Arusha City - the motley tourist capital of Tanzania

Arusha, Tanzania - a city with a population of more than 400 thousand people, located in the north of the country, where acquaintance with African beauties often begins. Arusha is located in the center of northern Tanzanian attractions, including Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Manyara.

Good to know! The city of Arusha, named after the Masai tribe, was founded at the beginning of the 20th century. Initially, it was the administrative unit of the German colony. All that remains of the colonial past is the wall of the former fort in the south of the city.

Perfectly coping with the functions of a tourist Mecca, Arusha is the political and economic center of Africa. Bill Clinton aptly called Arusha "African Geneva", implying its significance for the world. Conferences and negotiations are held in the city, important decisions are made of international importance. It was here that the first president of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, introduced the Arusha Declaration, and in 1999 the Treaty on the Formation of the East African Community was signed. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was located in Arusha and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights is still operating.

Interesting to know! In Arusha, exotic plants are grown, coffee, jute grains and coconut fiber are processed.

The city of Arusha in Tanzania was chosen by Catholic and Protestant bishops to host representative offices of its faiths. In a multinational city, followers of these religions, as well as Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, etc., peacefully coexist. Americans and Europeans, Indians and Arabs are striving here, but nevertheless, among the inhabitants of the colorful Arusha, Native Africans still prevail.

Sights

In a lively, rapidly developing city, the past and the present met - natives in bright national clothes and tourists, women with heavy baskets on their heads and fashionable cars, movers and artisans mingled into a colorful crowding crowd. Bazaars, souvenir shops and shops entice customers, while waiting for visitors to open restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs and casinos - in Arusha and the outskirts of the city there is entertainment for everyone and attractions for everyone.

Mount Meru is one of the main attractions of Tanzania and the "mother" of Arusha, because it was at its foot that a settlement arose, which later turned into a city. Today this giant (its height is more than 4000 meters) with a pliable character can be seen from anywhere in Arusha. Meru is considered a natural talisman of the Tanzanian city. It will be submitted to anyone who wants it in just 3-4 days (depending on the health and physical fitness of tourists) - this mountain can become an independent goal or preparation for Kilimanjaro.

On a note! Meru is a stratovolcano. His last major eruption was recorded at the end of the 19th century.

Meru promises an interesting ascent due to its terrain, incomparable views from the top and a walking safari. The mountain is surrounded by Arusha National Park, which has giraffes and zebras, elephants and antelopes, buffalos and warthogs. Organized groups of travelers are always accompanied by professional guides and rangers with guns, so the adventures that Meru promises are absolutely safe.

Good to know! From Mount Meru, 50 kilometers to Kilimanjaro Airport, almost 400 kilometers to the capital of Tanzania and almost 300 kilometers to the Indian Ocean.

Another attraction - Arusha National Park - is located thirty kilometers from the city. It occupies a little more than 100 km², which makes it the smallest compared to other Tanzanian wildlife reserves, but no less entertaining. Among the "entrails" are craters and lakes, views of Mount Meru, leopards and hyenas, rare colobuses and four hundred species of birds.

The national park has three zones with different types of vegetation: Mount Meru, Lake Momela (the birthplace of pink flamingos) and Ngurdoto Crater. It is important that in Arusha you can make walking tours accompanied by an armed forester - in most African parks it is strictly forbidden to leave the car in an open area. Walking along the proven path (from the thickets of shrubs - through a cozy valley - to the Ulyulyusya Falls), you can feel safe, since no attacks on people were recorded in this park.

At the Tanzania Tourism Board, you can arrange excursions to villages near Arusha. They will help you get to know the ethnic groups of an African country and learn about their lifestyle, history and traditions. This is an amazing opportunity to chat with the people of the villages of Ilkiding and Ngiresi (an hour on foot), as well as Monduli Yuu and Aldogno Sambu, Tengeru and Longido, Ilkurot and Mulala (an hour drive from the city).

A cultural tour is a way to see with your own eyes how local residents are engaged in grazing and farming, listen to amazing legends, and admire the sights, including waterfalls, along the way. In Longido, you will be offered a flexible camel safari, in some villages you can set up a camp and stay for several days.

Note! If the guide accompanying the group during a cultural tour offers you to donate money to a charity, ask him how to transfer it directly to a trustworthy charity. Not all conductors are conscientious enough to send money to their destination, and not in your pocket.

A few kilometers from Arusha, the world of wild savannah opens. The main attractions of northern Tanzania are national parks, and the main entertainment in them is safari. If the prices do not bother you, you can visit the Serengeti, Tarangire, the serpent park of Meserani and the park of Lake Manyara, and also take a tour from Arusha to the Ngorongoro Crater. Hundreds of animal species live here - wildebeests mysteriously freeze on the plains, buffaloes walk slowly and zebras frolic, lions bask in the shade of bushes, cautious servals and caracals meet in the early morning, as if elephants grazed in slow motion.

Among African safari tours, there are offers for a different budget: traditional, camel and horse riding, canoeing and mountain biking, as well as balloons. You can just walk through the woods or climb the hills, or you can arrange an adventure full of unpredictable dangers.

Where to stay

Arusha has many hotels. Most of them, setting prices, relies on the current season, benefiting from the influx of tourists. During the high season, which lasts from June to October-December, room rates increase markedly.

Estimated price for accommodation in a three-star hotel (double room) - $ 50-70. In this category there are seasonal offers that promise housing for $ 30-40. The budget option for two is hostels and homestays. Such options will cost only $ 10-15 per night.Find out RATES or book any accommodation using this form

Food

Arusha is not the gastronomic capital of Tanzania, but there are enough restaurants, cafes, taverns and street fast foods here. You can find decent establishments with traditional African dishes (Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant on Nairobi Road), European (Picasso Café at Kijenge Supermarket) and even an Asian menu (Chinese Whispers on Njiro Road). The estimated cost of lunch or dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant is $ 23.

Transport

Explore the sights of Arusha, travel between the hotel and the restaurant, market or shops by taxi. Here this type of transport is quite accessible. The main thing is to agree in advance with the driver about the cost of the trip, since there are no usual counters in a taxi. You can catch a car right on the road, and there are a great many of them near each hotel. A trip around the city will cost $ 1-2.5.

The main mode of transport in Tanzania is Dala-dala. Minibuses, which are trucks with tents and benches, ply along the main routes of Arusha, offering to bring anyone for just 0.25 cents. It will be crowded and dangerous, but you will reach the place with a breeze. Recommendation: Watch out for valuable items.
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Useful Tips

1. Arriving in Arusha, follow simple safety rules. Do not walk in the dark, do not use the services of taxi drivers on motorbikes, remember that in Africa tourists are often attacked in order to snatch a bag or backpack. Do not contact barkers that may haunt you or even grab your hands. If ignoring does not help, slow down, look into your eyes and say firmly: "Hapana asante" ("Thank you, no.") Take local professional guides with you whenever possible. In extreme cases, have at hand a map of Arusha, so as not to get lost.
2. The Arusha police station is located at the beginning of Mokongoro road, to the left of the clinic. There are several cafes with inexpensive Internet in the city ($ 1-2 per hour).

3. Be sure to visit the markets and feel free to bargain with sellers. Here you can buy everything: from clothing to souvenirs for loved ones. Pay attention to batik and silk, jewelry, paintings, handmade items. They will have to pay in cash. For shopping, it is better to set aside a whole day to study all the offers and compare prices.
4. There are very few ATMs in Arusha, so a crowd of tourists usually gathers near them. Cards here are practically not accepted, so even on a safari you will have to take cash with you.
5. During outings in nature in Arusha, as in the whole of Tanzania, tsetse flies can cause a lot of trouble. They not only bite painfully, but also suffer from sleeping sickness. Do not wear clothes of dark colors and be sure to stock up on a special spray.

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