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A bustling and colourful safari town, Arusha is the gateway to the Northern safari circuit and there’s always an eclectic mix of people huddled in the cafes and restaurants. Nestled in the foothills of Mount Meru, close to the Kenyan border, the town has an altitude of 1500m and is pleasantly warm year-round with crisp, clean mountain air and surrounded by astonishingly green coffee plantations. Start your day with a cup of the good stuff amidst the rows of verdant bushes, watch the Maasai in their deep red shukas and barter for souvenirs at the gaudy market stalls.
This low-key town is the gateway to Tanzania’s safari gems and most itineraries include at least a night in Arusha. You’ll likely spend most of your time gathering your bearings before your safari adventure begins or taking things easy after an action-packed few days, both accompanied by the stellar views of nearby Mount Meru. You certainly won’t get bored should you choose to venture out, however, and there are plenty of activities to keep you busy: enjoy a guided stroll between Maasai markets (for Tinga Tinga paintings, handmade jewellery and Shuka textiles), peruse the museums, or visit the bright green fields of the coffee farms and sample some of Africa’s finest beans. If you’re heading straight for the coast or just fancy an extra dose of wildlife, visit Arusha National Park, where monkeys, giraffes and a host of birdlife are all present and correct, and you can canoe, mountain bike and explore on game drives.
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