Things to do in Arusha

Things to do in Arusha : Its charm lies in the fact that Arusha is a typical small, dusty Sub-Saharan African town. At the foot of Mount Meru, it has thriving markets alongside aging, rather run-down colonial structures scattered with more contemporary stores, all situated on potholed roads crowded with honking taxis and reckless drivers. The rhythm of Africa can’t help but be felt here.

The Maasai first inhabited the area in the 1830s; the Germans took control of it in the early 1900s and constructed the fort (Boma), which is still in existence. The town was seized by the British during World War One, and it remained under their control until Tanganyika’s independence was granted in 1961. Tanzania proclaimed Arusha a city in July 2006. This place still has a unique blend of architecture and culture as a result of its troubled past. Here are the best things to do when you’re in Arusha, Tanzania:

 A Day Trip to Arusha National Park

Among Tanzania’s smallest parks, but one with many attractions after just 1.5 hours of driving from Arusha city, you will arrive at Arusha National Park, which is home to Mount Meru, Tanzania’s second-highest mountain after Kilimanjaro. On your day trip to Arusha National Park, treat yourself to a good view of buffalo, warthogs, elephants, birds, and a few different monkey species in Ngurdoto Crater, also known as the “mini Ngorongoro.”

The nearly 7 alkaline lakes (Momella lakes) in this park, where you can see the stunning flamingos in all their beauty, are what most visitors like about it the most. A four-day climb up Mount Meru might be one of the best things you decide to do during your Arusha safari, but even a short excursion will reward you with a breathtaking view of the waterfall and the Ngurdoto Crater. In conclusion, these are the top activities in Arusha National Park:

• Game drives
• Walking safaris
• Canoe safaris
• Mount Meru climb

A day trip to Tarangire National Park

If you will, Tarangire National Park is the “land of wonders.” Ever heard of a 57-year-old elephant giving birth? Normally, an elephant will continue to mate until it is about 50 years old, but this is not the case in Tarangire. In 2017, a 57-year-old elephant gave birth to twin calves rather than just one. As a result, the mother Tarangire elephant is the oldest elephant to have ever given birth to twin calves. You will never forget the 3-hour drive from Arusha city to Tarangire National Park, which is in the surrounding area of Arusha.

The Tarangire is one of the top pick for an Arusha day trip.  Tarangire is the perfect escape if you’re pressed with responsibilities while in Arusha and yet want a big game view. Tarangire should unquestionably be on your list of the best things to do in Arusha thanks to its guided walking safaris, game drives, and cultural excursions close to the park. You won’t get bored with the Big Four view in the park or the up to 500 species of birds, not to mention the breathtaking Tarangire Baobab tree view.

  Day trip to Manyara National Park

The flora in Lake Manyara National Park is stunning, so talk about a beautiful flowering landscape. Since there are more than 600 flowering plants in the park, you should bring a good camera because you can’t afford to miss the opportunity to capture images of this idyllic setting.

However, the flamingo flocks that surround Lake Manyara attract more attention than the flowers in Lake Manyara National Park. Even though flamingos rule the lake, you’ll be surprised by how kindly and earthbound they are. They share the lake with a variety of birds, including herons and kingfishers, to name a couple. Be aware that Manyara is currently home to more than 400 different bird species. When you visit Manyara, you can go on day game drives, night game drives, canoeing trips, mountain bike tours, and cultural excursions, all of which are among the best things to do in Arusha.

Manyara is home to tree-climbing lions! The Lake Manyara National Park will provide you with a rare opportunity to see the tree-climbing lions, which Tanzanians commonly refer to as “Simba Mbarara” to mean small-sized lions. The park also has a good number of elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, warthogs, and waterbucks.

A day trip to Kilimanjaro National Park

The guy enjoys being by himself; he is definitely a loner, and guess what—he enjoys it. This mountain is the highest free-standing mountain in the world and the highest peak in Africa, rising 5,895 meters above sea level.

This dormant volcanic mountain has three cones: Kibo (the highest peak), Mawenzi, and Shira. It is the highest volcano outside of America. You will without a doubt have the best options for things to do in Arusha thanks to Mount Kilimanjaro’s breathtaking scenery.

A short hike up this mountain will give you the chance to take in the lush vegetation and stunning views of the Mawenzi and Kibo peaks, as well as a close-up look at animals like the black and white colobus. Additionally, there is a tiny crater called Maundi. It wouldn’t hurt to take a quick stroll to this crater, either.

Day Hike on Shira Plateau! But if you ask me, I’ll tell you to put everything aside and take a day trip to the Shira plateau, where you can see the actual remnants of molten lava and the deep caldera that erupted roughly half a million years ago. A challenging hike to this world heritage site will reward you with spectacular views of the two peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro as well as stunning rocks and valleys. I won’t lie; if I had to choose just one activity from the many top things to do in Arusha, a day hike to Shira would be very unlucky not to be at the top of my list.

 Cultural Tourism and City Walking

Try cultural tourism while you’re here if you want to get a feel for Tanzania on a local level. At this time, you will be able to sample Tanzanian cuisine and local public transportation, which is most commonly referred to as “vipanya” or “Daladala,” or you can explore other options like motorcycles, which are most commonly known as “boda-boda” in Tanzania.

Cultural programs are undoubtedly among the best things to do in Arusha if you enjoy some safari options, and they might even save the day. A visit to the two museums in Arusha—the Arusha Natural History Museum and the Arusha Declaration Museum—will allow you to get to know Arusha and its history and culture better than, say, spending time with families in Maasai bomas.

Explore the Chemka hot springs

Are you a fan of swimming? Okay, I’m sure my question wouldn’t be well received. Are you a fan of swimming in warm water? You most likely do. You can do that at Chemka Hot Springs. The warm springs, which come from Mount Kilimanjaro’s underground, sometimes form a stunning pond that is up to ten meters across.

 The Chemka Hot Springs Pond’s unique feature is that, even when the water level reaches 10 meters, you can still see its bottom with a clear, breathtaking view. Simply because it is special but still reasonably priced, many tourists prefer to select this lovely pond as their top choice among the best things to do in Arusha.

Visit the Meserani Snake Park

25 km to the west of Arusha For those who love snakes and only have a few hours to spend on the tour, Meserani provides the best things to do in Arusha. The park has some of the best snake-specific guides in all of Africa, and they can teach you a thing or two about some of the world’s most deadly snakes, including the puff adder, Egyptian cobra, and black and green mamba. You can get the ideal viewing distance with crocodiles as well. If you’d like, you can even pet the baby crocodile.

Visit Themi Leisure Park

Themi ought to be one of the top destinations in Arusha for a family tour, if there is one. Themi Leisure Park offers some of the best activities in Arusha, including waterfall viewing, mountain hiking, picnicking, partying, and bird watching. Hiking for sight-seeing is also available. You can see and do whatever you want in this incredible park for less than five hours before moving on to your next adventure.

Never miss out Materuni Water Falls

It will be difficult for me to recall ever seeing Tanzanian landscapes that are greener and more beautiful than those in Materuni village. One of the best things to do in Arusha is to visit Materuni village, which is less than two hours from the city and is home to waterfalls that are more than 80 meters high. In your visit to Materuni waterfalls you will enjoy the following activities:

• Swimming in the waterfall pool
• Local food experience
• Experience the traditional coffee processing methods, and you may even participate.

Vijiji Coffee Tour

Villages are described by the Swahili word Vijiji. You can find many of the best things to do in Arusha on this day trip, which is less than 10 kilometers from the city center. Prepare for a three-hour guided walking safari during this day trip, or semi-day trip, to the nearby Meru village, where you will have the rare opportunity to see small, independently owned coffee farms on the slopes of Mount Meru.

Cultural Heritage Center, Arusha-Dodoma Road

In this center, which is a little outside of town, you can find a museum, a restaurant, a coffee shop, a spice shop, and shops where you can buy art, curios, African antiques, tanzanite, and other things. All the presents you need to bring home for the family are conveniently available here.

Admire the sculptures as you stroll around the grounds before entering the bookshop and spice center, which both have enticing aromas. The Makonde Museum, with its display of their expertly carved masks, should not be missed. Over the course of its 20-year existence, the center has hosted many notable individuals, including Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea.

The Old Boma Museum (Fort), Boma Road

The Natural History Museum is now housed in the original fort that the Germans constructed in the early 1900s. Discover Arusha’s colonial past while taking in the vast collection of plush toys. Before sipping tea in the cafe, learn about the region’s archaeological past and peruse stunning photographs of the diverse array of fauna and flora.

The Tanzanite Experience, Blue Plaza, India Street

Only in northern Tanzania can one find Tanzanite, a stunning gem in the blue-violet family. Ali Juuyawatu, a Maasai tribesman, first showed the gems to tailor prospector Manuel de Souza. The gems were named for their native nations by Henry B. Platt of Tiffany & Co. and quickly rose to the top of the market. One can purchase certified stones and jewelry at The Tanzanite Experience while learning about the history of this stunning, rare gemstone.

CONCLUSION

Now let’s review. Arusha has a variety of things to do. You can choose to only take day trips to the national parks of Arusha, Tarangire, Manyara, and Kilimanjaro that focus on wildlife. You could also decide that cultural tourism and city walking tours are the best ways to get as close to Arusha’s culture and traditions as you can. Once more, you will have a wide range of options. The only remaining issue is your choice of trip.