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Stylish European cafe, that is famous with foreigners. Good coffee specialties, delicious pastries like carrot or chocolate-banana cake as well as muffins, breakfast, burgers, salads or smoothies. Despite the name, they serve real coffee and no Africafe instant coffee. Sometimes there is WiFi.
Elegant European style restaurant with absolutely delicious, though rather pricey dishes. You can sit inside or in the garden.
Higher end cafe/restaurant, but inexpensive for foreign travellers. Snacks such as samosas, chips and kebabs. Also serves western, Indian and traditional African dishes. Popular amongst tourists.
A good place for Chinese food in Arusha, moderately priced. Say hi to Louie for a special deal!
Pakistani BBQ, includes chicken, beef, mutton, assorted salads, and nan. One of the best BBQ in town (rivals with Nick's Pub in Njiro). Two locations, one in town centre which serves as a car repair shop by day and bbq venue by night, newer location at cinema in Njiro.
Nachos, cold drinks in the garden or by the pool. No reservations needed for groups below 10.
A small and funky rock-bar in the middle of town. Good European/Indian style kitchen, large collection of drinks and good rock-music to spicen up your evening.
Has a little bit of everything in a fast-food-y setting in the centre of town. They also have a branch in the complex in Njiro Rd near the cinema. Mains Tsh 6,000-15,000 (July 2017).
Renowned as best French/Belgian restaurant in East Africa. Recommended for a romantic candle light dinner or special celebration. Reservations recommended.
info@river-house.org
Shanga is a heartwarming project on Tanzania's oldest coffee estate, in Arusha, Tanzania. Shanga employs 50 disabled Tanzanian people in their workshops where they recycle glass, aluminum, paper and tires into high quality, creative products. Shanga features the River House Restaurant and the Shanga Shop. River House Restaurant is for lunch on reservation only. It is a haven away from the bustle of Arusha.
Nice and quiet setting, popular with ICTR employees. Concert and Party every Thursday night. You can also book cultural tours there.
Indian, Asian, Mexican and international cuisine. Views of Mt. Meru and Mt. Kilimanjaro on clear days. Also a nightclub.
This restaurant is dedicated to serving only pork, which is not common in East Africa. The main carbohydrate is ugali (maize meal, not wet). There are also french fries (called "chips" in East Africa) or chipati (like a crepe) most of the time.
A restaurant and a bar on the top floor of the hotel. An internet cafe on the top floor for quick browsing. The other facilities available are 24 hr hot water facility in the bathrooms, a TV room, a reading room and also a massage room. They charge around Tsh 40,000 for 1 hour of massage.
Budget hotel located by the stadium and bus stations. Double rooms for Tsh 35,000 (October 2019). Basic breakfast included. Hot water only at certain times. Road-side rooms are very noisy.
Hostel accommodation, in-house meals, wireless internet.
Budget option with double rooms going for Tsh 7,000 a night, clean rooms with shared toilet and showers - it also has a great, very reasonably priced Indian restaurant on the ground floor. However, Meru House Inn has been plagued by thefts, several guests have experienced thefts from their room, possibly by staff. Make sure to put your valuables/passport in a safe.
Run by an NGO. All the profits go to support a local school for mentally handicapped children so that you can stay in luxury while helping the nearby community.
12 twin bedded rooms in the gardens surrounding the main lodge in the village Sekai, including access to lodge facilities. About 10 min drive from the town centre. Bookings not essential but much appreciated.
Calm and clean hotel with a nice atmosphere and friendly staff that’s famous with backpackers. Run by a church, double rooms will only be granted to married couples. The proximity to the bus station may be useful.
Half of the rooms have private bathrooms including hot showers and western toilets. There are 2 restaurants and 1 bar in the guesthouse. One of the restaurants - Kiti Moto, listed above - is dedicated to pork only, which is difficult to find in East Africa. A local kind of place, it is owned by a cool Maasai guy named Steven who speaks perfect English.
Clean and bright spacious rooms as well as friendly staff and the central location make this a welcoming place attracting both tourist and business travelers. Breakfast includes a delicious fruit juice, coffee/tea, omelet and some bread & jam.
Tanzania Mountain Retreat offers affordable to luxury accommodation in a garden oasis at the base of Mount Meru. Camping starting from €5 and lodging starting from €35. Camping includes use of showers, bath and facilities. Dining only is available with reservation from €3. Breakfast is buffet style with fruit platter, coffee/tea, eggs, chapati, fish and more.
Set in a wildlife sanctuary, so you can sip your coffee ten feet from ostriches and monkeys.
Wireless Internet.
A good option for travellers on a budget who still want a private room with a/c, TV and internet Wifi in a safe, central location. Very pleasant staff and good restaurant.
4-star hotel with modern, well-decorated rooms and lovely staff.
A lodge in the old mansion of the Grzimek family. Has a pool, green gardens, fast Wifi, bar. Spacious rooms with stone floors, plenty of hot water. Around the corner from the African Tulip.
5-star hotel with spacious, clean rooms.
A luxury B&B with only 5 rooms, Arusha's only boutique hotel, recommended as hip, relaxing hideaway just 7 km from the centre.
A small, well-liked luxury hotel for a reasonable price. A good one!
The markets in the centre of town are not to be missed. Bargaining is required, meaning prices will range from dirt-cheap to tourist-expensive, depending on the goods and also on how sharply you pay attention.
A one stop shopping area for handicrafts made by local Tanzanians. you get to buy various handicrafts made of ebony, redwood ets and various types of paintings made by local artisans. While the market caters mainly to tourists (it's sometimes even called tourist market), prices are not inflated (although there is always a large scope for bargaining).
Every thing you need, all in one place. They also have supermarkets in Dar
large supermarket also has stores in Dar and Dodoma.
large supermarker.
large supermarket.
Has a Mastercard/Visa Card ATM.
Has a Mastercard/Visa Card ATM.
Has a Mastercard/Visa Card ATM.
Has a Mastercard/Visa Card ATM.
Has a Mastercard/Visa Card ATM.
mastercard visa card atm.
By bus
Arusha is a major transport hub and has connections throughout the country.
By train
There is an overnight service from Dar es Salaam via Moshi, operated by TRC. Tickets are quite cheap and the full journey takes just over 17 hours. The train from Arusha to Moshi 86 kms by rail.
The main mode of public transport is "daladala", the ubiquitous minibuses which ply their trade on all the main routes in town. They are very cheap. The government regulates all pricing of transportation in Tanzania.
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Arusha · Regional · ARK
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Articles and travel topics about Arusha and Tanzania.
Nature & adventureMany of these parks are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. They can be visited for safaris, to see the African flora and fauna.
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InspirationSome hotels have a heritage from the golden age of steam railways and ocean liners, before the Second World War, in the 19th or early 20th centuries. These hotels were where the rich and the famous of the day would stay.
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Nature & adventureAs of 2023 the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves is made up of 738 reserves in 134 countries of which 22 are transboundary.
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Nature & adventureSafaris are perhaps the greatest tourism draw in Africa and the highlight for many visitors. The term safari in popular use refers to overland travel to view the stunning African wildlife, particularly on savanna.
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