Arusha is one of Tanzania’s most attractive cities. It sits in the lush, green countryside on the roof of Mt Meru (4566 meters) and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Surrounding it are many coffee trees, wheat, and maize estates tended by the Waarusha and Wameru tribespeople, whom you may see occasionally in the market area of town.
For travelers, Arusha is a gateway to Serengeti, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire national parks and the Ngorongoro conservation area. As such, it is the safari capital of Tanzania. Mt. Meru can also be climbed from here. Arusha city is a pleasant town to walk around and take in the sights, and the market area is particularly lively, but the main concern of most travelers will be arranging a safari and taking off for the national parks Arusha city is in two parts, separated by a small valley through which the Naura River runs.
The upper part, just off the main Moshi to Namanga road, contains the government buildings, post office, top-class hotels, safari companies, airline office, curio and craft shops, and the huge international conference center. Further down the hill and across the valley are the commercial and industrial areas, the market, many small shops, many budget hotels, and the bus station.
Visit the Famous Arusha Clock Tower
This is regarded as a center between South Africa, Cape Town, and Cairo, Egypt, the area is excellent for walking around as it gives the sense of Arusha town as friendly as clean restaurants around the area, there will be people around trying to sell you local kinds of stuff and they are always nice but a bit pushy, so don’t feel embarrassed.
Witness the Arusha Local Museum
Want to learn about the history, culture, and art of the people in Arusha? Then take time to visit this local museum and learn about important things that can be found in the history of Arusha.
Spot the biggest and oldest Mosque in the Town
One of the things you can do includes visiting this old and biggest mosque in Arusha city, where many of the Muslims in Arusha will gather for prayers.
Learn about the Maasai Women’s Local Market
Located outside the city, about a 10km drive by public transport to Ngaramtoni. Arusha women’s local market is particularly for Maasai women and other local women who trade in food products as well as other social needs products like clothes and shoes, while men trade only in cattle and other craft products from the Maasai communities.
Shopping at Tinga Tinga
The very special art design pictures represent the culture, lifestyle as well as wildlife of Tanzania and Africa. Here you will get the best paint drawing pictures done by locals with great talent, you can also take time to learn and observe how they paint and make this stuff done, very interesting.
Discover the Traditional Local Maasai Market
Every Tuesday and Thursday, Maasai men will gather at Ngaramtoni ya Chini, which is located not far from the Maasai women’s local market and trade in cattle. The Maasai men will bring cows, sheep, and goats to this market and meet buyers from different parts of Arusha and nearby towns like Moshi. You will have an authentic experience and time to learn how Maasai men trade cattle as well as local Maasai traditions and customs.
Explore the Street of Arusha Town
It is always safe to go around Arusha town, you will have an experience of a real African local town where its people are kind and nice and always call you “mzungu” which means a white person from a western country in English.
Stop by the Arusha Declaration Monument
Another attraction in Arusha is the Declaration Monument, which was unveiled in 1977 by the country’s ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi with the aim of commemorating the 10 years of Arusha’s declaration.
Observe the Arusha Local Food Market
Just located in the city center close to the Arusha bus stand and along Sokoine road, this local market is the best place to experience the taste of an African market, you will have a chance to shop for several things like spices, fruits, vegetables, etc. it is the best way to experience the local lifestyle of the people in Arusha.
See Mt. Meru
Which is rivaling Kilimanjaro’s 4565 meters, Mt. Meru is a mixture of lush forest and bare rock and has its eastern side the spectacular Meru crater – a sheer cliff face that rises over 1500 meters and is one of the tallest of its type in the world.
Understand Old German Colonial Place
Other attractions in the city include the Old German colonial place, where it was used during World War 2 to 1900 to install some of the war weapons, you will have a nice view here with the background of Mt. Meru.
Learn about Tanzanite Gemstone
Tanzanite museum and learn about the history and origin of this 1000 times rarer gemstone than diamonds and which can only be found in Tanzania, just close to Kilimanjaro International airport, about 2okm from the airport, this stone is also regarded as a December birthstone and which was regarded as a new beginning or new starting. Maasai people used to give each other Tanzanite when there is a newborn in a family, according to the History of the gemstone.
Visit Lake Duluti
Explore this incredible crater lake which gets its water from Mt. Meru, which is almost 700m deep and 1100m in width and covers more than 60ha and 20mins drive from Arusha, Lake Duluti is a must-visit for nature lovers who love to walk in the forest surrounded by birds and unique trees.
Explore Kikuletwa Hot Spring
About 45 minutes from Arusha and just 30 minutes from Moshi, an awe-inspiring place can be found, Kikuletwa Hot Springs. If you really want to have fun and relax then this is a place to be. This spring is a source of water for farmers who mainly farm onions close to the place but is also the best spot to visit for both tourists and locals.
Visit Morombo BBQ
Morombo bbq street food is one of the great pleasures of traveling and exploring the local way of Arusha, so if you’re a fan, you may wish to head to the Morombo area which you will need to take a means of public transport and for 10 to 15 minutes you will find yourself in a street with ready-made goat meat with ugali or chips which are the famous local food here.
Visit a Local Restaurant
It is a good idea to visit several restaurants in Arusha, which have very clean and friendly staff. The food is authentic and traditional, the best places which I would recommend include the Blue Heron Restaurant and another one is Fifi’s restaurant, which is located close to town and perfect for tourists.
It is very safe if you walk around Arusha town, especially during daytime. The town is famous for souvenir shopping and during the day it is popular for people to shop around and others sit in restaurants having an African cup of coffee and everybody is nice around the street. But if you wish to go places out of the town center then you can always find a nice local person who can guide you and let you know decent and safer places to be around. You can always contact us if you need a local guide in Arusha.
And sometimes, if you wish to go out to a restaurant for dinner, you can find a taxi driver who can come to pick you up and drop you back at the Hotel but it is important that you negotiate enough for the prices since they can try to charge you high.
