Arusha could be any small town in sub-Saharan Africa—dusty, crowded, and forgettable. A couple of pleasant features do distinguish it, however: potted plants line the pot-holed streets (put there by the plant nurseries just behind the foorpaths), and on a clear day, you can see Mt. Meru, Africa’s fifth-highest mountain at 4,556 meters looming in the distance.

The town is bisected by the Nauru River. The more modern part is to the east of the river where most of hotels, safari companies, and banks are located; west of the river is where the bus station and main market are. Most people spend an overnight here either coming or going to the national parks. There’s not really much to see and do in Arusha apart from shopping.

If you want to pick up gifts and curios, then stop by Arusha’s Cultural Heritage Centre (Serengeti Rd.). It’s one of the best curio shops in Tanzania and is only 3 km out of town. You can buy carvings, jewellery, including the gemstone Tanzanite, colourful African clothing, local music, and much more. Royalty, politicians and other glitterati have all stopped to pick up last minute gifts and souvenirs here.

When to travel to Arusha

The best time to visit Arusha and to climb Mt Meru is between October and February. A good time is also between May and October. The rainy season falls between March and May and the temperatures are pretty constant through the year.