Arusha is our home town and the starting point for almost every trip we plan. It sits at around 1,400 metres on the lower slopes of Mount Meru, which keeps the air fresher than you might expect this close to the equator. It is a busy, working East African town rather than a resort: matatu minibuses, coffee and banana farms on the edges, markets full of produce, and the headquarters of the East African Community. Most safaris on the Northern Circuit begin here, and so does the drive to the Kilimanjaro gates.

What to do

Markets: the central market is a lively place to see fruit, spices and everyday trade. For carvings, beadwork and fabrics, the curio markets are the place to browse, and gentle bargaining is normal.
Coffee: farms on the slopes around town offer walks where you follow the bean from bush to cup and taste the result.
Lake Duluti: a small crater lake just outside town, good for a short forest walk or a paddle by canoe.
Cultural walks: village walks in the surrounding hills, arranged with the communities, show you farming, homes and daily life on the mountain.
Arusha National Park: about an hour away, it makes an easy first game drive or walking safari before a longer trip.

When to go

Arusha is pleasant all year. June to August is the coolest stretch, with chilly mornings and evenings. The long rains usually arrive around March to May and the short rains around November, but town life carries on as normal. Our Tanzania weather guide covers the parks and the mountain too.

Getting there

Most international visitors land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, roughly an hour's drive east of Arusha depending on traffic. Arusha also has its own smaller airport on the west side of town for domestic and light-aircraft flights to the parks and the coast. By road, Arusha is about five to six hours from Nairobi, with a border crossing at Namanga.

Where to stay

You can stay in town, close to restaurants and shops, or just outside on coffee estates and garden properties with views of Meru and, on clear mornings, Kilimanjaro. Before a climb or a safari, most travellers spend one or two nights here to rest after the flight.

How it fits your trip

Arusha is the hinge of every itinerary. We meet you at the airport, brief you the evening before you set off, and check your gear before a Kilimanjaro climb. From here it is a few hours to Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro on a private safari, and a short flight to Zanzibar when you are ready for the beach. If you arrive with a spare day, we will suggest something worth doing with it.