Arusha city, also known as A-Town, is located in the northern highlands of Tanzania, beneath the two peaks of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro. Arusha is the safari capital of the country.
Guests embarking on the popular northern safari circuit all stop in the ‘Geneva of Africa’ to prepare for their journeys into the African bush.
From two-lane streets, the dramatic crater of Mt. Meru stands over the town like a majestic sentinel, its crater strewn with thick clouds, its slopes dark with verdant forest.
Arusha’s ideal location near major national parks and its highland setting make it a peaceful haven for relaxation before the start of an exciting journey.
Built by the Germans as a center of colonial administration in the early 20th century, Arusha was a sleepy town with a garrison stationed at the old boma and a few shops around a grassy roundabout.
From its backwater status amid the farmlands and plantations of northern Tanzania, Arusha is now one of the country’s most prosperous towns.
Arusha is a central hub for international diplomacy. The city hosts and is regarded as the de facto capital of the East African Community.
Since 1994, the city has also hosted the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
It is a multicultural city with a majority Tanzanian population of mixed backgrounds: indigenous Bantu, Arab-Tanzanian, and Indian-Tanzanian, plus a small White European and white American minority.
The religious composition of the Arusha population is Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu.
The current site of Arusha was first settled in the 1830s by the agro-pastoral Arusha Maasai from the Arusha Chini community, south of Mount Kilimanjaro.
They traded grains, honey, beer, and tobacco with the pastoral Kisongo Maasai in exchange for livestock, milk, meat, and skins.
Demand for Arusha’s foodstuffs increased substantially during the 1860s when the Pangani Valley trade route was extended through Old Moshi, Arusha, and ultimately to western Kenya. Although it was not yet a town, it served as a regional center and had several urban features.
Despite its proximity to the equator, Arusha’s elevation of 1,400 meters (4,600 ft) on the southern slopes of Mount Meru keeps temperatures relatively low and alleviates humidity.
Cool, dry air is prevalent for much of the year. The temperature ranges from 13 to 30 degrees Celsius, with an average of 25 degrees.
It has distinct wet and dry seasons and experiences an eastward prevailing wind from the Indian Ocean, about 200 miles east.
Arusha comprises over 100 nationalities, making it culturally diverse. You can also participate in a cultural tourism program that organizes trips to nearby villages.
Learn about Tanzania’s cultural, social, and political history at the Arusha Declaration Museum.
Visit the Natural History Museum off Boma Road to learn all about human evolution.
Mount Meru provides a beautiful backdrop to Arusha. Marvel at the waterfalls of Arusha National Park or enjoy a camel safari on the lower slopes.
Dine on Nyama Choma (roast meat), and enjoy some biryani, pilau, or chapati.
Look for delicious roadside snacks on the streets of Arusha or visit the Arusha Farmers Market for a wide selection of Tanzanian delicacies.
Take a stroll in the gardens and sample some organic food at the eco-restaurant.
Stop for some cocktails as you watch the sunset, listen to the birds, and relax on the comfy day beds across many accommodations in Arusha.
These are the unique experiences available in Arusha. As the heart of Tanzania’s safari scene, Arusha remains an iconic destination.
The beauty of nature and lifestyle entertain every traveler who dares to visit.
Many tourism activities are rooted in the city’s culture, and numerous cultural program centers have been established to entertain and educate travelers visiting Tanzania.
These programs become the backbone of these communities. Through sustainable tourism, the lives of these people have been transformed.
Once you’re in Arusha, don’t forget to visit the cultural centers. Support the economies of these communities by purchasing handmade products, such as beads, art, and unique clothing designs, offered by women’s groups or youth groups.
Visiting Arusha exposes you to different cultural centers. We hope you will enjoy reading and learning, and if you wish to get more information, do not hesitate to talk with our team. We offer the following-day tour programs.
Arusha is the gateway to all three volcanic mountains, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, and Mount Oldonyo Lengai.
In addition to these great mountains, Arusha is surrounded by many hills, which make the region more attractive.
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, and the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. Mount Meru is the second-tallest mountain in Tanzania and the fifth-tallest in Africa.
The Oldoinyo Lengai is the best mountain to climb. It is the only active volcanic mountain in Tanzania.
Many people living in Arusha, especially the youth, are mountaineers. It is easy to plan your climb while in Arusha; many tour operators offer mountain climbing activities, and if, unfortunately, you didn’t bring your own gear, it is easy to get it for rental.
You can choose from 3 3-day Meru treks, 5 5-day Marangu routes, 5 5-day Oldonyo Lengai hikes, 7 7-day Machame routes, or 8 8-day Lemosho route climbs.
The weather in Arusha is perfect for hiking. One of the best short tours you must not miss in Arusha is a waterfall hike (a day trip).
The waterfalls lie just inside the Mount Meru forest reserve in the Northeast of Arusha town, just 3 hours’ walking, or 45 minutes’ drive from Arusha town.
One must get an entry permit before descending the waterfalls. There are no dangerous animals, but the park rangers protect the forest.
We arrange biking and cycling tours from Arusha to waterfalls, where you can enjoy the surrounding nature and the Masai villages and their culture.
The weather in Arusha is conducive to biking; you can enjoy riding around the Masai villages on rough, less-crowded roads.
Biking is not only a leisure activity but also a great form of exercise that helps keep your body fit, fight diseases such as heart attack, diabetes, and respiratory diseases, and reduce stress and anxiety, while also improving your immunity.
Beyond health benefits, biking tours are among the best practices for responsible tourism, with minimal environmental impact.
Riding to the top of Africa is the dream of every biker visiting Tanzania.
Through tour operators, you can arrange Mount Kilimanjaro bike trekking through the Kilema route or the Londros gate. The trip takes up to five (5) days with proper acclimatization.
Some professional bikers travel with their bikes, while others prefer to rent while in Tanzania.
It is a unique experience, driven by a passion to conquer Africa’s Mighty Mountain! Mount Kilimanjaro.
Arusha is the gateway to premium safari destinations. It is the starting point for most of the well-known safari destinations in Africa.
You can visit either Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, or Arusha National Park.
Many tour operators in Arusha offer wildlife safaris, and most provide good service at prices suited to your budget.
Service quality varies based on what you’re willing to pay.
Remember that many of these multiple safari options are available in the same areas and parks, and the only difference is the accommodation offered, not the wildlife or scenery you will see.
Tanzania Safaris is unique, whether you book a budget camping safari, a luxury camping safari, or a lodging safari.
Tanzanite is mined only in Arusha (Mirerani), Tanzania, and is not available elsewhere.
When you visit Arusha, make sure you reach the Tanzanite gallery in Mirerani, where you can see cutting and various gemstones on display.
The tour will proceed to the mining area on the hills, where you will learn how mining is conducted.
Here, one will identify other gemstones found near these blue rocks, such as Green garnet, moonstone, and red garnet.
Your walk inside the tunnels to the blue rock surface is a lifetime adventure where you will learn how Tanzanite is explored from such hard rocks and then collected, ready to be sold at the local market or processed for export.
From the mining area to the local Tanzanite market, one will be amazed by the beautiful view of Mount Meru and the roof of Africa, Kilimanjaro.
While in Arusha, you can visit one of the famous Maasai markets known as Ngaramtoni.
This is a weekly market on Thursday and Sunday where Masai from different parts of Arusha gather to buy and sell cattle, sheep, and goats.
In addition to the cattle auction, the Maasai sell local medicines (herbs), clothing, shoes, and souvenirs.
Today, the market is growing larger and more popular, so new businesses are being launched daily.
This place is also a popular spot for grilled meat, known as “nyama choma.” The market is easily accessible, and you can use private or public transport. Small buses run daily from the town to the market.
Arusha is the gateway to northern Tanzania.
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is about 50 km (around 1 hour) east of the city, and Arusha Airport handles domestic and safari flights.
Shuttle buses and road transfers also connect Arusha with Nairobi in Kenya (about 5 to 6 hours via Namanga), Moshi and Dar es Salaam.
Arusha has a mild climate all year thanks to its altitude. The dry seasons from June to October and from December to February are the most popular, as they are also the best months for safaris in the northern parks.
The long rains from March to May are the quietest and greenest time in the city.
Arusha has stays for every budget, from coffee-farm lodges and boutique hotels on the outskirts to city hotels — the usual first and last night of a northern Tanzania safari.
Our Arusha City itineraries use stays such as Tulia Hotel, Gran Meliá Arusha, Arusha Coffee Lodge, Four Points by Sheraton Arusha, Arusha Serena Hotel and Point Zone Resort Arusha.
Our team carefully researched and focused on trips that attract people with the same interests and naturally get on well with each other through their shared interests.
Once you confirm your booking on a tour you will be sent further practical information – packing tips, detailed itineraries, including advice on health, passport and visa requirements, and minimum and maximum numbers of guests on tours.
Memorable meals are a hallmark of an excellent holiday. With the support of the best cooks, the quality of food and drink service is guaranteed.
Depending on the service level or tour type you have chosen, a pre-discussion with your tour planner is a win-win for an enjoyable trip.
Our cook accompanies other tours, and other services are included with our accommodation partners, including hotels, private camps, and luxury lodges.
The answer is absolute yes! The areas where safaris are organized are safe and free of political chaos.
We conduct safaris in politically stable regions to ensure our clients’ safety and enjoyment.
Our Professional Safari Guides are well-trained about wild animal behaviors, and they have enough experience to lead our clients in the wilderness.
Our vehicles are 4×4 Toyota Land Cruisers and Land Rovers with a hatched roof to give maximum visibility of the game.
African safaris offer unlimited sightseeing; millions of animals, birds, and plant life are the defining features of the African savanna. You roam across the countryside in search of Elephants, Lions, Rhinos, Cape buffalo, and Leopards (the so-called “Big Five”).
On any given day, you will encounter Blue Wildebeests, Zebras, a large variety of antelope species, Gazelles, Giraffes, Baboons, and Hippos. The birdlife is fantastic – in some areas, up to 400 bird species have been identified!
Think of the majestic Baobab tree (some tribes believe that the tree was indeed planted upside-down!), and there are hundreds of varieties of thorn trees! You will also see the acacia-dotted landscape, endless plains, majestic mountains, and the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises imaginable! Think of a late afternoon thunderstorm, short but violent, and then the beautiful rainbow.
Tanzania’s destinations are accessible year-round, but we recommend scheduling your safari during the dry season for the best sightings, as grasses and bush are at their least dense—July to October and December through February. The green session includes March through June. Discuss with us for the best option if you have also a plan to coincide with the Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti National Park.
(We suggest you remember) insect repellent (the best way to prevent malaria and other insect-borne diseases), sunscreen, cap or hat, sunglasses, binoculars, detergent powder if you want to wash some clothes yourself, hand-wipes small flashlight, aspirin, diarrhea medicine, rain jacket, poncho, or collapsible umbrella, plastic bags (for wet clothes, swimsuit and for keeping dust away from camera equipment), Kleenex/toilet tissue a neck chain for eyeglasses if you take them off to use binoculars and cameras, any medical prescription you need, masking tape or labels for marking exposed films cans, film, extra camera batteries.
Although more than 200 languages and dialects are spoken across Africa, this is not a problem, as English is widely spoken in East and Southern Africa. In addition to English, all our professional guides are multilingual, so we have you covered.
African safaris offer unlimited sightseeing; millions of animals, birds, and plant life are the defining features of the African savanna. You roam across the countryside in search of Elephants, Lions, Rhinos, Cape buffalo, and Leopards (the so-called “Big Five”).
On any given day, you will encounter Blue Wildebeests, Zebras, a large variety of antelope species, Gazelles, Giraffes, Baboons, and Hippos. The birdlife is fantastic – in some areas, up to 400 bird species have been identified!
Think of the majestic Baobab tree (some tribes believe that the tree was indeed planted upside-down!), and there are hundreds of varieties of thorn trees! You will also see the acacia-dotted landscape, endless plains, majestic mountains, and the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises imaginable! Think of a late afternoon thunderstorm, short but violent, and then the beautiful rainbow.
We are determined to ensure that you experience the luxury of genuinely memorable travel. On every trip, we aim to create a ‘charmed space’ within which you can relax, absorb fresh insights, be stimulated and charmed by new encounters – and have fun!
Whether traveling alone or with friends, Blessing Safaris guests often mention how particularly agreeable they find their traveling companions. our groups are deliberately small, comprising 2 to 7 guests especially for safari.
Our team carefully researched and focused on trips which attract people with the same interest and naturally get on well with each other through their shared interests.
Once you confirm your booking on a tour you will be sent further practical information – packing tips, detailed itineraries, including advice on health, passport and visa requirements, and minimum and maximum numbers of guests on tours.
Memorable meals are one of the hallmarks of an excellent holiday. With the support of the best cooks, the quality of food and drink service is guaranteed. Depending on the service level or type of tour you have chosen, pre-discussion with your tour planner is a win-win situation for an enjoyable diet. Other tours are accompanied by our cook and others are inclusive service from our accommodation partners include hotels, private camps, and luxury lodges
Help us to help you by organizing even better tours, and save money. If you contact us in advance you will save a big deal in terms of price as you have the best time for negotiation and customization of the tour with a safari planner and save more.
Why not? , We offer private tours whether you’re alone or with family and friends celebrating a special anniversary or planning a reunion of family and friends you can discuss with us. We can create a special itinerary away from traffic, travel in style with the itinerary specifically shaped to your requirements.
The answer is absolutely yes! The areas where safaris are organized are safe and free of political chaos. We conduct safaris in places that are politically stable to assure our clients’ safety and enjoyment.
Our Professional Safari Guides are well trained about wild animal behaviors and they have enough experience to lead our clients in the wilderness. Our vehicles are 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser and Land Rovers with a hutched roof to give maximum visibility of a game.
African safaris guarantee unlimited sightseeing; millions of animals, birds, and plant life are the core characters of the African savanna. You roam across the countryside in search of Elephants, Lions, Rhinos, Cape buffalo, and Leopards (the so-called “Big Five”). On any given day, you will encounter Blue Wildebeests, Zebras, a large variety of antelope species, Gazelles, Giraffes, Baboons, and Hippos. The birdlife is fantastic – in some areas, up to 400 bird species have been identified! Think of the majestic Baobab tree (some tribes believe that the tree was indeed planted upside-down!), and there are hundreds of varieties of thorn trees! You will also see the acacia-dotted landscape, endless plains, majestic mountains, and the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises one could ever imagine! Think of a late afternoon thunderstorm, short but violent, and then the beautiful rainbow.
This aspect is much overstated. You will rarely see a snake, but if you do, it will most likely be from the safety of your safari vehicle. Tents and lodges all have bug screens fitted to windows and doors. In most areas where bugs or mosquitoes are prevalent, rooms and tents are also equipped with mosquito nets, adding to the idealistic ambiance. Bear in mind that malaria is a threat in most wildlife areas, and it is necessary to consult your doctor for advice before embarking on your safari.
Tanzania destinations are accessible throughout the year but we advise you to take your tours during the dry session for the safari so as you can enjoy the best sightings at this time as the grasses and bush are at their least dense. July to October and December through February. The green session includes March through June. Discuss with us for the best option if you have also a plan to coincides with Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti National Park
Note – the migration is a natural event and the timing varies month by month; year by year. A good thing is it won’t happen in one day it takes time to complete. And we update most of our clients once the migration starts, so if your great desire is to witness the migration communicate with us in advance so as we can try our best to assure your encounter. Please note that the vast majority of travelers do not witness the wildebeest crossing of the Mara as the timing and duration varies widely each year. The best probable months are July, August, September
Around the turn of the century (until the ’30s and ’40s), mobile tenting was the only option, and “camp as you go” was the standard practice. Over the years the luxury connected with the traditional mobile tenting safari has increased. By the same token, one can understand that the cost of having a “luxury hotel” following one around in Africa is expensive. However, most people settle for permanent tented camps. Because they are “permanent” they can be equipped with flush toilets and traditional bathroom fixtures and conveniences. Don’t be misled by terminology – a permanent tented camp offers the comfort of a 5-star hotel but with the romance and adventure of being surrounded by the sights and sounds of Africa.
(We suggest you remember) insect repellent (the best way to prevent malaria and other insect-borne diseases), sunscreen, cap or hat, sunglasses, binoculars, detergent powder if you want to wash some clothes yourself, hand-wipes small flashlight, aspirin, diarrhea medicine, rain jacket, poncho or collapsible umbrella, plastic bags (for wet clothes, swimsuit and for keeping dust away from camera equipment), Kleenex/toilet tissue a neck chain for eyeglasses if you take them off to use binoculars and cameras, any medical prescription you need, masking tape or labels for marking exposed films cans, film, extra camera batteries.
Although more than 200 languages and dialects are spoken throughout Africa, this presents no problem as English is spoken throughout East and Southern Africa. Apart from English, all our professional guides are multilingual so we get you covered
