Sitting at about 4,600 feet (1,400 meters) above sea level on the lower slopes of Mount Meru, Arusha is often the first stop for travelers heading into Tanzania’s safari country. It’s a busy, growing city of around 600,000 people, and thanks to its location between major wildlife areas and Mount Kilimanjaro, it’s a key base for exploring the north. But there are plenty of things to do in Arusha. Here’s how to make the most of your time there.
Mount Meru is just outside Arusha and climbs up to 14,980 feet (4,566 meters), making it the second-highest mountain in Tanzania. It’s not as well-known as Kilimanjaro, though many hike it for the quieter trails and varied scenery.
The 3–4-day climb begins in Arusha National Park, where you’re likely to see giraffes, buffalo, and colobus monkeys. All treks are accompanied by an armed ranger, required by park regulations and helpful for spotting wildlife along the way. This is a great way to fill a Tanzania itinerary.
The trail climbs through rainforest, heath, and moorland to the crater rim before a final pre-dawn push to Socialist Peak. From the summit, Kilimanjaro is clearly visible on the horizon. Altitude can still be an issue here, but acclimatization tends to be more manageable than on Kili.
If you're wondering how to plan a trip to Tanzania, you definitely won't want to miss this stop. Right in the heart of Arusha, this small museum walks you through the backstory of one of the rarest gemstones in the world: tanzanite. It’s only found near Mount Kilimanjaro, and geologists say the supply could run out within a few decades.
The museum covers how tanzanite was discovered in 1967, how it forms, and how it's mined and cut. These stones shift color depending on the angle—something called pleochroism.
The museum layout is small but well thought out, and the guides are usually great at breaking things down in a way that makes sense, even if you’re not a gem expert. There’s a shop at the end with tanzanite jewelry, but it’s just as interesting to walk through and learn a bit about a stone that only exists here.
This large complex pulls together art, artifacts, and traditions from across Tanzania, with everything from Makonde carvings and Tinga Tinga paintings to masks, instruments, and beadwork. There’s a lot to look at, and each section focuses on different ethnic groups or craft styles.
You can watch craftspeople at work, browse through displays of ceremonial objects and instruments, or just walk the gardens and read up on the traditional uses of the local plants. The layout of the building itself is symbolic, designed to reflect different architectural styles found across the country.
It’s an easy place to spend an hour or two if you're in Arusha, especially if you're curious about Tanzania’s cultural variety. You get a good sense of the artistic traditions here. See our Tanzania travel tips for more info to know before you go.
Lake Duluti is a small crater lake just east of Arusha, at the base of Mount Meru. It’s an easy day trip if you’re looking for a slower pace. You paddle in dugout-style wooden canoes—nothing fancy or fast, but it gets you close to the shoreline where you’ll see birds, butterflies, and the occasional lizard sunbathing on a log.
The forest around the lake is protected, and guides know their way around. They’ll usually point out the different bird calls—fish eagles, kingfishers, maybe even a Ross’s turaco if you’re lucky. Mornings are especially calm, with a bit of mist on the water and clear views of Meru when the clouds stay back. This is easily one of the best places to visit in Tanzania.
You don’t need to have paddled before—someone else usually does most of the work anyway.
If you want to get to know Arusha through its food, a nyama choma and chapati crawl is a great way to do it.
Nyama choma—grilled meat, usually goat or beef—is a staple here, and chapati is a flaky flatbread that goes with just about everything. Some places serve it with stews, others with spicy pickles or beans.
It’s casual, you eat with your hands, and the food is meant to be shared. The recipes aren’t written down—they’re passed down. It’s a mix of good eating and a chance to see what everyday life looks like outside the main tourist areas. Just come hungry and be open to whatever’s cooking that day.
If you're not sure about food safety, see our Tanzania travel health tips.
Both Burka and Arusha Coffee Lodge sit on working coffee plantations at the foot of Mount Meru, around 15–20 minutes from central Arusha. They function as quiet bases to rest before or after a safari but also host short “bean-to-cup” tours that trace the process from harvest to roasting.
Walks through the plantation cover, growing conditions, cherry picking, fermentation, drying, and roasting. Guides are typically long-time workers on the estate and can explain both techniques and challenges in growing Arabica at this elevation.
The grounds are quiet, with shaded paths and a few benches tucked into the greenery. You might hear hornbills or catch sight of a sunbird. If the weather’s clear, Mount Meru shows up in the distance—best viewed early in the morning. See more about the best time to visit Tanzania.
Khan’s Barbecue is one of those places you hear about long before you get there—and for good reason. What started in the 1970s as a small roadside grill has grown into a local favorite known for its mix of Tanzanian, Indian, and Middle Eastern-style grilled meats. It’s a lively, no-frills setup where the grilling happens right out front, and the smells alone will stop you in your tracks.
There’s no menu in the usual sense—you just walk up, choose what looks good, and find a table. It’s casual and often packed, especially in the evenings, so showing up early helps. This is easily one of the best things to do in Tanzania.
Right in the heart of Arusha, the Natural History Museum is housed in a former German military fort that’s been around since 1900. You’re walking through layers of history before you even get to the exhibits. The building itself played a role in the country’s political past—it was where some of the early independence talks for Tanganyika took place.
Inside, the museum covers everything from early human evolution and archaeology to the cultural traditions of Tanzania’s many communities. The collection is fairly small, but it’s easy to follow and well-labeled, and many of the guides are university students who bring a lot of local context to the stories. In the courtyard, there are ancient baobab trees and shaded areas to sit.
Arusha National Park is just under an hour from the city, so it works well for a short safari trip to Tanzania. It’s smaller than the big-name parks, but that means less driving and more variety packed into a single day. You’ll pass through forested areas, open grassland, and a crater basin before reaching the lakes, where you’ll probably see flamingos.
There aren’t any lions here, but you can still see giraffes, zebras, warthogs, and buffalo. One of the big draws is that you can actually walk through parts of the park with a ranger. If the skies are clear, you’ll get views of both Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro, which makes it feel bigger than it is. It’s a great option for a day trip.
If you're curious about daily life in Arusha, start at the Central Market—locally known as Soko Kuu. It’s busy, loud, and packed with everything from fresh mangoes and dried fish to spices, sandals, and secondhand clothes. It’s not set up for tourists - the layout can feel a little chaotic at first - but this is part of what makes it worth checking out.
Just down the road, Mt. Meru Curios is a good place to look through handmade crafts—wood carvings, Tinga Tinga paintings, Maasai beadwork, and pieces of tanzanite. The market’s a bit more organized, and you’ll often meet the artists themselves.
Visiting a Maasai boma gives you a chance to learn directly from one of East Africa’s most well-known communities. The villages are built in a circle, fenced in with acacia branches, and the homes are made by women using a mix of mud, grass, and dung.
You’ll be introduced to daily life—herding cattle, using local plants for medicine, and maintaining traditions that have survived decades of change.
These visits usually happen through local connections, and many families use them as a way to keep cultural practices going while bringing in income. It’s a good way to learn more about Maasai life outside the usual tourist framing, but be sure to ask where your money is going before you book. Check with Tanzania travel experts to be sure.
This small museum is set inside the building where Tanzania’s post-independence path was mapped out. Back in 1967, Julius Nyerere signed the Arusha Declaration here, laying the groundwork for Tanzania’s socialist experiment—known as Ujamaa.
Inside, you’ll find old photos, personal notes, and preserved rooms, including Nyerere’s office. The exhibits walk you through colonial times, independence, and the early years of self-rule.
It’s not a flashy museum, but it gives you context you won’t get from national parks or wildlife lodges. It’s also an easy walk from the city center.
About 15 miles (25 km) west of Arusha, Meserani Snake Park is a good place to learn about Tanzania’s snakes. . You’ll see some of the continent’s most well-known snakes here—black and green mambas, Egyptian cobras, puff adders—alongside crocodiles, monitor lizards, and a few birds. Guides walk you through the park, explaining how these animals live and why they matter, especially in rural areas where snakebites are a real danger.
It’s not just for tourists—the park runs a clinic that treats people bitten by snakes. There’s also a small Maasai Cultural Museum where you can get a sense of local traditions. It’s an easy, low-key visit if you want something different from the usual safari schedule.
Shanga is a workshop in Arusha where recycled glass, fabric, and metal get turned into handmade pieces by a team of artisans with disabilities. You’ll see people making jewelry, textiles, glassware—whatever’s in production that day. The word “Shanga” means bead in Swahili, and that’s where they started.
If you stop by, you can watch the artists at work and pick up gifts from the shop knowing the money directly supports the people making them. There’s also a small restaurant, so it’s easy to take your time. It’s a nice stop if you’re into craft, sustainability, or just want to support a place doing meaningful work.
The seven alkaline Momella Lakes sit in the northeast section of Arusha National Park, each with its own shade of green or blue thanks to different minerals in the water. You’ll find that these lakes are quite a bit quieter compared to the larger national parks.
Thousands of flamingos gather here, and the surrounding bush often draws giraffes, zebras, and waterbucks. You can go out on the water by canoe, which is a calm way to take it all in and see more wildlife up close. Over 400 bird species have been recorded in the area, and mornings are best for clear views and active wildlife.
The Clock Tower is a good reference point when you’re finding your way around Arusha. It’s right in the middle of the city—literally halfway between Cairo and Cape Town—and dates back to German colonial times. It’s not a big sightseeing stop, but you’ll probably pass by it more than once while you’re in town.
The Uhuru Monument is nearby, built to mark Tanzania’s independence in 1961. “Uhuru” means freedom in Swahili, and you’ll see the word all over the country.
This part of town is always busy. There are street vendors, people selling fruit, local artists with their work spread out on the pavement, and plenty of small shops. It’s a common meeting place, and a good introduction to Arusha.
Just a short drive from the city center, Themi Living Gardens feels like a world away. Set on the slopes of Mount Meru, this small community project focuses on sustainability, growing food organically, and creating jobs for local women and youth.
The gardens are built around permaculture, so you’ll see things like terraced vegetable beds, herbs growing alongside fruit trees, and small-scale composting. You’re free to wander through and see how it all works. There's a café on-site that serves simple meals made with ingredients from the garden—usually a mix of fresh produce, homemade bread, and locally roasted coffee.
Buying a meal or craft here directly supports the people who work on-site. They sometimes run workshops too, so you might get the chance to learn about composting, gardening, or traditional crafts.
written by
Dre Roelandt
updated 26.06.2025
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