Arusha City Tour Tanzania

Arusha city tour Tanzania: Arusha is best known as Tanzania’s safari capital, the gateway to the northern safari circuit to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire national parks. The city is nestled in the shade of Mount Meru with striking views of the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro on a clear day. Get to experience Arusha up close and personal on our Arusha city tour. It includes a guide and offers a fantastic opportunity to learn more about exploring Tanzania’s diverse culture, history, traditions, customs, and cuisines.

Start the day from the Clock tower (halfway between Cairo Egypt Johannesburg South Africa) you will take walk to Maasai Market, proceed to the Arusha Declaration monument and museum, and central market to learn about different African spices, vegetables, and fruits, and visit Arusha City bus terminal, then later drive to Cultural Heritage Centre for shopping and visit Snake park and Maasai boma at the same place (option to visit snake park) where you get to see different kinds of snake, birds, crocodiles, tortoise, etc. The tour ends back in the friendly city where you are dropped off at your accommodation.

Arusha city tour is a sightseeing tour that allows you to visit Arusha city – a bustling agricultural town, a tourist center, and a main headquarter for east African safaris. Experience Arusha through the eyes of a local private guide! Our tour takes 4 to 6 hours (depending on your interests) and gives you the opportunity to explore the city on foot and by vehicle.

Arusha is a small town in Tanzania nestled in the shadow of Mount Meru with commanding views of the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro. Although Dar-es-Salaam is larger, Arusha tends to be visited more by tourists as it is the gateway to the northern safari circuit.

It is likely to be the start of your adventure to the famous parks of northern Tanzania. These include the Serengeti plains, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Take your time to discover the beauty of the city on our Arusha City Tour from the Clock tower (halfway between Cairo Egypt to Johannesburg South Africa) and walk to the Maasai Market located in the center of town where you’ll find a great array of souvenirs on offer, such as paintings, clothing, jewelry, and furniture – there’s a lot to spend your money on.

Later we visit the National Natural History Museum Arusha, also known as the Old Boma Museum, this old fort, which was built by the Germans in the early part of the 20th Century, is now home to the National Natural History Museum.

Divided into three parts, the museum houses an exhibit on the evolution of mankind, as well as displays of fossils, stuffed animals, and plenty of historical photographs.

Our Arusha city tour also visits the Arusha City bus terminal and the Central Market, (Soko Kuu) where you can buy anything and everything from wood carvings to food, jewelry, animals, and household items. 

Later we drive to Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre which is an entire complex housing a museum, art galleries, antique shops, gift shops, a cinema, a spice centre, a restaurant, a coffee shop, a spa…This place has a lot of info about the culture of Tanzania’s many cultural groups so definitely worth a stop if you have time.

You will also visit the Snake park and the Maasai Cultural Museum in Meserani, 25 km out of Arusha. The snake park is optional and there are approximately 48 snakes you can view. The park is home to a variety of snakes common in Eastern and Southern Africa from the Black Mamba to the Black and Red spitting Cobras and the African Python.

A visit to the Maasai Cultural Museum within the same compound will give you an insight into the Maasai people and their culture. A real Maasai warrior will walk you through the museum explaining the Maasai traditions, from how they build their mud houses to male and female circumcision. After the tour, we depart and drive back to Arusha to our hotel/ residence.

Arusha City Tour Tanzania Rates Includes:

Shopping time + Walking and driving + Mineral water during tour + Possible to customize the tour + Professional English speaking guides + All entry fees, guide fees, service charges, and taxes & Pickup from your hotel in Nairobi and drop-off to your hotel

Notes

* Our Arusha City Tour Tanzania time: 0830 Hours – 1500 Hours
* What to Bring; Camera, Sunscreen (Warm Weather), and Snacks (food option available)
* What to wear: Hiking shoes, shorts or pants, sunglasses, and a jacket (during the cooler weather)

Arusha City Tour Tanzania Rates Do Not Include the following:

* Drinks
* Tips or gratuity
* Travelers Insurance
* Communication charges
* Visas, international airfares, and airport taxes; meals
* Lunch or dinner in town (option and extra charges direct)
* Sightseeing not included in the package; optional activities
* Personal expenses such as transfers to/ from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)

* Optional places to visit while on the Arusha day tour include: Visit the Maasai Women Fair Trade Centre on Simeon Road. It’s an organization set up to empower local Maasai women (MWEDO – Maasai Women Development Organisation) in the area through access to health and education. 

* You could also visit the Tanzanite Experience. Tanzanite is a beautiful blue/violet gemstone found in Northern Tanzania and is a great stone for the throat, third eye, and crown chakras. You can learn about the history of the stone in the museum at the Tanzanite Experience and buy certified jewelry.

* Social Enterprise at Shanga is a great initiative and social enterprise set on the grounds of Arusha Coffee Lodge that employs local Tanzanians with disabilities. In the shop, they sell beautiful glassware, jewelry, homeware, and clothing all made on-site. 

* Sidai Designs is another fair-trade initiative with the aim to empower Maasai women in the area by providing employment and support and by selling beautiful handmade Maasai crafts, like jewelry, wall hangings, and glassware.

* Take a Village Tour in Usa River: located outside of Arusha, on the way to Moshi, you’ll find the busy village of the Usa River. This is a great place to take a tour and learn about Tanzanian village life and the vibrant culture in this area. 

* Swim at the Chemka Hot Springs: The Chemka (Kikuletwa) Hot Springs, also called Maji Moto, which is ‘hot water’ in Swahili, lie off the main road, in the middle of nowhere under the shade of fig trees. It’s a beautiful oasis in an otherwise quite arid landscape and a great place to spend an afternoon, swimming, playing around on the rope swing and just chilling out. 

There are so many nice restaurants and cafes in Arusha. These include:

* Bravo Pizza: Great pizzas
* George’s Tavern: Greek, Italian European-style food
* Le Patio: Restaurant, bar & nightclub serving international cuisine
* Fifi’s: A popular cafe in the centre of town, with salads, omelets, etc
* Fig & Olive: Mediterranean, Lebanese, and Tanzanian fusion restaurant
* Africafe: Another cafe, with coffee, cakes, sandwiches, etc, and good wifi
* Pablo Picasso Cafe: Great little place serves a mix of cuisines, from pizza to curry, sushi, and burgers
* Rivertrees Restaurant: Gourmet restaurant at the Rivertrees Country Inn in the Usa River (outside of town)
* Machweo at Onsea House: French-style cuisine with an African twist. If you arrive before sunset, you should get nice views of the Monduli Mountains
Arusha Coffee Lodge: There are four different restaurants at this hotel, The Garden Buffet, The Grill Room, The Bistro, and Jikoni African Restaurant at Trader’s Walk
* The Mulberry: Bar and restaurant, popular with locals, volunteers, and the ex-pat crowd. They also have a good barbecue
* Khan’s Barbecue: One of my favorite places to eat is the garage by day/restaurant by night Khan’s Barbecue which serves a great selection of roasted meats (Nyama choma) and accompaniments
* Street Food: There are lots of food stalls around town selling things like grilled chicken (Arusha has THE BEST chicken I’ve ever tasted in my life), Chips Mayai (chip omelet), Misaki (meat kebabs), samosas and mandazis (deep fried donuts)

* Zeze Lounge: Popular bar in the centre of town
* Le Patio: I’ve been to Le patio a few times and there’s always a fun party
* Lively Lady: A popular bar, which is always pretty fun and often very ‘lively’
* Empire Sports Bar: Located in the Nakumatt Food Court, they often have bands or karaoke
* Twiga Brewery: This brewery/bar is a great place to hang out and they also offer brewery tours too
* The Mulberry: This is a great place to have a few casual drinks, food, and shisha. Occasionally they have band/party nights and often show sports and movies on the big screen
* Rooftop at Grand Melia: Looking for a fancy place to have a drink? Then head to the rooftop bar at the Gran Melia and enjoy a cocktail with a view of Mount Meru. They also serve food
* Via Via: This is probably my favorite place to party in Arusha and gets busy, especially on Thursday nights. They also serve food and Nyama choma bbq – the Mishkaki (spicy beef kebabs) are awesome, especially after a night of dancing to Tanzanian ‘Bongo Flava’ and drinking a few Konyagis! There are often theme nights, movie nights, and karaoke

Arusha Hotels & Lodges & Arusha Accommodation include self-catering accommodations and lodgings to luxury lodges and hotels. Listed below include Arusha budget camping, tented camps, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, private homestays, resorts, restaurants to house rentals, and all-inclusive Apartments.

* Tulia Boutique Hotel & Spa: Nice rooms and they have a pool
* Karama Lodge: Boutique chalet-style accommodation with a pool
* Onsea House: Luxurious boutique hotel, wellness retreat, and spa with a great restaurant
* Mount Meru Hotel: Upmarket, business-type hotel in the center of town with a nice pool
* Gran Melia Arusha: Modern Hotel in town with great views of Mount Meru, a pool, and a rooftop bar
* Rivertrees Country Inn: Charming place with a nice restaurant and pool, a bit further away in the Usa River
* Banana Farm Eco Hostel: One of the cheaper options but really cute and comfortable. 25 minutes from the town centre
* Mambo Arusha Hostel: Slightly outside of town but with great views of Mount Meru. A really nice, cozy, and friendly place
* Arusha Coffee Lodge: Upmarket hotel with a few different restaurants and on-site shopping. Great honeymoon destination
* Waka Waka Hostel: Great hostel near town with a good volunteering program. A super-friendly and welcoming place to stay in Arusha.
* The White House of Tanzania: Popular hostel with volunteering opportunities, now moved to a new location in Njiro, a quieter part of town, but great for meeting other travelers and away from the noisy town centre

Mobile: + 254-780-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: info@africanspicesafaris.com
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com