Arusha
is a key stopover for most visitors to Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount
Meru and other nearby attractions including wildlife parks. The
town is situated at the foot of Mount Meru near Moshi in northeastern
Tanzania. Arusha is the administrative capital of a region with
the same name. Proximity to tourist attractions is largely responsible
for the development of Arusha’s tourism industry. It is one
of the most visited towns in Tanzania and at present offers a good
number of lodges and hotels.
Transport in Arusha: the city is linked by road to other parts
of Tanzania. There is also a small airport here which caters
mainly for charter flights. The Kilimanjaro International Airport
which is one busiest in Tanzania is situated about 50 km from
Arusha.
Arusha National Park
Tourist attractions near Arusha:
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park: this park encompasses the breathtaking
Mount Kilimanjaro which can be reached by road from Arusha or
Moshi. The mountain is frequented by climbers and offers a fairly
reasonable challenge. Wildlife usually in thick forested areas
includes; leopard, elephant, antelope, and buffalo.
Mount Meru: a small volcanic mountain standing at a height of
4,566 meters above sea level. The mountain offers interesting
terrain and vegetation which make it ideal for hiking. There
is also a variety of wildlife here including zebra, giraffe,
elephant and baboon. The mountain is situated within the boundaries
of the Arusha National Park.
Serengeti National Park: one of the continents premier wildlife
parks. The park is situated within the Serengeti region which
occupies parts of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. The region
also includes the Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya, Olduvai
Gorge and the Ngorongoro Conservation area.
