Lake Duluti Canoeing

Not at all. The boats are wide and stable, the water is flat and sheltered by the crater walls, and a guide paddles alongside throughout. We regularly take people who have never held a paddle. If you'd rather not paddle yourself, the guide can do the work while you watch the birds.

No. There's bilharzia risk and hippo are present in some seasons, so swimming isn't permitted. It sounds like a limitation but nobody misses it — the ninety minutes go quickly once you're among the birdlife.

Reliably: pied and malachite kingfishers, cormorants, darters, herons and fish eagles. Frequently: African jacana, hamerkop, weavers and a range of forest species along the banks. Over 130 species have been recorded, and being at water level puts you closer than any path can.

From about eight, provided they'll sit still and wear a life jacket. Younger children can join the nature walk version instead. Duluti is one of the calmer options near Arusha and it works well as a family morning.

Duluti is closer to town, cheaper and quieter, with better close-up birding. The Momella lakes in Arusha NP have Mount Meru rising behind them and you may see giraffe and buffalo from the water, but they cost more and take longer. Both are good; Duluti is the easier half day.

Light rain doesn't stop us — the birds are often better. Strong wind does, since it makes the water choppy and the paddling hard work. If we cancel for weather we'll offer the nature walk instead or reschedule at no cost.