Arusha is where northern Tanzania’s safaris are organised, provisioned and begun. The city sits at about 1,400 metres on the southern slopes of Mount Meru (4,566 m), with a mild climate, green surroundings and — on clear mornings — a distant view of Kilimanjaro.
Most visitors pass through quickly, but with a spare day there is plenty to do: a national park on the doorstep, coffee estates, craft markets and Maasai communities in the surrounding plains.
Top things to do: Arusha
Arusha National Park
Less than an hour from town, this small park packs in the Momella Lakes, the Ngurdoto Crater, montane forest with black-and-white colobus monkeys and some of the best giraffe viewing in the country. It is one of the few parks where walking and canoeing safaris are offered.
Markets, crafts and tanzanite
The central market is good for spices and everyday life; the Maasai Market sells beadwork, fabric and carvings (bargain politely); and the Cultural Heritage Centre on the western edge of town combines a huge craft emporium with an art gallery. Tanzanite, mined only in this region, is sold by reputable dealers who provide certificates.
Coffee tours and village visits
The slopes of Meru are coffee country. Half-day tours visit small farms to pick, roast and brew, and full-day trips go out to Maasai villages on the plains.
Rest before or after the bush
After a long-haul flight, a quiet night in Arusha before a 6 am departure makes the first safari day far more enjoyable. See where to stay.
How to get to Arusha
- Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is about 50 km east of Arusha, roughly an hour by road. It has flights from Europe, the Gulf and other African hubs.
- Arusha Airport (ARK), on the western edge of town, handles domestic light aircraft to Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and Zanzibar.
- Shuttle buses connect Arusha with Nairobi in about five to six hours via the Namanga border.
Insider tips
- Use hotel-arranged or pre-booked taxis after dark, and keep valuables out of sight in the town centre.
- Be wary of street touts selling cheap safaris. Book with a licensed, reviewed operator — see how to choose an operator.
- Withdraw cash here. ATMs are more plentiful and reliable than in Karatu, and there are none in the parks.
Best tours & safaris: Arusha
These experiences are the easiest way to see Arusha:
Day trip from €174 Arusha National Park Full-Day Safari
A relaxed day in Arusha National Park at the foot of Mount Meru — giraffes, black-and-white colobus monkeys, buffalo and the Momella Lakes, less than an hour from town. It is the easy option for an arrival or departure day when the crater is too far.
- Under an hour from town
- Giraffe, colobus monkeys and the Momella Lakes
- Well reviewed
Cultural tour from €98 Arusha: Maasai Village Tour
A full-day cultural visit to a Maasai community outside Arusha, with time to learn how a boma is organised, how livestock shape daily life and how traditions are changing. It is a slower and usually more personal alternative to the brief roadside boma stops on the way to the crater.
- A day with a Maasai community
- Learn about herding, homes and customs
- Highly rated by travellers
Transfer from €25 Arusha: Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) Taxi & Transfers to Arusha
A pre-booked transfer between Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha. Many safari packages include airport transfers; if yours does not, booking one ahead saves negotiating a taxi after a long flight.
- Pre-booked airport pickup
- To or from Arusha hotels
- Very well reviewed
Day trip from €258 Arusha: Ngorongoro Crater Day Trip with Game Drive
The crater in a single long day from Arusha: an early start, around three to four hours on the road each way, and a game drive on the crater floor with a picnic lunch. It is the simplest way to see Ngorongoro if you have no time for an overnight — expect to be back in Arusha in the evening.
- Early pickup from your Arusha hotel
- Game drive on the crater floor
- Picnic lunch inside the crater
