eagles, cormorants, ospreys and kingfishers. Furthermore, the variety of different tree species form beautiful scenery and a prayer mountain.

Ecotourism Activities

For adventurers the reserve is suitable for:

Kayaking, Canoeing, Sport Fishing, Bird Watching, Forest Walk, Picnic Camping, Filming, Photographing Worshiping Seclusion. Accessibility

The reserve is located in Arumeru District near Tengeru town. It is 14km from Arusha City center and about one km from Arusha Moshi highway.

Other Tourist Attractions near Lake Duluti Forest Reserve

Other tourist attractions available near Lake Duluti Forest Reserve are Meru Usa Plantation, Arusha National Park, Kilimanjaro National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, Mererani Tanzanite Mining Site. Arumeru District is also famous for a number of Cultural Tourism Enterprises such as Ifulong Cultural Tourism Enterprise and Tengeru Cultural Tourism Program.

Supporting Facilities

Among supporting facilities are canoes and camping sites. Accommodation facilities are found outside the reserve in Arusha City and...

Unforgettable Bird Watching and Canoeing Adventure at Lake Duluti!

I had the pleasure of experiencing a truly magical day at Lake Duluti with Ushoroba, and it exceeded all my expectations! From the moment we arrived, the team ensured that everything was perfectly organized and that we felt safe and welcome.

The canoeing was absolutely serene. Gliding across the calm waters, surrounded by breathtaking views of lush greenery and the tranquil sounds of nature, was an experience I will never forget. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, pointing out interesting facts about the lake and its ecosystem.

The bird-watching experience was the highlight of the day! We saw an incredible variety of bird species, including elegant grey herons, colorful kingfishers, and the fascinating little egret. Our guide had an impressive eye for spotting birds and shared so much interesting information about their behavior and habitats. It was like having a personal masterclass in birdwatching!

Ushoroba’s dedication to showcasing the beauty of Tanzania’s natural wonders is evident in every detail of the experience. Whether you're a nature lover, a birding enthusiast, or simply seeking a peaceful escape, Lake Duluti with Ushoroba is an absolute must-do.

I highly recommend this experience for anyone visiting the area. I’ll definitely be back for more adventures...