TZ
Arusha
Northern Tanzania’s safari gateway at the foot of Mount Meru
Northern Tanzania’s safari gateway at the foot of Mount Meru
Less than an hour from town, this compact park runs from the Momella soda lakes, often pink with flamingos, up through forest to the summit of Mount Meru. Giraffe, buffalo, zebra and black-and-white colobus monkeys are common, and you can take walking safaris with an armed ranger and paddle a canoe on the lakes.
An easy half-day or full-day trip, ideal on arrival or after a long safari.
Photo: Roman Boed, CC BY 2.0
A forested volcanic crater in the east of Arusha National Park, viewed from its rim. Buffalo and warthog graze the swampy floor, which is closed to visitors, keeping it undisturbed.
The rim viewpoints are best in the clearer morning light.
Photo: ProfessorX, Public domain
The 4,562m volcano above Arusha is climbed in three to four days, with huts, a mandatory armed ranger and wildlife on the lower slopes. It is a superb acclimatisation climb before Kilimanjaro, with views across to Kibo from the summit ridge.
Book the climb through a licensed operator; porters and rangers are compulsory.
Photo: AmyAbroad, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Clock Tower roundabout is the city’s landmark, often said to mark the halfway point between Cairo and Cape Town. Nearby are the central market, the Arusha Declaration Museum and the Cultural Heritage Centre, a large gallery of East African art and crafts.
Change money and buy supplies in the centre before heading into the parks.
Photo: Tsturge, CC BY-SA 3.0
Arusha has the widest choice of restaurants in northern Tanzania, from Indian and Italian to Ethiopian and local nyama choma (grilled meat) joints. Try ugali with stew, chipsi mayai (chips cooked into an omelette) and Tanzanian coffee from the farms on Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro.
Many visitors stay in lodges and coffee farms outside the city, where meals are included.
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), about 50km east, has international flights (including KLM from Amsterdam, Ethiopian, Qatar and Turkish Airlines) and domestic connections; the drive to Arusha takes about an hour. The smaller Arusha Airport (ARK) handles domestic and safari flights, including to Zanzibar and the Serengeti airstrips.
Shuttle buses run between Arusha and Nairobi (about 5–6 hours) and to Moshi. Around town, taxis and bajaji (tuk-tuks) are cheap; for the parks, most visitors travel with a safari operator.
Arusha is affordable, but safari costs are driven by park fees, which are paid per person per day.
Budget group safaris start from around US$200 per person per day including park fees.
Day-trip prices usually include park fees, guide and vehicle.
Book peak-season (July–September) safaris months ahead.
Two days before or after a northern-circuit safari.
Early start for the Momella Lakes, a walking safari with a ranger and a canoe trip, then lunch overlooking Mount Meru. Evening back in town.
Carry a light jacket; mornings are cool at this altitude.
Morning at the Cultural Heritage Centre and the market, then a coffee-farm tour on the slopes of Mount Meru. Prepare for your safari or flight onward.
Many coffee tours include lunch with the farming family.
🛂 Entry rules: visa and new visitor insurance
Most visitors need a Tanzania visa; apply online through the official Immigration e-visa portal before you travel.
New from 1 October 2026: all foreign non-resident visitors to mainland Tanzania must buy a US$44 visitor insurance policy from the state National Insurance Corporation, even if they already have travel insurance. Visitors arriving directly in Zanzibar buy the equivalent Zanzibar policy, required there since October 2024.
Official information: Tanzania Immigration: e-visa · Reviewed September 2026
Most visitors need a visa (apply online) and, from 1 October 2026, a US$44 Tanzania visitor insurance policy.
Safari and park prices are quoted in US dollars; bring post-2013 notes in good condition.
Arusha is lower risk thanks to its altitude, but the safari parks are malaria areas; get medical advice.
Choose a TATO-registered safari company and check reviews.
Quick answers for planning time in Arusha.
Arusha is mainly a base for safaris, but Arusha National Park, Mount Meru and the coffee farms make it worth a day or two.
The Ngorongoro Crater rim is about 3 to 4 hours by road; central Serengeti is a full day’s drive or a short flight from Arusha Airport.
Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (about an hour away), or take a shuttle bus from Nairobi (about 5 to 6 hours).
Since 1 October 2026 foreign visitors to mainland Tanzania must buy a US$44 visitor insurance policy from the National Insurance Corporation; arrivals directly into Zanzibar buy the equivalent Zanzibar policy.
June to October is dry and ideal for safaris; January and February are also good. The long rains fall from March to May.
Download northern Tanzania offline; signal is weak inside the parks.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Tanzania travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.