Arusha is also called the “A Town” by many locals. Arusha City is located in the north eastern part of Tanzania. The city sits on the eastern foothills of Mount Meru and lies close to the Great East African Rift Valley. Because of its location, Arusha has a good climate with regular rainfall. The area benefits from the forest cover around Mount Meru, which helps keep temperatures comfortable for most of the year.
Arusha has a population of about 400,000 people. The city has people from many backgrounds. It is originally an African town, but today it is home to many Arab Tanzanians and Indian Tanzanians. Arusha is known as one of the main safari capitals of Tanzania. Many travelers pass through Arusha before starting safaris to major parks. From Arusha, visitors can easily reach Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Kilimanjaro Mountain, Arusha National Park, and Tarangire National Park.
Many travelers stop in Arusha while traveling to Ngorongoro Crater. The city is also close to Kilimanjaro International Airport, which is the second largest airport in Tanzania after Dar es Salaam. Arusha also has a smaller airport called Arusha Airport, also known as Arusha Municipal Airport. This airport mainly handles domestic flights. Airlines such as Auric Air operate flights from both Arusha Airport and Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Arusha is home to many international offices and diplomatic missions. It hosts the headquarters of the East African Community. The city also hosted the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda from 1994 to 2005. Because of this, Arusha is sometimes called the diplomatic capital of East Africa.
Before the arrival of the Germans, the Masai people lived in this area as pastoralists. They also traded in honey, grains, and local beer. The Germans later set up administrative offices in Arusha. The British took control in the 1920s, and the town continued to grow. Arusha was officially declared a city in 2006 by the Government of Tanzania.
Arusha Airport
Arusha Airport has a runway that is about 1,860 meters long and 30 meters wide. The airport has several taxiways and two main apron areas. The main apron can handle aircraft such as the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400. The remote apron is used for smaller aircraft.
Places to Visit in Arusha City
Arusha is a starting point for many safaris in northern Tanzania. Mount Meru is the closest attraction. Many travelers hike Mount Meru as preparation before climbing Kilimanjaro. The hike usually takes three to four days.
Arusha also has a large local market called Soko Kuu, meaning big market. This market sells food, fabrics, and cultural items. Visitors can buy souvenirs here.
There is also the National Natural History Museum, opened in 1987, which displays information about early human evolution. The Arusha Declaration Museum on Kaloleni Road shows documents from the colonial period.
