Arusha: All You Need To Know

 

 

The capital of the eponymous region, Arusha, is a must for travelers visiting northern Tanzania. This enchanting city is 45 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport, the starting point for many safaris. Globetrotters stay there for one or more days to explore its wonders, often at the start or end of their safari in the famous national parks.

 

Arusha offers countless natural and cultural treasures to discover during your stay. Among the essentials, you will not fail to explore the biodiversity of the Arusha National Park, the dazzling nature around Mount Meru culminating in the heart of the park, the crafts at the Cultural Heritage Center, the collections of the old Boma Museum, Duluti Lake Reptiles and many more.

 

Brief History

 

Arusha was founded by German settlers around 1900. After the completion of the military fort in 1901, the fledgling city experienced rapid commercial development. Passed under British control at the end of the First World War, the territory obtained its independence in 1961 and materialized by signing a treaty in Arusha. The city also hosted negotiations and agreements in 1993, which ended the Rwandan Civil War.

 

Arusha Today

 

The city represents the administrative and industrial center of this region, producing coffee, pyrethrum, cotton, and sisal. It houses the headquarters of the East African Community and that of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights.

 

Arusha is an important tourist hub thanks to its privileged location near many natural parks, including Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, but also Kilimanjaro, and Mount Meru.

 

Among the cultural places, a monument stands there in memory of the declaration of Arusha pronounced on February 5, 1967, by the Tanzanian president at the time. There is a museum dedicated to this event. The city has another museum called Arusha National History Museum. Christian churches and temples are also present, as well as Muslim mosques.

 

Regarding transport, Arusha is the terminus of a railway line that connects the city to Indian Ocean ports, namely Tanga and Mombasa. Arusha airport serves the large parks of the region, the big cities as well as Zanzibar. About 50 km away is the Kilimanjaro International Airport, which makes it possible to reach Arusha more quickly from abroad.

 

What to do during a stay in Arusha?

 

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