Arusha is the perfect starting point if you plan to visit the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro or Mt. Meru. Due to its status as a layover city, there are many hotels, a wide range of food and a reasonably developed transportation system. There still aren’t a great number of tourist targeted activities even though the city is growing.
There are a large number of scam artists that congregate anywhere that tourists and travelers visit. They offer unbelievably cheap safaris, treks up Kilimanjaro and anything else you might fall for. It is much safer to go with an established and reputable company; booking on the street may leave you several hundred dollars short with no sign of your arranged tour.
| Population | 540,000 |
| Area | 1,900,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+3 |
| Currency | Tanzanian Shilling |
| Airports | Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) |
Food is reasonably priced as long as you stay away from the upscale hotels and restaurants. There is a huge selection of Tanzanian, Indian and Western restaurants and dishes available throughout the city.
| Budget breakfast | Almost all hotels will include breakfast in the price of the room. If not, local stalls and small cafes have cheap and simple breakfast options | $1.61 - $2.54 |
| Budget lunch | Small local restaurants dish up prepared lunch items for a reasonable price | $2.11 - $4.90 |
| Budget dinner | Prices range greatly depending on the type of food you want and what sort of atmosphere | $4.23 - $9.73 |
| Beer .5L | Most East African beer is sold in .5L bottles | $1.61 - $2.54 |
| Soda and water | Tap water isn’t safe to drink, but you can easily buy water and sodas at any small shop | $0.21 - $0.85 |
| Konyagi .5L bottle | By far the cheapest alcohol in town, this local spirit tastes most like cheap gin and can be purchased at every shop and restaurant that sells alcohol | $0.89 - $2.54 |
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 84 | 50 | 2.3 |
| February | 84 | 51 | 3.3 |
| March | 81 | 53 | 7.0 |
| April | 77 | 57 | 14.5 |
| May | 72 | 52 | 8.3 |
| June | 70 | 48 | 1.3 |
| July | 69 | 49 | 0.6 |
| August | 72 | 48 | 0.8 |
| September | 76 | 47 | 0.8 |
| October | 80 | 51 | 1.4 |
| November | 81 | 51 | 4.4 |
| December | 81 | 50 | 4.0 |
Because of its high altitude, the climate in Arusha is much milder than throughout most of Tanzania. Throughout the year, temperatures dip in the evening requiring extra layers. The long rains occur from March to May, often in torrential downpours. Short rains normally last throughout November and most of December.
The best time to visit is from June to October which is dry season and boasts of comfortable daytime temperatures and cooler evenings.
| 21 Mar | 6:37am | 6:44pm |
| 21 Jun | 6:37am | 6:33pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:23am | 6:30pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:22am | 6:41pm |
Hotels range from cheap hostels, mid-range local hotels up to 5-star luxury accommodations. Check your room for mosquito nets and hot water before signing in.
Peak tourist season runs throughout the summer months; June to August. During this time, hotels can be very busy and it is best to book ahead. Very few budget or local hotels within Arusha will change their prices for low and high season, but some of the larger and more expensive hotels catering to tourists will have peak prices.
If you are entering the National Parks from Arusha, there are drastic differences in accommodation prices within the parks between low and high season.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 12.68 - 28.33 |
| 37.82 - 52.00 |
| 46.32 - 93.60 |
| 88.03 - 149.30 |
| - |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 11.82 - 18.05 |
It’s also best to take a taxi at night; walking after dusk makes you a target even if you are in a group of other tourists. Taxis are reasonably priced, but there are no meters, so make sure you agree on a price (negotiating encouraged) before you get in the car. Local buses are often crowded but offer a cheap way to travel throughout the city.
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to city center | 4.23 - 4.65 |
| Shuttle service from airport to city center | 9.22 |
| 3-km taxi ride in Arusha | 1.90 - 2.11 |
| Daladala (minibus) ride in Arusha | 0.17 |