Experience Arusha Town, Tanzania

Arusha is the safari capital of the world but it is often unfairly overlooked in favor of its more glamorous, better known neighbors – Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater. But Arusha has a wealth of experiences to offer tourists from either starting your morning with a game drive Arusha National Park or proceeding to Mount Meru; Africa’s fifth highest peak, a dormant volcano, once worshipped as a rain god by the Arusha and Meru people. The mountain provides challenging climbing and breath-taking scenery as an affordable alternative to Kilimanjaro. 

Thereafter break for lunch at Arusha Town and if you need to do a souvenir shopping, Arusha is a noted crafts Centre. The Cultural Heritage Centre in town boasts an array of superb Makonde carvings, Tingatinga paintings, gifts and souvenirs. Later on spend your evening with a good choice of restaurants offering Swahili, Indian and international cuisine. There’s liv music in the evenings from jazz and salsa, to local hip-hop, traditional music and full moon parties in the bush. 

So, if you’re heading out on safari, or returning from days of game driving, Arusha is well worth a visit.