Arusha

Arusha – the Safari Capital of the World

Have you always wanted to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro? Or perhaps you would like to see giraffes, zebras and gazelles running around the green national parks while hippopotamuses enjoy the cool water… Or have ever wondered how massive the African elephants are? And the big cats – lions, leopards and cheetahs! And of course, the beautiful waterfalls. Welcome to Arusha!

Arusha City is the largest city in the north of Tanzania, and it is located under the beautiful Mount Meru and straight next to the iconic and the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro. Arusha is a globally recognized safari capital of Tanzania and is even of ten called the safari capital of the world due to plenty of fantastic safari destinations nearby. Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Arusha National Park are just a few to mention. The metro area population of Arusha is slightly more than 500.000 which makes it the second biggest city in Tanzania. The city is the regional capital of the Arusha Region and there stands the headquarters of the African Court on Human and People’s Rights and the East African Community. Visit the Cultural Heritage Centre and explore the rich African Culture, the interesting and hectic Central Market or the Tanzanite Experience Museum through a guided tour. Something for everyone!

How to get here? There are two airports close to the city, the Kilimanjaro International Airport and the Arusha Airport for domestic flights. There are also many convenient bus connections for example from Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Dodoma or Nairobi. Depends on how much time and what kind of budget you have and of course, from where you are coming.

What is the best time to come to Arusha? Depends on what you would love to do! However, there are two wet and dry seasons – the long rainy season is starting in March and continues until May, and the shorter one is from November to December. Typically, the beginning of the year from January to February, when the sky is usually cloudless and after the long rainy season until November are both magnificent. More about the best visiting times and seasons, national parks, and other activities in the next posts. Stay tuned!