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Destinations / Tanzania

Arusha

Safari base below Mount Meru

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Plan your trip to ArushaSee the top 10
617,000Population
Swahili, EnglishLanguage
TZSCurrency
2 daysIdeal stay
$150-300Typical day

Arusha is a busy town at the foot of Mount Meru and the starting point for northern Tanzania safaris. Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Kilimanjaro are within reach. Most visitors pass through for a night or two.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. Ngorongoro Crater is a huge collapsed volcano with a dense population of wildlife, including black rhinos. It is a UNESCO site.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $71-370Cost
    yesBook ahead

    2026: about 71 USD per person per day for the conservation area, plus a crater descent fee of 295 USD per vehicle and VAT.

    Tip. Leave early; crater fees are per vehicle and per day.
    See on the map

  2. Tarangire is known for its large elephant herds and baobab trees. It is close to Arusha.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $50-60Cost
    yesBook ahead

    Non resident adults pay 50 USD per day plus VAT (2026).

    Tip. Best in the dry season, about June to October.
    Official siteSee on the map

  3. Arusha National Park has Mount Meru, lakes and forest. It allows walking safaris.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $50-60Cost
    noBook ahead

    Park fee.

    Tip. A good day trip.
    Official siteSee on the map

  4. The Cultural Heritage Centre sells crafts and art in a large gallery. It has gemstones.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Go for tanzanite.
    See on the map

  5. The Maasai Market sells crafts and fabrics. It is busy.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Bargain politely.
    See on the map

  6. The Serengeti is Tanzania's most famous park, known for the migration. It is far from Arusha.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $70-80Cost
    yesBook ahead

    Park fee.

    Tip. Fly or plan at least three nights.
    Official siteSee on the map

  7. Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest peak. It is visible on clear days.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $70-80Cost
    yesBook ahead

    Park fee.

    Tip. Look early in the morning.
    See on the map

  8. Lake Duluti is a crater lake with forest trails. It is quiet.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $10-20Cost
    noBook ahead

    Fee.

    Tip. Good for a walk or canoe.
    See on the map

  9. The Natural History Museum is in an old German fort. It covers human evolution.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $5Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. A short visit.
    See on the map

  10. Coffee tours visit farms on the slopes of Mount Meru. You learn to roast coffee.

    Half a dayTime needed
    about $20-40Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    Tour.

    Tip. Book with a local cooperative.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Ready-made itineraries

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Arusha in three days

Ngorongoro and Tarangire.

  1. Ngorongoro CraterFull day · about $71-370
  2. Tarangire National ParkFull day · about $50-60
  3. Arusha National ParkFull day · about $50-60
  4. Cultural Heritage Centre1 hour · Free
  5. Maasai Market1 hour · Free
  6. Serengeti National ParkFull day · about $70-80
  7. Kilimanjaro viewsFull day · about $70-80
  8. Lake Duluti2 hours · about $10-20
  9. Natural History Museum1 hour · about $5
  10. Coffee tourHalf a day · about $20-40
Beyond the city

Day trips

Lake Manyara

Tree climbing lions.

78 mi · Car about 2 hours

Materuni waterfalls

Coffee tours.

56 mi · Car about 1.5 hours

Olduvai Gorge

An early human fossil site with a small museum.

118 mi · Part of a Ngorongoro to Serengeti drive

Mto wa Mbu village

A lively market town with cultural tours.

75 mi · Drive, about 2 hours, often part of a Manyara trip

Lake Natron

Remote alkaline lake with flamingos and volcano views.

155 mi · Long drive with a guide, 5 to 6 hours

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: June to October. Dry season wildlife.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.56.3JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

86°F
Typical daily high
Average74°F
Rain3.5 in
About11 rainy days
Sun strength6.3 kWh/m²

Shoulder season. Good balance of weather and crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Jan

Wildebeest calving

January to March

In the southern Serengeti.

Feb

Kilimanjaro Marathon

Usually late February or early March (check dates)

Held in nearby Moshi and popular with international runners.

Jul

Great Migration river crossings

Roughly July to October (varies by year)

Wildebeest herds cross rivers in the northern Serengeti and Mara.

Year

Eid celebrations

Dates follow the Islamic calendar

Muslim communities in town celebrate with prayers and family meals.

Going on specific dates? A Hodolog trip shows the forecast and the usual weather for your exact days. Request access
Know before you go

At a glance

3/5
Safety

The US State Department rates Tanzania at Level 3 (reconsider travel); Arusha has street crime, so avoid walking at night.

2/5
Walkability

Walking is limited.

1/5
Public transport

Use taxis and tour drivers.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
123456

1. Arusha town

$$

Best for: budget

Close to operators.

2. Usa River

$$$

Best for: couples

Lodges.

3. Ngurdoto

$$$

Best for: families

Coffee estates.

4. Central Arusha

$

Best for: first-timers, budget travellers

Close to restaurants, markets and tour offices.

5. Njiro and Sakina

$$

Best for: safari travellers

Quieter areas with lodges and gardens, a short drive to the centre.

6. Karatu

$$

Best for: Ngorongoro bound travellers

Closer to the crater, useful for early starts.

Getting there and around

Main airportKilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), 31 mi from the center
To the centerTransfers take about 1 hour.
Around townUse safari operators and taxis.
Ride appsUber, Bolt, Uber (limited)
Taste it

What to eat

Nyama choma

Grilled meat.

Chipsi mayai

Chips omelette.

Pilau

Spiced rice.

Ugali and greens

Maize porridge with cooked greens, a daily staple.

Mandazi

A lightly sweet fried dough, common at breakfast.

Kilimanjaro coffee

Locally grown beans served in cafes.

Good to know

PlugsType D and G, 230 V
Tap waterUse bottled water
TippingTip guides and drivers.
PaymentsUSD cash is common.
EtiquetteGreet people with jambo or shikamoo for elders. Ask before photos, especially of Maasai.
  • Safari fees are high; budget carefully.
  • Use licensed operators.
  • Dry season is best for game viewing.
  • The airport is about 50 km from town.
  • Book safaris with a licensed operator and check what park fees are included.
  • Park fees are charged per 24 hours and quoted in US dollars.
  • Touts around the bus stand can be pushy; walk away politely.
  • Malaria prevention is advised; ask a travel doctor.

A short history

Arusha grew from a German garrison town in the 1900s. The Arusha Declaration of 1967 set Tanzania's socialist course. It hosted the UN Rwanda tribunal. Safari tourism drives its economy.

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Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Arusha