Arusha & Kilimanjaro
The gateway city to the Northern Circuit and the starting point for climbing Kilimanjaro, with Arusha National Park, Mount Meru, coffee villages and hot springs nearby.
This destination is centered on the two cities of Arusha and Moshi in northern Tanzania, covering Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru and the day-trip attractions around them. Arusha, at about 1,400 m above sea level on the southern slopes of Mount Meru, is the gateway to the northern safari circuit; most trips to national parks such as the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire start here (these parks have their own destination entries). Moshi, about 80 km to the east, is the base camp for climbing Kilimanjaro. Nearby you can go on a walking safari in Arusha National Park, spend 3–4 days climbing Mount Meru, and visit Materuni coffee village, Chemka Hot Springs, Lake Chala and Marangu village. Climate: June–October and January–February are the dry seasons, the best time for climbing and safaris; March–May is the long rainy season, and November–December has a short rainy season. Getting there: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) lies between the two cities, about 50 km from Arusha and about 40 km from Moshi, with minibuses running between the two cities. Recommended stay: 2–4 days, plus 6–8 more days if you climb Kilimanjaro. Notes: Chinese citizens can apply for a Tanzanian e-visa; this is a malaria-endemic area, so take mosquito precautions; national parks and mountain climbs must be booked through licensed operators.
Top sights
- Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa's highest peak, a 5,895-metre freestanding volcano that can be climbed without technical skills, passing through rainforest, moorlan…
- Arusha National Park – A small national park just outside Arusha, where you can see Mount Meru, a crater, flamingo lakes and colobus monkeys, and even go walking…
- Arusha – The 'Safari capital' at the foot of Mount Meru, the starting point of northern circuit trips, with the Maasai Market, a Cultural Heritage C…
- Mount Meru – The second-highest peak in Tanzania at 4,562 m, climbed in 3–4 days along the rim of a horseshoe-shaped crater, with the sunrise over Kilim…
- Momella Lakes – A group of alkaline shallow lakes in Arusha National Park, each a different color, often home to flamingos and waterbirds, with Kilimanjaro…
- Ngurdoto Crater – A forested crater about 3 km across, known as the 'mini Ngorongoro', that can only be viewed from lookouts on its rim, with no access to th…
- Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee Village – A Chagga village on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, where a walk through banana and coffee plantations leads to a waterfall about 80 m high, fol…
- Chemka (Kikuletwa) Hot Springs – A jade-green spring pool ringed by fig trees on the arid plain, warm and crystal clear, where you can swing on ropes into the water while s…
- Moshi – A small town at the foot of Kilimanjaro, the base camp for climbers, where the snowy summit can be seen from the streets on clear days and…
- Cultural Heritage Centre – A large art gallery and craft centre on the western edge of Arusha, showcasing modern East African art, woodcarvings and Maasai ornaments…
- Arusha Central Market – An open-air produce market in the center of Arusha, where tropical fruit, spices, kangas and everyday goods crowd the stalls and streets, f…
- Arusha Clock Tower – A landmark clock tower on a roundabout in the city center, said to sit at the midpoint between Cairo and Cape Town, surrounded by banks, cu…
- Natural History Museum (Old Boma) – Housed in the Boma, a fortress built during the German colonial period, the museum displays replicas of human-evolution fossils, insect spe…
- Arusha Declaration Museum – A small museum commemorating President Nyerere's 1967 Arusha Declaration, covering Tanzania's independence and the Ujamaa socialist movemen…
- Lake Duluti – A crater lake surrounded by forest about 12 km east of Arusha, good for canoeing, lakeside walks and birdwatching, with Mount Meru reflecte…
- Lake Chala – A deep blue crater lake on the Tanzania–Kenya border, with steep forested walls, good for kayaking and hiking.
- Marangu & Kinukamori Waterfall – The Chagga village where the classic 'Coca-Cola Route' up Kilimanjaro begins, with a waterfall and underground tunnels the Chagga dug to hi…
- Meserani Snake Park – A snake park and camp by the road from Arusha to Ngorongoro, keeping cobras, mambas and crocodiles, with a Maasai cultural museum on site.
Where to eat
- Khan's BBQ – A famous Arusha street stall that operates as an auto parts shop by day and sets up tables on the street at night, know…
- Via Via Cultural Cafe – A cultural bar and restaurant in the gardens of the Arusha Museum, serving Swahili and Western dishes, often featuring…
- Milan's Restaurant – An affordable Indian vegetarian eatery in downtown Moshi, famous for its Gujarati Thali and constantly packed with dine…
- Union Cafe – An established cafe in Moshi run by the Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union, where you can taste coffee from local sma…
Itineraries
- Classic Northern Circuit: 4 National Parks 7-Day Safari – A classic first-timer's route starting from Arusha, connecting Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, and the Ngorongo…
- Short Tarangire & Ngorongoro Crater 4-Day Safari – Skip the Serengeti and spend four days exploring Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and the Ngorongoro Crater.
- Northern Safari & Zanzibar Island – Complete the Northern Circuit in eight days, then fly to Zanzibar to explore Stone Town and relax on the beaches.
- Mount Kilimanjaro: Machame Route 9-Day Climb – Summit Uhuru Peak via the 7-day Machame Route, with pre- and post-climb stays in Moshi, followed by a visit to a waterf…
- Lake Natron, Rift Valley & Serengeti 8-Day Off-Road Safari – Head north along the Rift Valley to Lake Natron, then enter the Serengeti from the northeast, avoiding the main tourist…
- Kenya & Tanzania Cross-Border Loop – Depart from Nairobi on a grand loop connecting the Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Amboseli.