Arusha is a key stopover for most visitors to Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru and other nearby attractions including wildlife parks. The town is situated at the foot of Mount Meru near Moshi in northeastern Tanzania. Arusha is the administrative capital of a region with the same name. Proximity to tourist attractions is largely responsible for the development of Arusha’s tourism industry. It is one of the most visited towns in Tanzania and at present offers a good number of lodges and hotels.
Transport in Arusha: the city is linked by road to other parts of Tanzania. There is also a small airport here which caters mainly for charter flights. The Kilimanjaro International Airport which is one busiest in Tanzania is situated about 50 km from Arusha.
Tourist Attractions Near Arusha:
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park: This park encompasses the breathtaking Mount Kilimanjaro which can be reached by road from Arusha or Moshi. The mountain is frequented by climbers and offers a fairly reasonable challenge. Wildlife usually in thick forested areas includes; leopard, elephant, antelope, and buffalo.
Mount Meru: A small volcanic mountain standing at a height of 4,566 meters above sea level. The mountain offers interesting terrain and vegetation which make it ideal for hiking. There is also a variety of wildlife here including zebra, giraffe, elephant and baboon. The mountain is situated within the boundaries of the Arusha National Park.
Serengeti National Park: One of the continents premier wildlife parks. The park is situated within the Serengeti region which occupies parts of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. The region also includes the Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya, Olduvai Gorge and the Ngorongoro Conservation area.
Arusha Hotels:
There are a number of good hotels and lodges in Arusha. The city is situated in northern Tanzania and is an important resting point and stopover for tourists visiting nearby wildlife parks and attractions including Mount Kilimanjaro. Popular hotels in Arusha include;
Arusha Crown Hotel: situated at Makongoro Road in the city centre, this is one of the leading hotels in Arusha. The Crown occupies a six storey building and offers a wide range of amenities and services such as; internet access, conference facilities, decent rooms with satellite television and telephone.
Novotel Mount Meru: located on Moshi Road a short distance from the city centre; the Novotel is a popular hotel here offering a good range of services including; rooms with satellite TV, restaurant, bars, swimming pool and child play area.
Serena Mountain Village: a leading Hotel in Arusha, the Mountain Village is part of the Serena International group of hotels. Creatively situated at a tree shaded coffee plantation, the hotel offers quality accommodation and amenities here include; picnic areas, housekeeping services, foreign exchange, health and beauty therapy, restaurant and bar.
Arusha Flights:
The “safari” town of Arusha is served by a small airport which caters mainly for charter flights. Most international and domestic flights for visitors to Arusha arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport. This airport is one of the busiest in the country second only to the Dar es Salaam Airport.
The airport is situated about 50 km from Arusha and visitors travel from Kilimanjaro by road. There are buses and taxis available from the airport.
Airlines serving Mount Kilimanjaro Airport include; Air Tanzania, Kenya Airways, Air Kenya, KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, Cook Airlines, Precision Air, Africa One.
