Northern Circuit Safari
If you haven’t already booked your Northern Circuit safari before you arrive in Tanzania, then Arusha is a good place to visit on your holiday you can get a chance to do a safari trip to Serengeti, The Ngorongoro crater, Tarangire national Lake Manyara. Arusha is the center of tourism attraction.
Lake Natron is also another destination that you can travel to from Arusha.
Climb Mount Meru
Arusha lies at the base of Mount Meru, which is a bit smaller than Kilimanjaro at 4,562m but is still a very challenging and rewarding hike.
The climb is usually done over 3 – 4 days, with a day either side to acclimatise and recover! As the mountain is over 3000m, I would suggest climbing over 4 days to help you acclimatise to the altitude.
On clear days, you’ll get incredible views of Mount Kilimanjaro, which sits around 50 miles away, near to Moshi town.
Arusha National Park
If you don’t have the time to go further afield, then you can always take a day trip to Arusha National Park.
The park doesn’t have all of the ‘Big Five’, but it does have plenty of zebras, buffalo and giraffes and you may also see hippos, elephants, hyenas and leopards – although these last four sightings are more rare.
Walking safaris are also possible here and may be included as part of your package!
Go Canoeing on Lake Momella
Inside Arusha National Park, you will also find Lake Momella, where you’ll find Arusha National Park’s flamingos hanging out!
Lake Momella is a great place to take a canoe safari and again, this is often included in your safari package.
Take a Nature Walk at Lake Duluti
Lake Diluti is a volcanic crater lake in the foothills of Mount Meru, surrounded by a rocky escarpment and lush forests.
The area attracts many beautiful birds, including egrets, grey herons, kingfishers and fish eagles, as well as butterflies, primates and reptiles, making it a great place for nature walks and birders.
You can also take a guided canoe trip out on the lake with views of Mount Meru and Mount Kiimanjaro in the background.
Meserani Snake Park
If you’ve ever been overlanding through Tanzania, you’ve probably stayed at the famous Meserani Snake Park, located just outside of Arusha town. The camp, run by BJ and Ma, is more than just a campsite.
They also have an overland truck workshop, cultural museum, Maasai market and as you might imagine, a reptile house with a large number of snakes.
There’s also a fun and often raucous bar, which is adorned with all kinds of traveller memorabillia, including t-shirts and bank notes.
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.
Shop at the Maasai Market
In the centre of town, you’ll find the Maasai Market. It’s pretty touristy, but it’s still one of my favourite things to do in Ausha and you’ll find a great array of souvenirs on offer, such as paintings, clothing, jewellery and furniture – there’s a lot to spend your money on.
If you want to visit a ‘real’ Maasai market, you’re best heading to the Monday Maasai markets just outside of town, which you can get to by taxi or dala-dala (minibus). These are markets are that the locals visit and you’ll find a mix of good, not just souvenrs. You may be able to grab a bargain if your bartering skills are good.
The nearest ones are at Kisongo and Nanya, but there are also markets in Mto Wa Mbu Village (aka Mosquito River) near to Lake Manyara and Rudugai near to the hot springs.
Swim at the Chemka Hot Springs
If you’re on a budget but still want to spend some time at a pool, head to the Chemka Hot Springs. Now, this one isn’t in Arusha and it’s actually a bit closer to Moshi than Arusha, but it would be wrong not to include it here as it’s a popular day trip from the city.
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. The water isn’t actually hot, in fact it’s even particularly warm, but it’s not cold.
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’s usually a mix of locals, tourists and volunteers here most days and it’s particularly busy at the weekends.
Visit the Maasai Tribe
If you’re on a budget but still want to spend some time at a pool, head to the Chemka Hot Springs. Now, this one isn’t in Arusha and it’s actually a bit closer to Moshi than Arus
Northern Tanzania and Kenya is where you’ll find the majority of the Maasai people, so if you’re interested to learn how they live, then this is a good place to do it.
There are quite a few more authentic/welcoming Maasai villages than you can visit as a day trip from both Arusha and Moshi.
