
Arusha Cultural Tourism | Arusha Tours
Cultural tours are a popular product in Tanzania that is mostly sold as an add-on to enrich main safari tour programs. Most cultural tour sites in mainland Tanzania were developed by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) in conjunction with the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), starting with selected villages around Arusha in northern Tanzania and spreading out into other areas. These are traditionally existing villages which have been made accessible to visitors who may have a glimpse of the authentic lifestyle of the more than 120 tribes in rural Tanzania.
Most visitors to Africa, especially first timers, find the continent and its people enchantingly different and a special experience. Tour Operators appreciate this fact and endeavour to include visits to the local communities to give our guests the opportunity to see first hand the way of life in a typical African village.
Besides enriching itineraries and adding quality to the tours offered in Tanzania, the cultural tours are generating direct income to the local communities that are being visited, contributing to their development. Thus by visiting the cultural sites the guests would be giving support to community health, water supply, primary education and many other social and economic projects carried out at village level as well as reforestation and protection of environment.
Arusha Cultural Activities
Cultural tours: This is an amazing activity where you will be able to visit Mulala and Nkoranga villages located at the slopes of Mount Meru the second highest mountain in Tanzania. The cultural villages are found near Arusha national park and it takes about 45 minutes to one hour from Arusha town. During the cultural tour you will be accompanied by a local guide who is well conversant with routes in the villages and this will help you interact with the Meru people, learn about their way of living, visit their homesteads, farmlands where they grow bananas, coffee, beans, cassava and rare cattle….. Walk through the coffee plantation where you will learn about different steps of coffee growing, how coffee beans are peaked and roasted, grounded and packed, visit the bee keeping projects, taste the local honey, taste local dishes, visit the cheese making factory, enjoy traditional songs from agape women, buy craft items, visit the local schools, health centers among others. |
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Maasai Boma Day TourMaasai are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting central and southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are among the best known local populations due to their residence near the many game parks of the African Great Lakes, and their distinctive customs and dress. The Maasai speak the Maa language. An authentic glimpse into the distinctive Maasai culture is now accessible to Eco-tourists in Tanzania. Preservation of their proud traditions has set the Maasai apart from other indigenous groups in Tanzania, and embodies a side of Africa with which few outsiders can contact. We will offer you a memorable opportunity to interactively experience the Masai way of life through day trips. Guests will be able to participate in a variety of unique cultural activities, and encouraged to delve as deep into the experience as possible! |
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Ngiresi Cultural Tourism Programme
Ng’iresi is situated 7 kilometres out of Arusha on the green and steep slopes of Mount Meru. The inhabitants of the village are all farmers of the Wa-arusha tribe. The Wa-arusha are family of the Masai, but have gradually shifted from pastoralism to agriculture. Some Wa-arusha are still living in the traditional bomas, others try hard to build up stone houses; some still depend on their cows, others have cultivated large plots. The village perfectly shows the transition from traditional into modern African life. On the steep slopes agriculture is not an easy activity. If farmers don’t take preventive measures, soil erosion takes place rapidly. Many farmers now have started to place contour lines and build terraces. The irrigation system in the village further helps the farmers to increase their harvest. Some villagers even participate in other innovative projects, like a fish nursery, a biogas system and a cross breeding project. All the activities take place on the magnificent slopes of Mount Meru, where small rivers race downhill cascading into impressive waterfalls. The volcanic activities of Mount Meru have created many small hills around Ng’iresi. Some of them easily can be climbed within an hour. From the top you have a beautiful view over the surrounding area. |
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Arusha Day TripsArusha town acts as a gateway for exciting day trips to various national parks in Tanzania such as Ngorongoro conservation area where you will have spectacular views of the Ngorongoro crater and big five mammals. Going to Arusha national park where you will participate in amazing activities like game drives, canoeing on Momella lake, birding, guided nature walks, You can also Climb Mount which has a height of 4566 m (Mount Meru is a dormant stratovolcano located in Arusha National Park, 70 Kilometres (43 miles) west of Mount Kilimanjaro) and lake Manyara national park which offers birding, game drive and boat safari activities. Arusha is a great place to visit for tourists who want to explore the city, do some shopping, taste different local and international dishes, learn about the unique culture and go on day trips to different national parks in the northern circuit. For bookings and more information, you can contact Trip Insight Tanzania |
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There are many restaurants in Arusha town where you can taste variety of great food during your safari for example the Blue Heron which is one of the popular restaurants in the city that offers breakfast, garden lunch, candle lit dinner and has a menu with a wide selection of wood fired pizza, fresh salad bar, hearty soups, homemade Italian pastas, succulent and Shawarma steaks , Khans Barbecue which is located in the mosque street city centre in Arusha and offers tasty food like chicken fries, salads among others, Fifis restaurant and café which is located in Mjini Arusha and has a nice place for breakfast with great coffee and freshly cooked muffins, excellent ambience, free wifi, Chinese Whispers which is one of the best restaurants in Arusha that serves mainly Chinese dishes such as dim sum, Africafe which is located near the clock tower and also an excellent place for a burger, variety of milk shakes, Le Patio which offers local and international dishes , a serving bar that offers delicious cocktails, a luxuriant garden where you can relax and enjoy fresh air among others. |
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There are many restaurants in Arusha town where you can taste variety of great food during your safari for example the Blue Heron which is one of the popular restaurants in the city that offers breakfast, garden lunch, candle lit dinner and has a menu with a wide selection of wood fired pizza, fresh salad bar, hearty soups, homemade Italian pastas, succulent and Shawarma steaks , Khans Barbecue which is located in the mosque street city centre in Arusha and offers tasty food like chicken fries, salads among others, Fifis restaurant and café which is located in Mjini Arusha and has a nice place for breakfast with great coffee and freshly cooked muffins, excellent ambience, free wifi, Chinese Whispers which is one of the best restaurants in Arusha that serves mainly Chinese dishes such as dim sum, Africafe which is located near the clock tower and also an excellent place for a burger, variety of milk shakes, Le Patio which offers local and international dishes , a serving bar that offers delicious cocktails, a luxuriant garden where you can relax and enjoy fresh air among others. |
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The best place to get a feel for local life in Africa is the market, and in Arusha they are as colourful and interesting as they get. You’ll find everything from Maasai handicrafts and jewellery to fresh fruit, spices, carvings, and local textiles. Even if you’re not a shopper, visiting the markets is an unforgettable experience. The Central Market on Bondeni Street (also known as Soko Kuu or “Big Market”) in the heart of the city can be a sensory overload, while the Kilombero Market on Sokione Road is smaller and a lot less overwhelming. Get ready to haggle — and beware of pickpockets. Shop at the Maasai Women Fair Trade CentreIf you’re looking to buy handmade crafts from the local community, head to this little shop on Simeon Road. It was set up by the Maasai Women Development Organization (MWEDO), a non-governmental women-led organization established to empower women through access to education and health. Shopping here means you’re supporting a good cause and helping Maasai women get a stronger footing in Tanzania. |
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Visit the Natural History MuseumThis is an excellent spot to learn about the archaeological history of Arusha, and to pick up info on the city’s German colonial history. It’s housed in an old German boma (fort) that dates back to the early 1900s. The museum has three parts, including a wing dedicated to the evolution of humans; much of what we know about the topic comes from fossils unearthed in Tanzania. Wander through the Cultural Heritage CentreThe best place to get an understanding of Tanzanian culture and pick up some souvenirs is the Cultural Heritage Centre on the outskirts of Arusha. This unique attraction is a combination of mask museum, curio shop, spice centre, antique store, and precious stone counter. The Centre has hosted many famous people in the past, including former U.S. president Bill Clinton and his daughter, Chelsea. |
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Arusha Mini Guide
Arusha, formerly Northern Region, administrative region, northern Tanzania, East Africa. It is bordered on the northeast by Kenya. The Serengeti Plain lies in the northwest, and the Masai Steppe, broken only by isolated gneiss hills, lies in the south. In the central area of the region are the Crater Highlands, bordering portions of the East African Rift System. Volcanic activity and faulting have created broad lava plains and volcanic massifs such as Mount Meru (14,979 feet [4,566 metres]) and the occasionally active Oldoinyo Lengai (9,442 feet [2,878 metres]). Rainfall varies from 70 inches (1,800 mm) annually on Mount Meru to 20 inches (508 mm) on the semiarid plains. Terrain ranges from wooded savannas and montane forests to alpine areas.
Getting Here
You can either Land in Kilimanjaro International Airport or Dar-es-salaam International Airport The main city in Tanzania is Dar es Salaam – to go from there to Arusha by bus, it takes about 10 hours (if the trip is not delayed). There many companies offering the tour, though the most known ones are Dar Express and Kilimanjaro Bus.
Visa
You can do your visa on arrival, it´s very practical and easy. Although the Tanzania Embassy site tells you to do it advance, there´s no need of it (If you do not have much time to do it). You gotta have your Yellow Fever Vaccination certificate (otherwise you can take the vaccine shot there at the border). Email or call us for Help/Questions
Getting around Arusha
The easiest way to move around Arusha is by Dalla Dalla, the public mini buses that run all around the city. There´ll always be someone shouting the destination, otherwise you can just ask. They´re super cheap, from Njiro to town you pay 400 shillings (about U$ 0,40).You can also take taxis to move around the city
Arusha accommodation – Top Accomodation in Arusha
Arusha is a popular tourist town in Northern Tanzania. It is located just below Mount Meru and 1.5-2 hours South-West of Kilimanjaro National Park, which makes it a popular base town for trekkers.Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, Olduvai Gorge and Tarangire National Park are also not very far from the town.
The city has over 420,000 inhabitants, and is rather multicultural as far East African towns go!

LUXURY HOTELS IN ARUSHA
Enjoy a little luxury and pampering. Superb apartments, top premium hotels for great prices. 4 or 5 star best hotels, spacious apartments guarantee exceptional and luxury stay. Luxurious hotels offer many supplementary services and interesting possibilities.

MID-RANGE HOTELS
Affordable mid-range hotels are the perfect combination of value-for-money and comfort. Mid-range hotels often feature bigger rooms than budget hotels, with more amenities. You'll find hotels in the Arusha city centre as well as hotels in other exiciting neighbourhoods.

BUDGET OPTIONS
There are actually many budget accommodation options in Arusha to consider. In some areas, guesthouses are more common, and actually cheaper than hostels. There are so many options for budget accomodation in Arusha, please click the photo and continue to read.
Arusha City Map
Frequestly Asked Questions
Cultural tourism is important for many reasons. Perhaps the most prominent reason is the social impact that it brings. Cultural tourism can help reinforce identities, enhance cross cultural understanding and preserve the heritage and culture of an area.
It helps promote tolerance between people as they learn and better understand each other’s cultures. Preserving heritage. Tourism can help protect and finance the preservation of historic and cultural sites, and even prompt the creation of new community initiatives
Cultural Tourism is a real economic driver: More visits mean new money into the area economy, growing businesses and increasing tax revenues. Creates new jobs, businesses, events and attractions, thus helping diversify the local economy. Supports small businesses and enable them to expand.
The duration of an ideal Tanzania safari can take between 5 to 10 days, to ensure you hit all the top spots on your safari. The length though can depend on how long you’d like to stay and enjoy a specific place/hotel/park on your itinerary.
The Maasai (/ˈmɑːsaɪ, mɑːˈsaɪ/) are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting northern, central and southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are among the best known local populations internationally due to their residence near the many game parks of the African Great Lakes, and their distinctive customs and dress.
They are fearless: The Maasai have always been calm and courageous. They were formerly hunters, with their young men trained to hunt for food and to protect their families. In fact, until recently, a Maasai boy would only be crowned a warrior if they killed a lion single-handedly using a spear.
Unlike many other tribes in Tanzania, the Maasai are semi-nomadic and pastoral: they live by herding cattle and goats. The Maasai have not fared well in modern Africa. Until the European settlers arrived, fierce Maasai tribes occupied the most fertile lands.
The Maasai, an ethnic group of semi-nomadic people who inhabit in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, drink cow blood on special occasions – circumcision of a child, the birth of a baby and on the occasion of a girl’s marriage. It also is given to drunken elders to alleviate intoxication and hangover.
Red is the most important color; symbolizing courage, bravery, and strength. The Maasai also believe that red scares off predators like lions even at long distances. Red also represents unity within the Maasai culture because livestock are slaughtered when communities come together in celebration.
YES! Polygamy is allowed and accepted by the Maasai, since what makes the difference is the number of heads of cattle owned by the husband, the richer he is, the more wives he can afford.
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Safaris & Tours
Tanzania is one of Africa’s top safari destinations. The wildlife viewing is out of this world and big cats are especially easy to see. All members of the Big Five can be found in various Tanzanian parks and reserves, and all five are present in the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park.

Mountain Climbing
The most frequent expeditions are obviously to Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru, but there are also other destinations such as the Crater Highlands. Trekking companies will happily put together an itinerary that suits your preferences and all other important details for your comfortability.

Beach Holidays
Unguja/Zanzibar Island, is the main island in the Tanzania. Stone Town, part of Zanzibar, is an old trade center, with mosques and winding lanes. The 1883 House of Wonders is a former sultan’s palace with a clock tower. The Old Fort now houses a cultural center and a stone amphitheater, The best beaches!