Lake Momella

Overview

Lake Momella Tanzania comprises seven stunning alkaline lakes nestled within Arusha National Park beneath Mount Meru’s dramatic slopes. Flamingo colonies create spectacular pink displays across the shallow waters, while diverse bird species thrive in this pristine wetland ecosystem. Lake Momella canoeing offers unique safari experiences where visitors paddle among hippos, buffalo, and giraffes in their natural habitat. Crystal-clear waters reflect towering acacia trees and volcanic landscapes, creating perfect conditions for Lake Momella photography enthusiasts. Game drives around the lake reveal abundant wildlife including zebras, warthogs, and over 400 bird species. Adventure seekers combine lake activities with Mount Meru climbing expeditions for comprehensive Arusha National Park experiences.

Safari Tours to Lake Momella

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Accommodations in Lake Momella

Lake Ndutu Luxury Tented Lodge

Lake Ndutu Luxury Tented Lodge – Southern Serengeti, Tanzania Lake Ndutu Luxury Tented Lodge

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Niyara Lodge Arusha

Niyara Lodge Arusha Niyara Lodge Arusha sits at the heart of Tanzania’s northern safari

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Ishasha Jungle Lodge

Ishasha Jungle Lodge is an eco-friendly wilderness retreat near the Ishasha sector of Queen

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Haven Lodge (Buhoma Sector)

Haven Lodge Buhoma Community is a welcoming, community-run lodge on the edge of Bwindi

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Ichumbi Hotel (Kisoro)

Ichumbi Hotel is a stylish and comfortable hotel on Mutolele Road in the heart

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Travellers Rest Hotel

Travellers Rest Hotel is a historic hotel in Kisoro, southwestern Uganda. It offers a

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Marafiki Safari Lodge

Marafiki Safari Lodge is a charming safari lodge near Queen Elizabeth National Park in

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The Haven – Eco River Lodge

The Haven Eco River Lodge is a peaceful riverside retreat in eastern Uganda, set

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Park View Safari Lodge

Park View Safari Lodge is a scenic safari lodge near Queen Elizabeth National Park

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Buffalo Safari Lodge

Buffalo Safari Lodge is a safari lodge near the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth

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FAQ about Lake Momella

The Momella Lakes are a chain of shallow, alkaline lakes situated in the north-eastern region of Arusha National Park, in northern Tanzania. Arusha National Park itself is located just 25 kilometers east of Arusha city, making the lakes easily accessible for day trips from the “safari capital.

There are typically seven distinct Momella Lakes: Big Momella, Small Momella, El Kekhotoito, Kusare, Rishateni, Lekandiro, and Tulusia. Their unique features include:

  • Volcanic Origin: They were formed from volcanic debris during a massive eruption of Mount Meru approximately 250,000 years ago.
  • Alkaline Composition: They are alkaline (soda) lakes, fed by underground springs.
  • Changing Colors: Each lake has a different mineral composition and supports varying types of algae, causing their waters to display a stunning array of colors, from vibrant green to turquoise and deep blue, depending on the light and time of year.
  • Birdlife Magnet: Their high alkalinity attracts a phenomenal concentration of waterbirds, especially flamingos.

The Momella Lakes offer a range of nature-focused activities within Arusha National Park:

  • Birdwatching: This is a top activity. The lakes are a haven for numerous bird species, including large flocks of Greater and Lesser Flamingos, pelicans, Egyptian geese, African Fish Eagles, herons, and many migratory birds.
  • Canoeing Safaris: Unique to Arusha National Park among Tanzania’s Northern Circuit parks, you can take a canoe safari on Small Momella Lake. This offers a peaceful way to get close to waterbirds, hippos, and grazing animals along the shoreline with stunning views of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro on clear days.
  • Game Drives: Drive around the lake shores for wildlife viewing. While animals typically don’t drink the alkaline water, you can often spot giraffes, zebras, waterbucks, buffalo, dik-diks, and duikers in the surrounding areas. Hippos are constant residents in the lakes.
  • Walking Safaris: Guided walks are permitted in parts of Arusha National Park, offering a chance to explore the natural beauty and approach wildlife on foot.
  • Photography: The colorful lakes, abundant birds, and the backdrop of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro offer fantastic photographic opportunities.
  • Picnicking: There are designated picnic sites with great views of the lakes.

No, swimming in the Momella Lakes is generally not permitted or advised.

  • Alkalinity: The lakes are highly alkaline, which makes their water unsuitable for human consumption or prolonged contact.
  • Wildlife: While safer than some other lakes for large predators, the presence of hippos in the water and other wild animals on the shore means it’s still a wildlife area.
  • Park Regulations: As part of a national park, strict regulations are in place to ensure both visitor safety and wildlife conservation.

The best time to visit the Momella Lakes depends on your primary interest:

  • For Wildlife (mammals) and Clear Skies: The dry season (June to October and January-February) is ideal. Wildlife is easier to spot as vegetation is less dense. This period also offers the best chances for clear views of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro.
  • For Birdwatching (especially migratory birds and flamingos): The wet seasons (November-December for short rains, and March-May for long rains) can be excellent, as migratory birds arrive, and the lakes often host larger flocks of flamingos, though rainfall can occur.

The Momella Lakes and their immediate surroundings within Arusha National Park are rich in wildlife:

  • Birds: Thousands of flamingos (both Greater and Lesser), pelicans, herons, cormorants, Egyptian geese, African Fish Eagles, pied kingfishers, and many more. The park has over 400 bird species recorded.
  • Mammals: Hippos (in the lakes), giraffes, zebras, Cape buffalo, waterbucks, bushbucks, dik-diks, and various primate species like blue monkeys and colobus monkeys in the nearby forest. Elephants and leopards are present in the park but are more elusive.

Yes, like many delicate ecosystems, the Momella Lakes face environmental pressures:

  • Pollution & Eutrophication: Runoff from surrounding agricultural areas and human settlements outside the park boundary can introduce nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus), leading to algal blooms (eutrophication). While some algae are natural food for flamingos, excessive or harmful algal blooms can negatively impact the lake’s ecology and the flamingo populations.
  • Habitat Degradation: Land-use changes and deforestation in the wider catchment area can lead to soil erosion, impacting water quality.
  • Climate Change: Changes in rainfall patterns and temperature can affect the delicate water balance and chemical composition of these unique alkaline lakes.
  • Conservation Efforts: Efforts are ongoing to monitor water quality and manage human impacts to protect this vital habitat, especially for the near-threatened Lesser Flamingo.

Weguide African Safari on Trip Advisor

Here’s what our travelers have to say about their experiences with Weguide African Safaris

Excellent rating
Based on 16 reviews
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Hiked Kilimanjaro (6 days) and went on a Safari (5 days Kilimanjaro Hike was amazing! Our guide (Mollel) and porters were all excellent. They were each knowledgable, encouraging and friendly. They took time to get to know us and understand our needs. They helped us feel comfortable with the challenge and enabled us to enjoy our trek from start to finish!Our Safari was equally outstanding! Again, we had terrific guides (Sam & Tembo). They, too, were knowledgable, accommodating and made each day a super fun adventure for all of us! They were incredible at tracking down all of the Big 5! They even found the black rhinos!The Value for the Money was unreal, as well. I would 100% recommend Soul of Tanzania to anyone who is looking for a once-in-a-lifetime Tanzanian experience!
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Shairanking F
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Unforgettable Safari and experience at its best Journey to Africa My friend and I did a 8 day Safari, starting in Tarangire NP, Serengeti central and South (Ndutu) with big Migration, Ngorongoro crater and Lake Tanganyika. All planning including our wishes and suggestions from Weguide Safari what is best for the time we were traveling were done with WhatsApp. The communication was very easy with very quick respondSo we had an excellent Safari with weguide africa safaris with nice, safe and quite large accommodations and tented camps, including good food.I think our guide Mollel will be the best guide you can find. He has a very good knowledge about animals and their behavior, wildlife and Tanzania culture. Besides he is helpful, friendly and a very good and save driver.We have seen all Big 5 and a great number of other animals living there.He even could find animals hidden under bushes or in trees in a great distance and getting closer we could watch them very, very nearby.My brother with family did the Safari before us with Guide Kennedy. and we all together have the same opinion that this Safari couldn't be topped.It was my best Safari I've done until now and I couldn't imagine getting something better. So much wildlife!!!!I would it recommend to 100%
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GreengatePeter
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SOLO TRIP TO TANZANIA SAFARI WITH WEGUIDE AFRICA SAFARIS ( 100% I RECCOMENDED WEGUID FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS) Tanzania as a safari destination has it all: if this is your first safari and your driving ambition is to get some amazing sightings and to rack up the big 5 as soon as possible then Ngorongoro Conservation Area is probably the best place in the world. Head for the Serengeti, however, if you have time for a longer safari and your goal is to take time to roam – moving as a nomad with the vast herds, or simply skitting across the savannah between the rock outcrops that are the lookout posts of the Serengeti prides. The Serengeti remains for me (alongside Botswana’s Kalahari) as one of the very best places in the world to experience the awe-inspiring vastness of the African wilderness. There is no feeling like being in the middle of the incomparable immensity of the savannah with no other vehicle in sight and a herd of wildebeest stretching as far as the eye can see towards the horizon.
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GoPlaces65996083400
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Tanzanian Romantic Safari for Couple Unforgettable honeymoon - safari & beach holidayOverall, great experience with WeGuide Celia has been extremely helpful in tailoring the itinerary for the safari and has assisted us all along the process.Our guide, Sam, and was always on time and truly did his best to show us all the possible animals within the visited parks. We've had nice lunches (with juice and wine) during the 5 days of Safari and the car was always sparkling clean in the morning when our guide was picking us up :) We would've appreciated our guide to be a bit more involved in the conversation (the answers we got to our questions about birds/animals weren't really detailed and we would've enjoyed talking/getting to know our guide a bit more, especially during our common lunches) but of course this didn't ruin our experience.Our safari was followed by a beach holiday in Zanzibar : Ceci has arranged a pick-up at the airport for us. The hotel (Z hotel in Nungwi) was also great and the honeymoon package made our holiday unforgettable.I can only recommend Soul of Tanzania and Tanzania in general. The safari is a magical experience everyone should have in a lifetime.
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phillip
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Viajero solo en la vida silvestre de Tanzania y safaris de experiencia en Zanzíbar Planeamos nuestro viaje a Tanzania junto con Cecie en weguide Safari. Le hemos dicho aproximadamente lo que queríamos hacer (lago Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti y Zanzibar) y ella sugirió el itinerario y el alojamiento que discutimos y adaptamos juntos. El Serengeti fue probablemente el más impresionante de los parques y tal vez si el tiempo hubiera sido un problema, me habría saltado el lago Manyara para ir directamente al Ngorongoro. (Aunque el alojamiento en el lago Manyara fue increíble, Escarpment Luxury Lodge). Todos los alojamientos tenían algo especial y terminar con un par de días de relax en Zanzíbar fue simplemente perfecto.
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Marion
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Great experience at Mara River (Serengeti) So nice to see and read about sam maasai guide. He was my guide when I visited Tanzania. I also had great game driving experiences, and yes, being patient definitely paid off time after time. We experienced elephants crossing the Mara River, and Sam explained how the matriarch makes the decision to cross and how the elephants would not all cross at once, rather cross in small groups of adults, babies, and elders. We stayed and saw group after group cross and come up the bak of the river directly beside our vehicle,. We also saw a group in the river stop and surround each other and then there was trumpeting by the herd on both sides of the river. Sam explained that they must have sensed danger like crockerdiles, and that they would reteat back; that’s exactly what happened and the trumpeting continued on both sides of the river for a while. When we returned to the Mara River Camp that evening, everyone was envious of our experience and commented how much they loved to have heard the elephants communicating. Like you and your son, we had great experiences every day. Love your photos and descriptions. It’s truly the trip of a lifetime
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Whistler
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Mikumi National park and Zanzibar island The Mikumi National Park is located in eastern Tanzania, some 100 kms south of Morogoro and 280 km west of Dar Es Salaam. It is next to the Selous Reserve and a few kilometers from the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. The wildlife includes monkeys, lions, leopards, panthers, elephants, giraffes zebras, hipos, etc. Approximately 360 different species of birds have been spotted. The park is very popular and is easily accessible from Dar Es Salaam. It is specially equipped for bird watching. Greenery includes the miombo forest which is dominated by Brachystegia spp. The Combretum-Terminalia forest is common between the hills and the plains along the river.In this lower part dominated by Acacia spp, Adansonia digitata baobab and Sterculia appendiculata and the top of gallery forest and riparian dense scrub along rivers Mgoda, Kikobogo and Mkata. The ebony Dalbergia melanoxylon, Sclerocarya caffra, Cassia abbreviata flabellifer and Hyphaene Borassus Ventricosa, Balanites aegyptiaca and Ficus spp are all very close to each other. They are common and important to elephants and baboona. A truly unforgettable experience. with weguide afrkca safaris
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ASHLEY P
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"Zanzibar family trip excursion" "This was our first trip with WeGuide Africa Safari - I believe it's no coincidence that the Bradt Africa guides are simply the best ones on the market and that WeGuide Africa are extraordinary in the depth of their knowledge of the situation on the ground and in their capacity to coordinate and synchronise everything to make it an excellent trip for a family with young children In Zanzibar excursion .We stayed Luxury property at Zuri hotel in Zanzibar .I saw some of the most amazing sights and things in Africa, which I would not have found without the guidance of WeGuide Africa Safari . And for the unforseeable and unavoidable occasional hick ups, the team is there to help where they can.I hope WeGuide Africa Safari stays a well kept secret
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Wilton Backer
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conquérir le Kilimandjaro" super 7 jours via machame route Bonjour mes amis de TripAdvisor.Je m'appelle Xavier.Je viens de rentrer d'une randonnée INCROYABLE sur le mont Kilimandjaro avec weguide Africa Safaris. J'y suis allé avec Erick le guide et il était IMPRESSIONNANT. Erick m'a tellement aidé à me sentir à l'aise tout au long du voyage et il m'a fait me sentir plus fort simplement en étant en sa présence.Tout d'abord, weguide Africa Safaris m'a aidé à chaque étape du processus de courrier électronique pour planifier le voyage. Ils sont tellement professionnels et organisés et m'ont fait me sentir vraiment très à l'aise et bienvenu pour voyager dans un pays étranger. (je viens de la FR)Je savais que c'était la bonne entreprise pour moi juste par la manière organisée et professionnelle de leurs e-mails. Ils vous guident à chaque étape.Si vous essayez de décider avec quelle compagnie escalader le Kilimandjaro ou avec quelle compagnie partir en safari, C'EST LA SEULE. WEGUIDE AFRICA SAFARIS est vraiment incroyable avec de très bons prix aussi.J'ai escaladé le mont Kilimandjaro avec Erick The Guide et il était un professeur tellement spectaculaire avec qui partager le voyage. Il avait tellement de connaissances sur la montagne et il a un VRAI amour pour la nature et l'exploration. . Erick The Guide et tout l'équipage qui nous a accompagnés étaient géniaux. L'équipage de porteurs que nous avions avec nous était tellement sympathique et accueillant. Ils m'ont vraiment fait me sentir chez moi pendant tout le voyage.Je sais que beaucoup de gens ont peur de voyager à cause de COVID. Mais je ne pense pas que cela devrait vous empêcher de venir en Afrique.Si quoi que ce soit, je pense que c'est le moment le plus courageux et le plus spontané pour parcourir le monde.J'ai passé un très bon moment avec WEGUIDE AFRICA SAFARIS et je pense que c'est le moment idéal pour explorer le monde. Allez saisir cette chance et VOYAGEZ. Cela pourrait juste changer votre vie.Erick The Guide et weuide Africa Safaris - vous étiez tous les meilleurs et je vous remercie de m'avoir donné l'opportunité d'escalader le mont Kilimandjaro.Quiconque lit ces mots - weguide Africa Safaris est super sympa, super professionnel et super organisé et ils ont des prix imbattables. N'ayez pas peur de suivre votre cœur. Le monde est fait pour être exploré.Merci Erick et toute l'équipe de weguide Africa Safaris qui ont facilité mon voyage. Je suis très reconnaissant de vous avoir trouvé.
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XAVIER
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Tanzania wildlife familiy safari with weguide africa safaris great company in Tanzania The trip was definitely a wonderful experience. The guide was very good, and that is one of the most important parts of a trip like this.Ngorongoro and Serengeti are two fantastic places, and we had the rare privilege of visiting with very little tourism, really feeling and breathing the place.With my current experience, I will change the first part of the trip avoiding lake Manyara and the long transfer of the first day, and planning at least two safaris in the crater
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