If you plan on traveling on the northern safari circuit, you’ll likely find yourself in Arusha, if only for a short time. Located at the bottom of Mt. Meru, Arusha is a virtual tourist mecca by African standards, with streets full of safari vehicles, markets, guides, crafts, and Europeans. Still, it’s by no means a small town. The city boasts some 400,000 residents, and is home to the International Conference Centre, where numerous peace agreements have been signed. The Rwanda War Crimes Tribunes are also housed there.
If you’ll be spending a few days in Arusha, consider climbing Mt. Meru, which takes about three days and is a nice alternative to the more famous Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Transportation throughout the city is mainly by daladala. A wide range of accommodation is available.
