The Markets: The markets in the center of town are not to be missed. Bargaining is required, meaning prices will range from dirt-cheap to tourist-expensive, depending on the goods and also on how sharply you pay attention.
You can find almost anything at these markets, from food to clothing to little trinkets to take home to friends and family. The batik and screened cloths in bright colors are highly recommended. They're usually sold just as bolts of cut cloth, but you can do pretty much anything with them when you get home. Also, the Kikoys that the women of Tanzania wear make wonderful and original wrap skirts.
Maasai women make beautiful hand-beaded jewelry that they sell to tourists, frequently to pay for their children's schooling. If you come across this you should definitely purchase a few items, as they are extremely beautiful and make wonderful, unique gifts.
The Maasai market is a one stop shopping area for handicrafts made by local tanzanians. you get to buy various handicrafts made of ebony, redwood ets and various types of paintings made by local artisans. There is a large scope for bargaining here.
Real Adventure (RA SAFARIS), P.O. Box 16906, Arusha, ☎ +255732972432, . Plan your perfect Tanzania Safari with Real Adventure Co. ==Eat== Arusha has a wide variety of restaurants and informal eating places, with a predominance of Indian cuisine. Meals range from US$ 0.40 for street fare to $15 for main courses at the high-end hotels.
A typical lunch of chicken and potatoes
* Africafe Coffee House, Old Boma Road (near to the Clock tower). 8-20. Stylish cafe, good coffee specialties, delicious pastries like carrot cake and muffins, breakfast, burgers, salads. Despite the name, they serve real coffee and no Africafe instant coffee. Sometimes there is WiFi.from 2.500 TSH. � * Bay Leaf, 102 Vijana Road. Elegant European style restaurant with absolutely delicious, though rather pricey dishes. You can sit inside or in the garden.from 20.000 TSH. � * Big Bite. Indian restaurant. The food is ok, genuinely Indian.TSh10,000 ($3.75)/=. � * Cafe Bamboo Restaurant. Higher end cafe/restaurant, but inexpensive for foreign travelers. Great snacks such as samosas, chips and kebabs. Also serves western, Indian and traditional African dishes. Popular amongst tourists. � * Chinese Dragon. A good place for Chinese food in Arusha, moderately priced. Say hi to Louie for a special deal!10,000-15,000. � * Khan's Chicken on the Bonnet. Pakistani BBQ, includes chicken, beef, mutton, assorted salads, and nan. Arguably best BBQ in town (rivals with Nick's Pub in Njiro). Two locations, one in town center which serves as a car repair shop by day and bbq venue by night, newer location at cinema in Njiro.4500-9000Tsh ($3-7)/person. � *L'Oasis Lodge, Close to idara ya maji, Sekei Arusha (Access road Moshi/Nairobi Rd.), ☎ +255 757 557 802 (), . 7am - late. A favorite with guidebooks and expats. Go for a mountain of Kili nachos, or just grab a cold drink in the garden or by the pool. Finish with the renowned chocolate pot. No reservations needed for groups below 10. � * The Lively Lady Bar & Grill, ☎ 0713-650777 (), . 5pm-12pm, 6 days a week (closed on Sundays). A small and funky rock-bar in the middle of town (opposite the Railway station, down the road with Arusha Backpacker's on the corner). Good European/Indian style kitchen, large collection of drinks and good rock-music to spicen up your evening. � * McMoody's. 7am-10pm, 7 days a week. Has a little bit of everything in a fast-food-y setting right in the center of town. They also have a branch in the complex in Njiro Road near the cinema. Prices are reasonable. Breakfast including eggs, bread and coffee/tea is 1400TSH ($1). Their steak is a must, as are their desserts. � * Onsea House Restaurant, ☎ +255 787 112 498. Renowned as best French/Belgian restaurant in East Africa. Recommended for a romantic candle light dinner or special celebration. Reservations recommended. � * Shanga River House, Dodoma Road (on the road to Arusha Airport), ☎ +255 784 841 555 (), . 10-17. Lunch Restaurant and Cafe in a quiet and peaceful garden setting. For coffee and cake, you can sit on the sofas in the garden. Lunch is a set four course meal and by reservation only. They also run a shop with beautiful locally made things. � * Via Via Cultural Cafe, Old Boma Road (in the gardens of the Natural History Museum, next to the AICC building). 9.30-?. Nice and quiet setting, popular with ICTR employees. Concert and Party every Thursday night. You can also book cultural tours there.from 6.000 TSH. � *Spice Retreat Restaurant, 1st Floor, Njiro Complex, ☎ +255754274977. 12:00 - 24:00. This restaurant offers authentic Indian food along with good quality Asian, Mexican and International cuisine. The ambience of the place is amazing! There's a clear view of Mt. Meru and even Mt. Kilimanjaro on clear days! This goes really well with your sundowners! Velocity - The Nightclub is also a place not to be missed. Great place to spend the night after a good meal!Tsh. 5000 - Tsh. 15,000. � ==Drink==
The ring—Arusha's city center
Arusha has many interesting bars and restaurants. As a rule the best food is Indian, thanks to the large sub-continental community in the city. Liquid Blue in Njiro and Big Bite on the Swahili Road are among the most popular Indian restaurants. For 'Nyama Choma', or Tanzanian roast meat, Nick Bar in Njiro is also popular. There are uncountable local bars which are generally welcoming to adventurous foreigners. The less adventurous visitors stick to Via Via, in the grounds of the old German fort, which is an interesting cultural center and part of an NGO which trains locals in the hospitality industry. There are plenty of options for bars and restaurants for those who for some reason seem to wish to avoid locals altogether; these places are very easy to find. For nightclubs, the Velocity, Colobus Club, Maasai Camp, Triple A, 777 and Polygon Triangle are popular with locals and foreigners alike. They start late and finish very, very late (or early). Pickpockets have been known to operate and all these bars are popular with the local sex workers so the usual discretion should be applied. ==Sleep== Arusha has plentiful accommodation to cater to all ends of the scale. There are many hotels in the center of the town, including the international-grade Impala Hotel and the Arusha Hotel (see below). You won't get any surprises in this sort of accommodation. At the highest end of the scale there are numerous luxurious lodges in and around the city, some of which offer stunning scenery and the best standard of accommodation. Be sure to avoid touts (people hired by hotels/hostels to get travelers to stay there). If you are traveling as a couple, a good idea is for one person to sit in a lobby or restaurant with the bags, while the other scopes out rooms. You are likely to get a cheaper price without the bags, and not be targeted by sneaky touts (they signal reception or hang around behind you) which will raise the price $5-$10 for you for their commission. For budget travelers, many recommend the Maasai Camp (about 45 minutes walk from the city center) or the Snake Park (which is in a village called Meserani, about 16km out on the Dodoma Road). These are both lively locations with popular bars and good services at a very low price. For a quieter stay, Centre House, run by nuns is located a few minutes walk from the clock tower and offers basic rooms, both dormitory style and smaller rooms. Food and drink (including beer!) is available from the sisters. Meru House Inn located in the center of town is another budget option with double rooms going for 7000 Tsh ($5) a night, clean rooms with shared toilet and showers - it also has a great, very reasonably priced Indian restaurant on the ground floor. However, Meru House Inn have been plagued by thefts recently, several guests have gotten things stolen from their room by staff. Make sure to put your valuables/passport in a safe. * Onsea House. A luxury B&B with only 5 rooms, Arusha's only boutique hotel, recommended as hip, relaxing hideaway just 7 km out of the center.$185. �
The Arusha Naaz Hotel
* Kigongoni Lodge. run by an NGO. All the profits go to support a local school for mentally handicapped children so that you can stay in luxury while helping the nearby community. � *Annexe at L'Oasis Lodge, Close to idara ya maji, Sekei Arusha (Access rd Moshi/Nairobi Rd), ☎ +255 757 557 802 (), . 12 twin bedded rooms in the gardens surrounding the main lodge in the village Sekai, including access to lodge facilities. About 10min drive from the town center. Bookings not essential but much appreciated. � *The African Tulip, 44/1 Serengeti Road. A small, well-liked luxury hotel for a reasonable price.$230. � *The Arusha Hotel, Main Road. A 4-star hotel with modern, well-decorated rooms and lovely staff.$160. � *The Impala Hotel, Old Moshi Road. A 3-star hotel with mixed reviews. Some rooms are lovely and spacious, while others disappoint. Ask to see your room before committing. $145. � *Mount Meru Hotel, Moshi Nariobi Road. Set in a wildlife sanctuary, so you can sip your coffee ten feet from ostriches and monkeys.$90. � *Arusha Naaz Hotel, Sokoine. A good option for travelers on a budget who still want a private room in a safe, central location. Don't expect luxury, but it's a good, basic place to stay.$50. � *Caanan Hotel (+255 732 975 127), Mianzini (Nairobi Road next to the white petrol station), . checkin: 12:00; checkout: 11:00. A midrange (3 star equivalent) 18 bed hotel. All rates include breakfast, dinner is available and you can give a half days notice, the hotel will arrange free transport for you from any where in the City Centre. Ideal if you just jumping off the Shuttle bus in Arusha.$19. � *Arusha Backpackers, Sokoine Road (Near bus station). The cost of the rooms are quite reasonable here. Along with rooms, you have a restaurant and a bar on the top floor of the hotel. Also, you have a internet cafe on the top floor for quick browsing. The other facilities available are 24 hours hot water facility in the bathrooms, a TV room, a reading room and also a massage room for those trekkers who are back from Mt Kilimanjaro or Mt Meru. They charge around 40,000 Tsh for 1 hour of massage..$20/dbl. � *The Bay Leaf Boutique Hotel, 102 Vijana Road ((Corridor area of Arusha) Pass the Impala Roundabout on your way north on 'Phillips' road; turn left just after the first speed bump; there is a sign on the road; second property on the left.), ☎ +255 27 254 3055, . A small Luxury Boutique Hotel. 6 rooms, all individually decotated. Very chic & with extreme attention to detail. Walking distance to banks, local attractions and the clock tower. Lunch: 11:30-15:30 (average: Tsh 10,000-12,000) Dinner 18:30-22:30 (Average Tsh 20,000-40,000)$200-$350. � * Tumaini Cottage, P.O Box 1814 Arusha (Make a left before you reach Happy Sausage from Nairobi road, then follow the road all the way to the end.), ☎ +255 754 588 698, . wireless internet. United States representative at 317-987-1066. � ==Stay safe== Arusha is a moderately safe city by African standards, though precautions should be observed. It is not advisable to walk at night, alone or in groups - cabs are plentiful but fares should always be agreed upon at the start of a journey (cabs have no meters, making it all too easy to exaggerate fares at the end of a journey). The city itself is reasonably safe during the day, although foreigners are virtually guaranteed to be approached by touts. This can be intimidating, especially when they latch onto and follow you, but they are usually harmless. In this case do not stop, slow down or make eye contact; simply say "hapana asante" (no thank you) if they ask or offer you anything. You will save yourself a lot of bother if you do not engage them. When walking in any part of the city beyond the central district, it is advisable to take a guide. The bridge on Old Moshi Road is a particularly notorious mugging spot, and although often patrolled by police it should be avoided if on foot. ==Cope== *Mica Computer Services, Azimo st. (Opposite Arusha Declaration Museum), ☎ 027-2506737, . 08:00-18:00. Friendly computer store in the heart of town selling computers, accessories and software. Toner and ink cardridges, empty CD's and DVD's. Will burn your pics for free of charge.(S3.36911,E36.69079)�(S3.36911,E36.69079)�
Teli Tech Computers, Azimio Street/ Sokoine Road (Opposite Rusda Supermarket), ☎ 0786 951 951, . 08:30-17:30. Well stocked computer store offering repair services, web hosting, cartridge refilling and more. Fast internet cafe and secretarial services. Common meeting point for volunteers. �
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Arusha
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Arusha - updated May 2024
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