Arusha: More than a safari town
It’s brash, it’s colorful, and it’s full of vigor. Some call it a dusty town, while others find it a breath of fresh air, with its green covers and views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Welcome to Arusha, the entry to the general safari circuit in northern Tanzania. Sitting comfortably at the slopes of Mount Meru, the small town is enclosed by some of the most well-known national parks in Africa. Almost everyone go to Tanzania’s northern parks will stop over here, but few really take the time to get to know it. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll be astonished at what you can do in and around Arusha.
Inside of Arusha
Get vanished in the local markets
The best place to get a feel for local life in Africa is the market, and in Arusha they are as interesting and stimulating as they get. You’ll find everything from Maasai handicrafts and jewelry to fresh fruit, spices, carvings, and local textiles. Even if you’re not a shopper, go to the markets is memorable experience.
The Central Market on Bondeni Street also known as Soko Kuu or “Big Market” in the heart of the city can be a sensory overload, while the Kilombero Market on Sokione Road is smaller and a lot less overwhelming. Get ready to haggle — and beware of pickpockets.
Visit the Natural History Museum
This is an excellent spot to learn about the archaeological history of Arusha, and to pick up info on the city’s German colonial history. It’s housed in an old German boma (fort) that dates back to the early 1900s. The museum has three parts, including a wing dedicated to the evolution of humans; much of what we know about the topic comes from fossils unearthed in Tanzania.
Wander through the Cultural Heritage Centre
The best place to get a considerate of Tanzanian culture and pick up some souvenirs is the Cultural Heritage Centre on the outskirts of Arusha. This unique attraction is a mixture of mask museum, curio shop, spice center, antique store, and precious stone counter. The Centre has accommodated many famous people in the past.
Shop at the Maasai Women Fair Trade Centre
If you’re looking to buy handmade crafts from the local community, head to this little shop on Simeon Road. It was set up by the Maasai Women Development Organization (MWEDO), a non-governmental women-led organization customary to empower women through access to education and health. Shopping here means you’re supporting a good cause and helping Maasai women get a stronger footing in Tanzania.
Maasai Clean Cook stoves tour
Beyond Arusha, in Monduli, G Adventures and Planeterra set up a community tour to the Maasai Clean Cook stoves program. Our tours help these women-led engineer teams reduce the health impact of traditional cook stove smoke in Maasai households by generating revenue for clean stoves and solar-powered solutions.
Maasai women are empowering each other to improve the air quality of their homes.
Arusha National Park
For those looking to do day trips, Arusha National Park is a great disturbance for a full- or half-day wildlife safari drive. You can’t see all of the “big five” animals (elephant, leopard, lion, buffalo, and rhino) here, but it is home to the world’s largest population of giraffes! Favorable, there are zebras, elephants, flamingos, hippos and more. A classic day in Arusha National park is joint with a canoe safari on Small Momella Lake.
Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru
Arusha lies just 100km (62 mi) from Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free-standing mountain and Africa’s highest peak at 5,895m (19,341 ft) above sea level. The most common route, known as the Coca-Cola route, starts from Marangu, which is just a two-hour drive from Arusha. The route is the eldest and most well established, and takes a minimum of five days to complete.
Mount Meru, while closer to Arusha at just 40 minutes away by car and shorter than Kilimanjaro (4,560m, or 14,961 ft), actually involves more of a practical climb and is well-matched to more skilled climbers only. It usually takes three or four days to complete the trek. If you want to take advantage of the altitude acclimatization effect, it’s advisable to climb Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro back to back.
Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara
Of all the national parks that are near Arusha, this tree is the most frequently visited, for good reason. You’re almost guaranteed to see the “big five” and there are remarkable landscapes and massive ribbons of wilderness to take in even if you don’t.
Serengeti Plains National Park is most well-known for the annual migration, where enormous herds of wildebeests and zebras cross its plains; the Ngorongoro Crater has one of the highest attentions of wildlife in Africa; Lake Manyara draws in thousands of flamingos during breeding season. You can effortlessly see all three on a four-day safari leaving from Arusha.
Serengeti is the place to be for huge herd migrations and elephant spotting.
Experiencing Arusha Tips
Getting to Arusha
Arusha has two airports: Kilimanjaro International Airport, about 60km (37 mi) from the city center; Arusha Municipal Airport, which is on the outskirts of the city, only runs domestic flights, mostly from Zanzibar and Dar Es Salaam. Public coach services connect Arusha with other major cities in Tanzania and adjacent countries. Arusha is six hours from Nairobi, Kenya, 12 hours from Dar Es Salaam, and 17 hours from Kampala, Uganda.
Getting around Arusha
The main mode of public transport in Arusha is the daladala. These minibuses are universal all over Tanzania, and are very low-priced, at TZS400 about 25 cents for any trip around town. Though, they tend to stuff in as many people as possible, so care is a real anxiety, and pickpocketing can happen quickly, so store valuables in bags on your lap. Taxis are also low-priced and easily obtainable, but make sure to agree on a price before leaving for your destination.
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