Meserani Snake Park
Meserani Snake Park
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4.0
306 reviews
Excellent
120
Very good
113
Average
54
Poor
13
Terrible
6
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Jonas
Stuttgart, Germany171 contributions
Oct 2021 • Friends
The Meserani snake park is a must visit if your are in Arusha region. They have all varieties of snakes which are home in Tanzania. You can visit the Masai museum and a cattle market next to the park. There is a wonderful bar with good food.
The donate a lot of money to the local community and help the Massai with a clinic
The donate a lot of money to the local community and help the Massai with a clinic
Written 22 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janou
Stevensweert, The Netherlands599 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Simple, but staff with a lot of knowledge. Shown around by an employee who clearly knew what he was talking about. Told a lot about the snakes and other animals they have, about the clinic located next to the park. People are cared for here who have been bitten by a snake and who need care or anti-venom. This care is free and saves people's lives.
The visit to the park is in combination with the Masai museum. Here we received a tour from a Masai who showed us a bit about the culture of the Masai.
You can see everything in about 2 hours if you get a guided tour.
The visit to the park is in combination with the Masai museum. Here we received a tour from a Masai who showed us a bit about the culture of the Masai.
You can see everything in about 2 hours if you get a guided tour.
Written 13 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lenka G
Bratislava, Slovakia99 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Very good guided snakes park - one hour stop on the way to safari world. Very interesting facts about snakes and their behaviour. Worth to visit and learn some new info about local snakes. Also recommend to visit Masai Museum nextdoor.
Written 8 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Z9873BEmaria
Arusha, Tanzania5 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
We love snake park. Ma, Bj, Deon and the rest of the staff are just amazing. A truly unique place. We feel at home whenever we go. The bar is fantastic and the food good and very cheap. You can learn a lot about snakes and they run an incredible project. Worth visiting and staying!
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Baraka Mollelđź¤
Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania139 contributions
June 2019 • Family
As Tanzanians this was amazing, I visited snake park when i was young. And yesterday was the right time to bring back my childhood memories of this place with my wife and son. It was amazing , The local guide was superb too.
He guided us from the start of the park area to the end.
The maasai museum was superb, The dark then light approach was amazing.
More Tanzanians needs to visit this place.
He guided us from the start of the park area to the end.
The maasai museum was superb, The dark then light approach was amazing.
More Tanzanians needs to visit this place.
Written 11 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
4tourist
UK112 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
The entrance fee is quite high ($20) but it included a tour round the park with a guide, just for our family. The guide was very knowledgeable and waited patiently while we took photos. We had the opportunity to hold a snake, tortoises and, my favourite, a chameleon. The small cultural museum was also included in ticket price. Although some of the models looked a little old and dusty, it gave us some insight into the Maasai life.
Written 4 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GoDiego
Ibiza, Spain7 contributions
Dec 2013 • Friends
I don't recommend spending one of your precious days of your holidays in the Meserani Snake Park, unless you are really bored in Arusha. The entrance fee is 15USD, they have windows where you can see the snakes, i was happy i got to see the black and the green Mamba. But thats about it. Theres also some tortoises, a couple of crocodiles, a stressed vulture, a falcon and a sad female baboon which is the one worth spending couple of minutes playing with. You get the hold a litlle sand snake, if you wish to take a picture. But if youre a big fan of snakes, dont expect much. The ride to the park in a dala dala cost me 1000 shillings one way and it took a good hour to reach it.
Written 15 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James Bond
London, UK745 contributions
Dec 2012 • Friends
Background: The Meserani Snake Park campsite is an oasis in the heart of Maasai land in Tanzania. It is a mixed-use compound consisting of a rather small campground, a restaurant bar, a Maasai Cultural Museum, a local medical clinic and crafts store centered around a snake park (of the same name). Established back in 1993, it is owned and operated by Berry & Lynn (Ma) Bale who, along with friend Deon Naude, are the real legends in these parts. Our overland tour group spent a few days here as a base to explore the Serengeti NP since camping inside the park is prohibited.
PROS: Location is its best asset. Though 25 km away from the town of Arusha, it is along the way to the Serengeti NP to be a logical place to camp. It is comprised with a row of cooking sheds behind which is space to pitch your tents. There is a small commonly-shared ablution. If staying for a few days, you are allowed to set aside your tents under the nearby acacia trees while you trypse along to the Serengeti NP. It was the cheapest accommodation so close to the NP.
Behind the campground is the snake park itself, a small facility but full of venomous (Black Mamba, etc) and non-venomous snakes (Reticulated Python, etc) behind glass enclosures as well as a myriad of birds, reptiles, amphibians and the like inside cages or pens.
There is a restaurant-bar on site, known to all the overlander groups, that serves cold beer and various shooters. This place has character! Its walls and ceiling are adorned with various football jerseys and country flags from all over the world. Its legendary owner Ma keeps a large binder chock full of dumb remarks and stupid questions that she has collected from passing tourists through the ages. At the top of that list was the question, "Now, how many animals are there in the Big 5?" Hmmm... Lemme think. Our own group contributed this gem: "What colour is a black rhino?" Go and ask Ma about the binder.
The ÂŁ15 entrance fee to the snake park also gives you access to the adjacent Maasai Cultural Museum and the local market. (If you wish for a camel ride, that can also be arranged.) Part of the entrance fee is used to fund a medical clinic set up by the owners for the local Maasai.
CONS: The campsite itself is quite small. It was indeed crowded when we were there, along with 3 other overland groups. The ablutions were also small and dingy. And there were only a handful of faucets anywhere to wash your dishes and clothes. The restaurant only had a limited menu.
The general state of the snake park leaves something to be desired. It looked run down and in dire need of maintenance. The enclosures and glass enclosures were dusty and dirty. Some of the animals looked malnourished. I felt bad for some of the animals there. For this reason, the entrance fee is a tad pricey for what you get. At both the zoo and museum, an aggressive guide may harass you for tips. I didn't even bother getting a tour guide.
Verdict: On the one hand, this zoo has the potential to be a very nice one, if only management had bothered to maintain it, or give it a facelift. On the other hand, let's get real here. This is a small privately-owned park without the financial backing of international conglomerates or corporate sponsors. The park is mainly run from the owner's pockets, supplemented by the entrance fees. Proceeds go to the local people. This is a labour of love. That alone is worth the price of admission.
3.5 stars for the zoo, 4 for the bar, 3 for the campsite and 2 for the museum. Overall, Grade B+.
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PROS: Location is its best asset. Though 25 km away from the town of Arusha, it is along the way to the Serengeti NP to be a logical place to camp. It is comprised with a row of cooking sheds behind which is space to pitch your tents. There is a small commonly-shared ablution. If staying for a few days, you are allowed to set aside your tents under the nearby acacia trees while you trypse along to the Serengeti NP. It was the cheapest accommodation so close to the NP.
Behind the campground is the snake park itself, a small facility but full of venomous (Black Mamba, etc) and non-venomous snakes (Reticulated Python, etc) behind glass enclosures as well as a myriad of birds, reptiles, amphibians and the like inside cages or pens.
There is a restaurant-bar on site, known to all the overlander groups, that serves cold beer and various shooters. This place has character! Its walls and ceiling are adorned with various football jerseys and country flags from all over the world. Its legendary owner Ma keeps a large binder chock full of dumb remarks and stupid questions that she has collected from passing tourists through the ages. At the top of that list was the question, "Now, how many animals are there in the Big 5?" Hmmm... Lemme think. Our own group contributed this gem: "What colour is a black rhino?" Go and ask Ma about the binder.
The ÂŁ15 entrance fee to the snake park also gives you access to the adjacent Maasai Cultural Museum and the local market. (If you wish for a camel ride, that can also be arranged.) Part of the entrance fee is used to fund a medical clinic set up by the owners for the local Maasai.
CONS: The campsite itself is quite small. It was indeed crowded when we were there, along with 3 other overland groups. The ablutions were also small and dingy. And there were only a handful of faucets anywhere to wash your dishes and clothes. The restaurant only had a limited menu.
The general state of the snake park leaves something to be desired. It looked run down and in dire need of maintenance. The enclosures and glass enclosures were dusty and dirty. Some of the animals looked malnourished. I felt bad for some of the animals there. For this reason, the entrance fee is a tad pricey for what you get. At both the zoo and museum, an aggressive guide may harass you for tips. I didn't even bother getting a tour guide.
Verdict: On the one hand, this zoo has the potential to be a very nice one, if only management had bothered to maintain it, or give it a facelift. On the other hand, let's get real here. This is a small privately-owned park without the financial backing of international conglomerates or corporate sponsors. The park is mainly run from the owner's pockets, supplemented by the entrance fees. Proceeds go to the local people. This is a labour of love. That alone is worth the price of admission.
3.5 stars for the zoo, 4 for the bar, 3 for the campsite and 2 for the museum. Overall, Grade B+.
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Written 4 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bestforlast
Denver, Colorado39 contributions
Nov 2011
My friend who's visited Arusha many times insisted that our group stop by the "Snake Bar", and we did so with some suspicion. However it's a really interesting place to have a drink and snack on your way from or back from Tarangire and Ngorongoro. The pub has a bit of tiki theme and is plastered with signed t-shirts from the many groups which have passed through, there's a long bar serving the Tanzanian standards (Safari, Kili, Stoney, etc), and on this day was playing British alternative music. The snake exhibits were in a separate garden-like area a few steps away from the bar, where you can see black mambas, cobras, pythons and other creatures in displays which seem to emulate the natural environment (not just a cage and bowl of water). There were also a few crocodile pens. So on your way to Ngorongoro Crater, stop by the Snake Park, get a beer, and see some poisonous snakes which seem to be kept very professionally, definitely worth your hour.
Written 5 November 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yan
Donostia - San Sebastian, Spain3 contributions
Dec 2019 • Solo
Very small place. Very poor maitainence. Poor animals. Especially those crocodiles, so tiny place for them.
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were there in July 2018 and it cost us $20 USD for adults and $10 for children 15 and under.
Written 11 July 2018
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