Almost every northern-circuit safari and every Kilimanjaro climb begins and ends in Arusha. Set beneath the forested slopes of Mount Meru at around 1,400 metres, it is a green, temperate and busy town — the administrative heart of Tanzanian tourism and the point at which your journey is briefed, provisioned and set in motion.
Most guests spend a night here on either side of their safari. The good news is that Arusha is worth the night.
WILDLIFE WONDER
Ngorongoro & the Crater Highlands
Per guest, from:
$2,290
$458 per night
WILDLIFE & CULTURE
Manyara, Lake Eyasi & the Crater
Per guest, from:
$2,700
$540 per night
DRY SEASON
Tarangire: Elephants & Baobabs
Per guest, from:
$2,860
$715 per night
SHARED VEHICLE
Joining Safari: the Northern Circuit
Per guest, from:
$3,780
$630 per night
THE CLASSIC ROUTE
The Northern Circuit, Properly Paced
Per guest, from:
$4,680
$669 per night
AGES 6+
Family Safari, Northern Circuit
Per guest, from:
$4,940
$618 per night
Pleasant days, cold evenings and the clearest views of Kilimanjaro and Meru. The busiest season, as it coincides with peak safari and climbing months.
Warm days with occasional short afternoon showers. Jacaranda and flame trees in flower, and the surrounding coffee farms at their most attractive.
Heavy afternoon rain and low cloud that often hides both mountains. Fewer visitors and noticeably better lodge rates.
Beyond the Gateway
Arusha National Park sits barely forty minutes from town and is one of Tanzania's most underrated reserves — the Ngurdoto Crater, the flamingo-lined Momella Lakes and the black-and-white colobus of the montane forest, all beneath the jagged 4,566-metre summit of Mount Meru. It is also one of the very few parks in Tanzania where walking safaris and canoeing are permitted.
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Somewhere to land, sleep and be briefed — from clean town guesthouses to coffee-estate manor houses.
A half-day circuit taking in the Momella Lakes, Ngurdoto Crater and the forest — giraffe, buffalo, colobus and flamingo, with Kilimanjaro on the horizon on a clear morning. The perfect arrival-day activity.
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Tour a working coffee estate from cherry to cup, or visit the Shanga workshop, where artisans with disabilities produce glass and jewellery from recycled materials. Both are half-day trips from town.
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A serious three or four-day climb to 4,566 metres — steeper and more technical than Kilimanjaro, far less crowded, and the finest possible acclimatisation before attempting the higher peak.
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GOOD TO KNOW
The things our guests ask most before they travel. Still unsure? Speak to a safari specialist — we reply within 24 hours.
Almost certainly one on arrival, and often one at the end. Most international flights land at Kilimanjaro International Airport in the evening, and safaris depart early the following morning. A night in Arusha lets you be briefed, repack and start the safari rested rather than straight off a long-haul flight.
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is about 46km east of Arusha, roughly a 50-minute drive. Arusha Airport, used for domestic light aircraft to the Serengeti and Zanzibar, is much closer at around 15 minutes from town. Both transfers are included in our itineraries.
Arusha is generally safe, but it is a busy African city and normal precautions apply. Avoid walking alone after dark, do not display valuables, and use lodge-arranged taxis rather than hailing on the street. Street sellers around the clock tower can be persistent — a polite, firm no is enough.
Arusha National Park is the best single option — a half-day circuit with walking and canoeing available. Alternatives are a coffee estate tour, the Shanga glass workshop, the Cultural Heritage Centre, or a village walk at Ilkiding'a on the slopes of Meru.
Arusha has the best exchange rates in northern Tanzania and plenty of reliable bureaux and ATMs. Change enough for tips and incidentals here, as rates in the parks are poor and ATMs nonexistent. US dollars are widely accepted, but notes must be series 2013 or newer.
From around USD 70 per night for a clean central guesthouse to USD 650 at Legendary Lodge. The mid-range — USD 160-390 — covers most guests comfortably, and coffee-estate lodges at the upper end of that band are excellent value for a first or last night.
Yes. Mount Meru is inside Arusha National Park and the trek takes three or four days to reach 4,566 metres. It is steeper and rockier than Kilimanjaro and involves an exposed summit ridge, but it is far quieter and makes outstanding acclimatisation if you plan to climb Kilimanjaro afterwards.
The Cultural Heritage Centre on the Dodoma road has the widest range and fixed prices. The Maasai Market in town is cheaper and more atmospheric but requires firm bargaining — expect to settle at roughly a third of the opening price. Shanga sells genuinely original glasswork with proceeds going to its artisans.
Not really — it is a gateway city, and Arusha National Park is the only game area nearby. We include it here because every northern itinerary passes through it and guests need to know where to stay and what to do. Treat it as the bookend to your safari rather than the safari itself.
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