Arusha is a pleasant city in Tanzania, offering many attractions! If you’re planning to visit the city, let us share with you the top things to do in Arusha.
Arusha city is settled at the base of Mount Meru. There are a lot of attractions in Arusha as it’s a gateway to several safari destinations, and to the Northeast of the city lies the highest peak in Africa—Mount Kilimanjaro.
To the West of Arusha is the ever-popular Serengeti National Park—the home to many wildlife, such as rhinoceros, leopards, lions, giraffes, and many more! You can also witness the most anticipated annual Great Migration, featuring millions of wildebeests crossing its plains.
Furthermore, this bustling African city is also the starting point to the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, and Lake Manyara National Park. Nonetheless, this place has a lot to offer other than being a starting point to safaris.
Arusha, which is locally known as the ‘A-Town’, has a lot of attractions of its own and is a great spot to feel the Tanzanian life. This place also has a fun party scene which is plausibly one of the reasons why the crowd likes it.
So, if you want to visit Arusha, here are some of the things to do in the ‘A-Town’:
#1: Climbing mount Meru
Arusha lies at the base of Mount Meru. The climb on this mountain is typically 3 to 4 days and the peak is smaller than Mount Kilimanjaro. Nonetheless, the hike is still comparably challenging and rewarding.
You can trek the mountain all year round, but it’s best to avoid the wet season to enjoy the hiking experience and scenery. On clear days, you can get incredible views of Mount Kilimanjaro, which sits approximately 50 miles away, adjacent to Moshi town.
During your climb, you can see groups of buffaloes, warthog, zebras, elephants, hippos, and other animals at Momella Lakes. Here are a few facts about the mountain:
- It’s the second tallest mountain in Tanzania at 4,566 meters.
- Mount Meru has abundant wildlife sightings even on day 1 of the climb.
- It can be an excellent acclimatization climb before taking Mount Kilimanjaro.
- The ascent and descent via the Momela route can be completed in three days.
- Mount Meru has dormitory-style cottage accommodation.
#2: Book a safari tour
If you haven’t been on a Northern Circuit Tanzania safari, it’s time to pay a visit! Book a tour in the Northern Circuit, and you’ll never have a shortage of great experiences from the Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti, Lake Manyara, or Tarangire.
Easy Travel offers trips to these spots, as well as to Lake Natron. If you’re traveling alone, you can join our group trips!
#3: Visit the Arusha National Park
Another thing you can do in the ‘A-Town’ is visiting the Arusha National Park. It’s one of the main attractions in Arusha. Here, you can see a lot of giraffes, zebras, and buffalos, along with leopards, hyenas, hippos, and elephants.
It’s also possible to do walking safaris here that you can add to your package!
#4: Nature walk at Lake Duluti
Lake Duluti is a volcanic crater lake found in Mount Meru’s foothills. Rocky hills and verdant forests surround this lake that draws many marvelous birds, such as:
- Grey herons
- Egrets
- Kingfishers
- Fish eagles
The place also has numerous butterflies, reptiles, and primates—making it an ideal place for bird-lovers and nature walkers. There’s also a guided canoe trip on the lake with the magnificent view of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru in the background.
#5: Visit the maasai tribe
One of the things you can do when you visit Arusha visits the Maasai Tribe. This tribe can be found in Northern Tanzania and Kenya.
If you’re interested in learning how they live, visiting them can be a great decision. Here, you can find welcoming Masaai villages where you can spend time learning about their culture.
