Arusha City
Arusha City : Arusha is the capital of the Arusha region in the northern part of Tanzania which is also referred to as the safari capital of Tanzania.This town also binds the different destinations in the northern part of Tanzania such as Serengeti national park, Lake Manyara national park, Ngorongoro conservation area and also Tarangire national park.
Arusha is found at the southern slopes of Mount Meru which is the second highest mountain in Tanzania. The town also lies on the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley and is also the gateway to the highest mountain in Africa and other safari destinations.

Culture
Arusha is home to people of different cultures and traditions such as the Iraqw, the Hadzabe, Maasai, Swahili and many other cultures.
During tours around Arusha, tourists and visitors interact with the locals and visit the villages and traditional homesteads of the locals, seeing local arts and crafts. The town is also a stopover for safaris to northern parts of Tanzania.
Attraction sites around Arusha include the following;
Mount Meru
Mount Meru which is the second highest mountain of Tanzania is also located in Arusha. The mountain which is at an altitude of 4566 meters is another hiking destination in the northern part of Tanzania.
One of the hiking routes on Mount Meru is the momella route on the eastern part of the mountain. It takes about 3 to 4 days to get to the highest point on Mount Meru which has two peaks such as the ash cone and the Meru summit.
From Mount Meru, hikers can enjoy views of Mount Kilimanjaro as well as different wildlife species such as black and white colobus monkeys, warthogs, buffalos, giraffes, baboons and also different bird species can be seen during a hiking experience at the destination.
Arusha national park
Arusha national park is located in the northern part of Tanzania and offers amazing wildlife viewing experiences and is a good location for half day safari experiences.
The national park is made up of savannah, alpine moorland, rainforest as well as attractions like the Momella lakes. During a safari experience in Arusha national park, activities which tourists engage in include horse riding, hiking, walking safaris as well as game drives.
Arusha national park is a short drive from Arusha town and is convenient for tourists visiting the destinations around the northern part of Tanzania.

Tanzanite mines
Arusha apart from being a safari capital is also known for having tanzanite mines which can be mined in locations such as near the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Tanzanite is considered a rare gemstone with jewelers gaining interest in the mineral.
There is also a museum in Arusha where tanzanite can be found. Tanzanite is also an export of Tanzania and can also be purchased during safaris around the northern part of Tanzania. Visits to the tanzanite mines can also be organized during a tour around Arusha.
Arusha central market
Visits to the Arusha central market are also part of a safari experience in Arusha and involves moving around the busy market where different foods are displayed and traders with welcoming smiles try to make sales of their products such as food stuffs.
Coffee tours
Tours to the coffee plantations around Arusha is another experience during a safari around the northern part of Tanzania.
The types of coffee which are grown include Robusta coffee and Arabica coffee and during the visits to the coffee plantations, visitors get an experience of how the coffee is brewed, packed and other processes involved.
Activities in Arusha
Activities which are carried out around Arusha during a safari include the following; climbing Mount Meru, visiting Arusha national park, canoeing on Momella lakes, guided nature walks, visiting the national museum, going to the Maasai market, shopping at the local markets, tanzanite experience, swimming and many others.
How to get to Arusha
During safaris to Arusha, there are different ways to get to Arusha such as flights and also by driving. Domestic, scheduled and charter flights are available from Kilimanjaro international airport and Arusha airport.
Another form of transport which is used around Arusha is road transport which consists of both public transport such as using daladala and private transport means.