Safari Capital
Arusha
The safari capital, where every northern-circuit trip begins.
Arusha is the base camp for the northern safari circuit. It sits at around 1,400 metres on the southern slopes of Mount Meru, which gives it a mild, green climate, and almost every Tanzanian safari, Kilimanjaro climb and Zanzibar add-on begins or ends with a night here.
It is a working city rather than a resort. The Clock Tower roundabout at its centre is traditionally held to mark the midpoint between Cairo and Cape Town, and the Cultural Heritage Centre on the western edge of town houses one of East Africa’s largest collections of African art and Tanzanite. Most arrivals land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, roughly an hour east, and transfer straight here.
Highlights
- Clock Tower The city’s landmark roundabout, held to be halfway between Cairo and Cape Town.
- Cultural Heritage Centre A vast gallery of East African art, carving and Tanzanite on the edge of town.
- Safari gateway An hour from Kilimanjaro International Airport and the road to every northern park.
