Stand on the rise where the old German boma was built and the plains still open out below you, and the shape of Arusha becomes clear: a city on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, with Mount Meru behind it and the northern safari circuit ahead. The air is temperate, the streets are busy with buses bound for Nairobi, Dodoma and Dar es Salaam, and the city itself is a mix of Tanzanian, Arab-Tanzanian, Indian-Tanzanian, European and North American residents.
Arusha suits travellers who are passing through on the way to the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, Olduvai Gorge, Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru in Arusha National Park, and who want a day or two of city time before or after the game parks. It also suits anyone interested in the political history of modern Tanzania, since several agreements that shaped the region were signed here.
This guide covers the sights in the city itself, the cultural excursions and hikes that can be arranged from it, and the practical points that make a short stay work. It does not cover the national parks, which are separate trips.
Top things to do in Arusha
1. Arusha Declaration Museum
This museum is dedicated to the 1967 Arusha Declaration, one of the most prominent attempts to define African socialism, which set the political course of Tanzania for several decades. The site also includes the large Declaration Monument.
It is the single best place to understand why Arusha matters politically, and it pairs naturally with a walk to see the small museum adjacent to the Uhuru monument, which displays information about the proceedings of the 1967 Arusha Declaration.
2. Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre
This is a large privately run art gallery in a striking building that draws on African symbols, including the drum, spear and shield. It holds a wide range of African art, including work from the Tanzanian TingaTinga school. Exhibits are for sale and there is no permanent collection, so treat it as a gallery and market in one.
Because the stock changes, it is worth visiting even if you have already seen other craft markets in Tanzania. You can call ahead on +255 27 254 7548 if you want to check anything before making the trip.
3. Arusha National Natural History Museum
The city's natural history museum contains three exhibits covering early man, the plants and animals of the region, and the history of the city. It was formerly an administration outpost for the Germans in the 1900s and opened as a public museum in 1987. It displays assets of scientific importance, including models of Australopithecus people, human ancestors who lived over 2 million years ago.
A giant tortoise, over 100 years old, roams the grounds freely, which is reason enough to allow time outside the building as well as in. The museum can be reached on +255 27 254 5540.
4. A safari from Arusha
Arusha is the practical base for the northern parks, and a safari is the main reason many visitors come. There are multiple types of trips for multiple budgets, and the pricier ones generally get you farther into the Serengeti, to places less touched by human presence, but the cheaper excursions to reserves and parks are also worth doing.
Two practical points. First, not all tour guides are equally knowledgeable, so do some research of your own about the places you will visit before you go. Second, beware of paying over the market price: you will still sleep in the same accommodation, eat the same food, and ride in a vehicle just as likely to break down as anyone else's. To save money, consider doing the long transportation on your own, using Karatu as a base for Ngorongoro or Mto Wa Mbu for Manyara National Park.
5. Cultural tourism visits to nearby villages
The Tanzania Tourist Board can arrange cultural excursions to nearby villages for Tsh 15,000-50,000. These visits can be among the most rewarding parts of a trip to East Africa, and the human element complements an animal-focused safari. They are flexible, so you can arrange an hour-long visit or a day-long one, and some sites have lodging or camping.
Several programmes, including Ilkiding'a and Ng'iresi, are within an hour's hike of Arusha. Others, including Monduli Juu, Longido, Mulala, Tengeru, Ilkurot and Oldonyo Sambu, are within an hour's drive. They are opportunities to learn about the Maasai and Meru tribes who live nearby, along with pastoralism, agriculture, stories and legends, and local economies. Expect your guide to ask for donations to their school or orphanage; some dishonest guides may pocket the money, so it is advisable to give to a reputable charity instead and to trust your instinct.
6. Climb Mount Meru
Mount Meru stands at 4,667 m and the climb can be done in 3-4 days depending on your condition. You are not required to take guides and porters, but you must be escorted by armed rangers.
Temperatures can be freezing, so prepare warm clothing and sleeping bags. This is a serious undertaking rather than a day walk, and it needs to be planned before you arrive in Arusha rather than on the morning you set out.
7. Hikes around Mount Meru
There are several good hikes around Mount Meru, including some good waterfalls. These are shorter than the summit climb and can be fitted into a stay in the city.
Combine a hike with one of the cultural tourism programmes within an hour's hike of Arusha, such as Ilkiding'a or Ng'iresi, since both put you on foot in the same area.
8. Longido camel safaris
Longido, within an hour's drive of Arusha, is where you can arrange camel safaris. It sits among the cultural tourism sites that the Tanzania Tourist Board can help you reach.
Because the programmes are flexible, you can treat this as a half-day or a full-day outing, and some sites in this group have lodging or camping if you would rather stay overnight than return to the city.
9. Century Cinema
Century Cinema shows movies for Tsh 5,000-7,000. It is part of a modern complex on Njiro Rd, which also houses modern and upmarket restaurants, including the popular Indian restaurant Khan's, the steak outlet McMoody's and the multi-cuisine restaurant Spice Retreat.
Njiro Rd is not safe to walk on at night, so get to the complex by another form of transport rather than on foot. A taxi to or from the town centre should not cost more than Tsh 4,000.
10. Places of worship
Arusha's places of worship include the majority Christian churches: the Archdiocese of Arusha, the Anglican Church of Tanzania, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, the Baptist Convention of Tanzania and the Assemblies of God. There are also Muslim mosques.
If you plan to attend a service, remember that the city is home to a mix of Christian, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu residents, and that these are working congregations rather than visitor attractions.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Arusha Declaration Museum, where the 1967 Arusha Declaration and the large Declaration Monument set out the political history of the country. From there, walk to the small museum adjacent to the Uhuru monument, which covers the proceedings of the same declaration.
Afternoon. Move on to the Arusha National Natural History Museum for its three exhibits on early man, the plants and animals of the region, and the history of the city, and to see the giant tortoise that roams the grounds. If time allows, finish the afternoon at the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre, where the TingaTinga school work and other African art are on display and for sale.
Evening. Take a taxi to the complex on Njiro Rd for a film at Century Cinema, followed by dinner at one of the restaurants there, such as Khan's, McMoody's or Spice Retreat. Do not walk on Njiro Rd at night, and expect the taxi from the town centre to cost no more than Tsh 4,000.
Frequently asked questions
How do I arrange a cultural visit to a village near Arusha?
The Tanzania Tourist Board can arrange cultural excursions to nearby villages for Tsh 15,000-50,000. Programmes such as Ilkiding'a and Ng'iresi are within an hour's hike of the city, while Monduli Juu, Longido, Mulala, Tengeru, Ilkurot and Oldonyo Sambu are within an hour's drive. Visits are flexible, from an hour to a full day, and some sites have lodging or camping.
Do I need a guide to climb Mount Meru?
You are not required to take guides and porters up Mount Meru, but you must be escorted by armed rangers. The climb can be done in 3-4 days depending on your condition, and temperatures can be freezing, so bring warm clothing and sleeping bags.
How should I choose a safari operator?
Not all tour guides are equally knowledgeable, so it helps to research the places you will visit yourself before you go. Beware of paying over the market price, since you will still sleep in the same accommodation, eat the same food, and ride in a vehicle just as likely to break down as anyone else's. To save money, you can do the long transportation on your own, using Karatu for Ngorongoro or Mto Wa Mbu for Manyara National Park.
Is it safe to walk around Arusha at night?
Njiro Rd, where Century Cinema and its restaurants are located, is not safe to walk on at night. Get to that complex by another form of transport rather than on foot, and expect a taxi to or from the town centre to cost no more than Tsh 4,000.
Decide how many days you can give to the city and how many to the parks, then start planning your Arusha stay around the museums, the cultural excursions and the mountain.