Experiences in Arusha | Timbuktu Travel

Hike the slopes of Mount Meru

The bustling town of Arusha sits in the shadow of Mount Meru, an active volcano and the second highest peak in Tanzania. Take a trip into the Arusha National Park and hike Mount Meru’s slopes, where you will encounter a variety of interesting wildlife species—a startlingly diverse environment with amazing views of Kilimanjaro. Enjoy hiking along the crest of the crater rim, with distant, views of Kilimanjaro from the summit, and the ability to see a lot of wildlife on the lower slopes in the form of a walking safari. This is also a chance to escape the tourist crowds.

Visit a working coffee farm in Arusha

Arabica and Robusta coffee are Tanzania’s largest export, so of course they have refined the art of coffee making to near on perfection. Grown in Tanzania’s rich volcanic soil, coffee is the primary source of income for many Tanzanians and a tour around one of the many outstanding plantations is well worth the trip. Learn more about the process, taste different brews and see for yourself what all the hype is about.

Track wildlife on a game drive in Arusha

Arusha may not be known as one of Tanzania's safari powerhouses, but this small, beautiful park has a lot to offer. The closest national park to the airport, you can easily make a day trip to Arusha, which sits in the scenic foothills of Mount Meru. On a game drive through the park, look out for black-and-white colobus, leopard, giraffe and a plethora of plains game. Plus, pods of hippo wallowing in the quiet, pretty lakes. On the clearest of days, you can even see the shimmering, snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Stop for shopping at Shanga and lunch at Arusha Coffee Lodge

A community-led and heartfelt project, Shanga (the Swahili word for bead) has grown from humble beginnings to a thriving Arusha gem. It was created to provide skilled job opportunities to differently-abled people from Tanzania, offering training in everything from needlework and jewellery-making to metal work and glass blowing. At Shanga, pick up one (or many) of these unique, hand-crafted items and learn a new skill like Maasai beading or Swahili sign language. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at the Arusha Coffee Lodge.

Explore the city of Arusha on a half day tour

Get to know this often-overlooked and underrated city set in the magnificent shadow of Mount Meru. Join a local guide as they share the history of Arusha and its people. You'll visit the fascinating Museum of Natural History and Cultural Heritage Centre, where you'll gain great insight into Tanzania's 120-plus tribes through carvings and artifacts, and its thriving art scene. Peruse the exhibits at the Tanzanite Museum and learn the lore behind the discovery of this ocean-blue stone, which is only found in a small area below Mount Kilimanjaro. Then, stop off for lunch at a local haunt.

See birds and wildlife on a canoe safari in Arusha

Arusha National Park is one of the few destinations in Tanzania where canoeing is possible. Take your pick between Momella Lake and Lake Duluti, which was left behind by erupted volcanoes. Birdlife is bright and plentiful, including elegant flamingoes and fish eagles, uproarious great kingfishers and hoards of cattle egrets who roost on islands at sunset. While canoeing on Momella Lake, keep your eyes peeled for buffalo, giraffe and snorting hippo.

Safari by Mountain Bike in Arusha National Park

Take in the sights of Arusha's countryside on a bicycle ride led by a well-experienced guide. You'll venture through the forests in Mount Meru's foothills, through savannah and past little local villages. Take in the endless, China-blue sky, superlative landscapes and wildlife on this diesel-free safari. For the avid mountain biker, there is the option to do a multi-day cycling expedition.

Take a day hike on the foothills of Kilimanjaro

Leave Arusha at around 5 am and, after a hearty sunrise breakfast, you'll begin the 1,000-metre hike, moving up the western facade of Mount Kilimanjaro. Along the way, you'll spot colobus monkeys, verdant birdlife and even hear elephant tramping through the trees. Your destination is the vast 500,000-year-old Shira Plateau, where you can stop for lunch or forge on to see Lion Gorge and the Shira Pinnacles. From here, the iconic, snow-capped peaks and glaciers are visible. It's best to avoid the rainy season and the optimal conditions occur between January - early March and June - October.