Arusha is the safari capital of the world but it’s often unfairly overlooked in favor of its more glamorous, better known neighbors; Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro crater. But Arusha has a wealth of experiences to offer tourists from safaris in Arusha national park, to breathe taking hiking on mt Meru, cultural tours, Tanzanite and more. Arusha National park rolls out like a patchwork quilt of contrasting landscape, verdant forest where black and white colobus monkeys chatter and play, savannah and moorland, the momella lakes with acid pink flamingos, wallowing hippos, delicate herons and shaggy waterbucks. Giraffe, elephants roam the green foot hills. Eagles and buzzard soar above Ngurdoto crater, buffalo and antelope wonder through the forest fringed rim. Bush backs push their way through the ancient cedar trees, volcanic cones lead their way up towards mt meru and Kilimanjaro stands proud and majestic on the horizon.
Mt Meru is Africa’s fifth highest peak, a dormant volcano once worshiped as a rain god by the Arusha and the Meru people. The mountain provides challenging climbing and breathtaking sceneryas an affordable alternative to Kilimanjaro.
Arusha town grew up from a German settlement on the Boma road, built by Masaai labour. Plantations of tea, sisal, and coffee thrived and the city flourished. Known as the Geneva of Africa, Arusha is home to the international human rights tribunal and several NGOs. The Kilimanjaro airport provides local and international transport links, making Dar, Zanzibar and remote safari camps only a plane ride away.
Agriculture and tourism are the two main components of Arusha’s economy and the two meet in cultural tourism. There are tours of the coffee plantations, Tanzanian cookery courses, workshops in drum making and batik, giving you an insight into local life. Arusha is also home to the masaai people. With their red shukas, beaded jewellery, spears and nomadic warrior traditions, the masaai have become one of Africa’s iconic tribes, with an aura of mystery about them. Masaai communities open up their villages to tourists with guided tours lasting from anything from half a day to three days. Walk through the forests gathering plants with a traditional healer, make cheese ang ugali with the women, learn traditional songs and observe their traditional lifestyle.
If you need to do souvenir shopping, Arusha is a noted crafts centre. The cultural heritage centre in the town boosts an array of superb Makonde carvings, Tingatinga paintings, gifts and curios. If you’re looking for a more exclusive gift, Arusha is the best place to buy Tanzanite, a brilliant blue gemstone found in the hills surrounding Arusha and Moshi. The gem stone is used by the masaai to celebrate and gained international prominence after a Tanzanite was featured in the movie Titanic as the centre jewel to the heart of the queen of the Ocean necklace.
There’s relaxed atmosphere to Arusha in the evenings, with a good choice of restaurants offering Swahili, Indian and international cuisine. There’s live music in the evenings, with every thing from jazz and salsa to local hip hop, traditional music and full moon parties in the bush.
So if you’re heading out on safari, or returning from days of game driving, Arusha is well worth a visit.
