Top 10 things to do around Arusha : Arusha town is a busy town in the northern part of Tanzania which is a point to begin and end many of the best safaris around the country. The town is located at the foot of Mount Meru and there is a lot to see and do when visiting Arusha. Arusha can be accessed by driving and also by flight during Tanzania safaris. Airports which can be used to get to this part of Tanzania include Arusha airport and Kilimanjaro international airport.
The different things to do around Arusha during safaris in Tanzania include the following;
- Visit Arusha national park
Arusha national park is the closest national park to Arusha town and it offers amazing wildlife viewing and also has beautiful landscapes.
When visiting Arusha town, you can visit Arusha national park for a day tour and enjoy seeing attractions such as Mount Meru which is a major attraction at the destination and also the second highest mountain in Tanzania. You can also visit the Momella lakes, see waterfalls and see the Ngurdoto crater when visiting the national park which also has various bird and wildlife species.
Wildlife species which can be seen during tours to Arusha national park include zebras, giraffes, buffalos, antelopes, blue monkeys and also black and white colobus monkeys. Mount Meru is also a destination where hikes are carried out around Arusha and these hikes take about 4 days to get to the summit and back.
- Lake Duluti
When in Arusha, you can also visit Lake Duluti which is located about 13 kilometres away from Arusha town.
Lake Duluti is a crater lake which is also a good place to take part in canoeing and also forest walks during which you can see different bird species. This lake is about 700 meters deep and it is located between lush forests.
Another activity which can be done during tours around Lake Duluti is hiking which takes place around the lake and this can take about 1 hour while visiting Lake Duluti is a half day activity.
- Cultural heritage centre and museum experience
Among the top 10 things to add to your list when visiting Arusha is going to the cultural heritage centre.
At the cultural heritage centre, you can enjoy seeing different arts and crafts as well as carvings made by the locals. You can also visit the different museums around Arusha town during a Tanzania Safari Tour.
- Arusha tower
Another place to go to when exploring places around Arusha town is the Arusha tower which is among the landmarks in the town,Top 10 things to do around Arusha.
This clock tower is said to be found at a midpoint between Cairo and Cape town. You can visit this tower which is found close to Arusha central post office.
- visiting the Maasai market
The Maasai market is another place to go to when visiting places around Arusha town and during this activity, you can see local arts and crafts made by the Maasai like the colourful beaded jewellery, get to know more about their culture and way of life as you interact with the Maasai.
You can also get to taste the local food during a tour of the Maasai market. Another alternative for getting a taste of the local cuisine would be making a stop at one of the local restaurants where you can enjoy a variety of local dishes which are also very affordable.
- Chemka Hot springs
Hot springs are also found around Arusha and during a tour of the town you can visit the Chemka hot springs which are also known as Kikuletwa hot springs.
These hot springs are naturally heated and are a good place to relax and swim when visiting Arusha. the surroundings around the hot springs also give you a feel of nature and you can hear birds chirping around the trees.
- Maserani Snake Park
Maserani snake park is another place to visit when in Arusha town and at this place you can see a number of reptiles.
Over 50 different species of snakes are found at the Maserani snake park which is also home to other reptiles like monitor lizards and also crocodiles. During a tour of the snake park, you can get close to the reptiles as you get to know more about how to handle the different reptiles and also find out about the poisonous and non-poisonous snakes among other things.
After the tour of the snake park, you can visit the snake bar and enjoy refreshments.
- Visiting Coffee farms
Coffee in Tanzania is among the cash crops grown around the country and during a tour of the coffee farms, you can get to experience how the coffee is grown and all the processes it goes through from plantation to cup.
These coffee tours around Arusha can be done as part of a group or as a private tour. After the coffee tour, you can get a taste of the coffee grown in the fertile volcanic soils around Arusha, Top 10 things to do around Arusha.
- Tanzanite experience
If you are a lover of jewellery then an activity to take part in when visiting Arusha is the tanzanite tour.
Tanzanite is among the many minerals in Tanzania and this jewel has a blue violet colour. You can also purchase jewellery during this tour when in Arusha town.
- Shopping
Shopping is another experience to take part in when visiting Arusha town and there are many places where this activity can be done.
There are different ways to get around Arusha town and they include using taxis, private means of transport, cycling and also walking.
