Arusha, Tanzania

Arusha is a city in northern Tanzania. It is the capital of the Arusha Region and is surrounded by some of Africa's most famous landscapes and national parks. Situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, it has a mild climate and is close to Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, and Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as having its own Arusha National Park on Mount Meru.

Arusha is regarded as the gateway to the popular Northern Safari Circuit. There are many safari opportunities to choose from as well as cultural tours to nearby villages. They are great opportunities to learn about the Maasai and Meru tribes who live nearby. There are also several good hikes around Mt. Meru, including some good waterfalls.

Things to see and do

* Safaris - eg. Robanda Safari Camp
* Local village visits
* Arusha markets
* Mount Meru
* Arusha National Natural History Museum

General Information

Cruise Season - Oct - May
Currency - Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
Language - Swahili, English
Population - 400,000 approx
Land Area - 86 km²
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT plus three hours
International Country Telephone Code - +255

Transport Links - Arusha is served by two airports. Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) has regular flights to Amsterdam with KLM, and to Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Nairobi. Kilimanjaro Airport is approximately 60km (45 minutes) from the city center. Arusha Municipal Airport (ARK) is on the outskirts of the city but only runs domestic flights, mostly to Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam, and charters.

Arusha can be reached by express coach from Nairobi (Kenya, 6 hours), Dar es Salaam (12 hours), and Kampala (Uganda, 17 hours) with direct services also available from Mwanza, Tanga, and Lushoto.