Overview

Arusha City is a Tanzanian city, and the regional capital of the region, a well-known gateway to the northern circuit of popular national parks in the country. This scenic city is nestled at the foothills of Mount Meru and is considered the “Safari Capital of Northern Tanzania” and home to Arusha National Park. Arusha sits on expansive volcanic land, this safari destination offers superb views of Kilimanjaro amongst other superb scenery.

Arusha is a spectacular African adventure and a wonderful base to explore the scenic surroundings of the mountainous region. A great location for avid climbers, mountain bikers, safari enthusiasts, and nature lovers. Located in the Great Rift Valley, visitors can take guided tours to some of the most beautiful and bountiful landscapes in the world. Think of the Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, and Lake Manyara.

The city of Arusha is surrounded by coffee plantations and flower farms. The bustling city is brimming with an interesting mix of markets, old colonial architecture, quaint coffee shops, a great array of restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife scene. The altitude of the city gives it a pleasant climate and a lush verdant environment. Arusha has plenty to offer its visitors such as the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, and the Arusha National Park.

Things to see and do

Visit Arusha National Park on the slopes of Mount Meru, a dormant volcano that soars to 16,100 feet above sea level with spectacular views over the town. There are three different terrains within the park, which can be explored by 4x4 guided tour, or by canoe, the park is a great place to spot wildlife.

Hike the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro the highest mountain in the country, and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. The mountain belongs to the Kilimanjaro National Park, which is 64 miles away from Arusha. A popular destination for hikers, climbers, and safari enthusiasts with seven official trekking routes that include Lemosho, Marangu, Mweka, Rongai, Shira, Umbra, and Machame.Explore the Shira Plateau and depending on the route you take the opportunity to see plenty of wildlife.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to the volcanic Ngorongoro Crater which is home to a wealth of majestic animals like elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos along with herds of wildebeests and zebras that migrate annually through the plains. Another highlight of the area is the hominid fossils in the Olduvai Gorge that date back millions of years.

Check out the Arusha Declaration Museum, which is dedicated to the Arusha Declaration written in 1967, it remains one of the most prominent attempts to define African socialism and defined the political course of Tanzania for several decades. The museum includes the large Declaration Monument.

Explore the wetlands at the Tarangire National Park located in the Manyara Region, it is divided by the Tarangire River. It is known for its large populations of elephants, zebras, wildebeests, and cape buffaloes that are attracted to its freshwater reserves. The landscapes within the park feature Acacia and Commiphora-Combretum woodlands and Baobab trees. The area stretches for over 1,100 square miles and features waterbucks, giraffes, impalas, and vervet monkeys as well as predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, and wild hogs.

Visiting Lake Manyara National Park, which was founded in 1960, the 130 square mile park is renowned for bird watching. The landscape here includes arid land, forests, and a 77-square-mile mile soda-lake during the wet season. The scenic park is home to leopards, East African lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, blue monkeys, gazelles, hippos, Masai giraffes, impalas, and zebras. There is a hippo pond on site where visitors can observe animals from outside of their vehicles safely. The Center also features a popular gift shop.

The National Natural History Museum contains three exhibits on early man, plants, and animals of the region, and the history of the city of Arusha. The location of the museum was used as an administrative outpost for the Germans in the 1900s, it opened as a public museum in 1987 and features displays of important assets to the scientific community such as models of Australopithecus people, human ancestors that lived over 2 million years ago.

The Cultural Heritage Center in Arusha features a museum, a restaurant, a spice center, shops, and a sculpture garden.

The Makonde Museum is filled with masterfully carved African masks.

The Boma Museum was originally built as a fort by the Germans in the early 1900s. The museum chronicles the colonial history of the town and the tribal history of the area. It also houses the Natural History Museum featuring a fascinating collection of information about the archeological and paleoanthropological sites in the area and wildlife.

Shopping

There is a wealth of African Curio shops, bazaars, and local markets in the city, many can be found between India Road, and the Clock Tower. Tanzania offers a wealth of traditional arts and crafts, and Arusha happens to be one of the best places in the country to shop for these items.

Arusha’s Central Market is one of the best to visit with a great atmosphere, it's located between Somali and Sokoine Roads. The stalls here are filled with gems, Maasai blankets, tinga paintings, Kanga fabric and clothing, kitenges, wire toy cars, batiks, and coffee are among the popular items to purchase.

The Kilombero Market is the place to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables as well as fish, spices and so much more. The Maasai Market is full of colorful stalls selling various handicrafts like ebony, and redwood as well as clothing, beads, jewelry, and paintings made by locals. These markets are some of the best places to find cool little trinkets, and souvenirs to take home, some fun items to shop for include batik and screened cloths in vibrant colors, and kikoys which make original wrap skirts worn by Tanzanian women.

The Arusha Cultural Heritage Center features a collection of carvings, gemstones, artifacts, clothing, jewelry, and books. It was established in 1994 and is a popular tourist attraction for those looking to buy unique souvenirs. There are many precious and semi-precious stones available including rubies, emeralds, tsavorite, diamonds, sapphires, opals, and tanzanite. The center also showcases local artworks including sculptures, contemporary art, and paintings.

Shanga is a busy workshop located at Trader’s Walk on the grounds of Arusha Coffee Lodge. There are local people here showing their high-quality products made using specialist weaving, metalwork, glassblowing, beading, and paper-making. Recycled materials are used whenever possible.

Tanzania is well known for its rare and beautiful blue-violet gemstone Tanzanite. This gem can only be found in Tanzania, so Arusha is among one of the best destinations to purchase this blue diamond from a reputable jeweler with an internationally recognized gemstone certification. The Tanzanite Experience is a visual tour to experience the extracting, grinding, polishing, and grading of this rare gem.

Tinga Paintings are paintings showing the fauna of the Serengeti in vibrant striking colors that make them the perfect gift. The art form was founded by Edward Tingatinga in 1968, Edward’s family founded the Tingatinga Cooperative Arts Society to help painters of this beautiful art earn a living. The club building houses galleries and workshops that visitors can witness.

Dining

There are a wide variety of restaurants and informal eating places in Arusha, many are predominantly Indian cuisine, which is said to be the best food due to the large community of Indians in the city. African and Western dishes are also among some of the most popular. There are some popular Indian restaurants found on Swahili Road. There are also some great authentic street food options to check out in Arusha as well as more upmarket options found on the Eastern side of town. However, some of the best dining options are located outside of the city at places such as The Themi Living Gardens a verdant leafy setting, and home to Eat Wild an eco-restaurant. The Mulberry is another great choice to sit and enjoy food and cocktails while capturing a stunning sunset.

Many travelers who come to Arusha for the National Parks and safaris like to enjoy their meals at their lodges where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the comfort of your own room. The food is prepared from gardens on site, meaning it is straight from the soil to the plate with the freshest ingredients.

There are some wonderful casual dining options found on Haile Selassie Road with options for BBQ, chicken dishes, salads, pizza, and tapas. Some popular dishes include Nyama Choma, northern Tanzanian-style barbecue with roast meat served with a side of french fries, Pili Pili sauce washed down with a cold beer or soda. Indian staples like biryani, pilau, chapati, and naan are found all over town. The Arusha Farmers Market is a great location to pick up a wide selection of Tanzanian delicacies as well as locally grown produce.

Nightlife

There are many hot and happening nightlife establishments found in Arusha, choose from upscale cocktail bars, sports lounges, karaoke bars, nightclubs, and even Sheesha Lounges. Arusha boasts an authentic vibrant nightlife scene with a variety of interesting bars and restaurants, as well as tailored guides with options on where to go and what to do for a night out on the town. There is also a growing live music scene in Arusha with many places to sit back and relax while enjoying some music by local live bands.