Arusha Holidays

The high-altitude city of Arusha serves as the gateway to Tanzania’s northern safari circuit.

Shadowed by the hulking mass of Mount Meru, the city enjoys cooler climes thanks to its 1,300 metre elevation and is planted among rolling hills dotted with flower farms and coffee plantations. A drive through this flourishing landscape will grant you views of villagers stooped in the fields and oxen ploughing the earth. Above it all, Meru’s active volcanic cone looms, the centrepiece of Arusha’s often-overlooked national park. Here, you can visit glittering lakes, take camel safaris and bathe in waterfalls.
From Arusha, adventures await on the northern circuit, which takes you to the alkaline shores of Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park and the fabled Serengeti. Before you flee, Arusha city itself has some treasures to unearth, with curio shops that burst with wooden carvings and a central market where Maasai locals clad in traditional scarlet robes sell their intricate beadwork alongside stalls heaving with nuts, spices and exotic fruit. Home to over a hundred nationalities, the city is a fascinating cultural hodgepodge, complete with a white-trim stone clocktower that stands as a reminder of Arusha’s British colonial roots.

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Arusha Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Arusha

Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge

A stylish Tanzanian retreat, set in the grounds of a coffee plantation in the foothills of Mount...

Arusha Serena Hotel

This Serena hotel sits in beautiful gardens on the shores of tranquil Lake Duluti.

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Kilimanjaro Scenic Flight

Soar above Africa’s highest mountain on this Kilimanjaro scenic flight. The one-hour trip departs from Arusha airport and passes over the national park, providing aerial views of ancient craters and herds of animals. You’ll fly in a Cessna Grand Caravan, which can accommodate eight passengers in window seats. This type of aircraft is used all over the world for scenic flights and has high wings that don’t obstruct the view.

Soar above Africa’s highest mountain on this Kilimanjaro scenic flight. The one-hour trip departs from Arusha airport at 7.00am and passes over the national park, providing aerial views of ancient craters and herds of animals. When you board the plane, you’ll be given a headset and tablet loaded with an audio app that has geolocation tracking, so you can learn about the landmarks below as you fly. As you climb high above the clouds, Kilimanjaro dominates the view with its sparkling glaciers and mighty peaks.

The flight is run by Ruka Africa, the pioneer of Kilimanjaro flights, in partnership with Grumeti Airline. You’ll fly in a Cessna Grand Caravan, which can accommodate eight passengers in window seats. This type of aircraft is used all over the world for scenic flights and has high wings that don’t obstruct the view. The flight route follows a figure-eight path on the northern side of Mount Kilimanjaro, so you’ll see everything regardless of which part of the plane you sit in. What’s more, Ruka Africa works with Carbon Tanzania, an organisation that plants trees in key areas of the country to offset their emissions.

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