Arusha is one of the most beautiful destinations that tourists can visit in Tanzania. The region is lush green, and home to spectacular birds and wildlife. With scenic views of Mount Meru, this heavenly spot is a must-see for travel lovers. Here are some of the top local attractions that travellers should not miss on a trip to Arusha.
- Arusha National Park
The most popular attraction of the region is the amazing Arusha National Park, where tourists can enjoy safaris, bird watching, and game viewing. Tourists can spot buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, warthogs, bushbucks, elephants, hippopotamus, gazelles, hyenas, apes, woodpeckers, flamingoes, geese, herons, parrots, and eagles! They can go on walking tours, or game drives, or enjoy camping!
- Ngurdoto Crater
The swampy Ngurdoto Crater is covered with a dense rainforest, and is a great spot for nature lovers to visit. Tourists can explore the area on foot, and observe the vivid greenery. The crater is home to birds such as hornbills, geese, and herons, as well as animals like warthogs, elephants, buffaloes, colobus monkeys, and hyenas!
- Mount Meru
Located about one hour (from car) away from Arusha, Mount Meru is a spectacular spot for tourists to visit. Standing at 4566m, the active volcano is the fifth highest mountain in Africa. Tourists can enjoy the enchanting view, or have an adventurous hiking trip.
- Momella Lakes
The Momella Lakes are situated near Arusha, and are named Tulusia, Small Momella, Kusare, Lekandiro, Rishateni, El Kekhotoito, and Big Momella. These seven shallow, alkaline lakes are home to a variety of birds, including flamingoes, pelicans, ducks, herons, and eagles! Tourists can enjoy birdwatching, canoeing, or spotting wildlife such as giraffes, dik diks, waterbucks, and zebras
- Tululusia Waterfall
On the slopes of Mount Meru, visitors can find a stunning 28m high waterfall. Tourists can hike up to the spot, and can hear the sound of the gushing water from at least 100m away! The breathtaking spot is filled with greenery, flowers, and lush vegetation. Visitors can find wildlife such as buffaloes, warthogs, and giraffes on their way.
- Lake Duluti
The majestic Lake Duluti can be reached after a 30 minute drive from Arusha. The lake is unique, because it used to be a mountain between Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro, but it collapsed and became a crater lake! Visitors can walk around the gorgeous region, look for birds, hike up to the forest, or enjoy a canoeing experience. They can find birds such as ospreys, eagles, egrets, kingfishers, and herons!
- Meserani Snake Park
In Arusha, a great local attraction that guests must visit is the unique Meserani Snake Park where guides show dangerous snakes such as the Black or Green Mamba, Puff Adders, and Egyptian Cobra. Visitors can even hold snakes, or baby crocodiles, and learn about them.
- Lake Manyara
Tourists can take a day trip to Lake Manyara, which is a 90 minute drive away. At this tranquil location, tourists can relax and observe the stunning flora and fauna, enjoy a picnic, or go on a serene boat tour. They can spot leopards, giraffes, elephants, wildebeests, zebras, lions, blue monkeys, and over 400 bird species including pelicans, flamingos, hornbills, crowned eagles, guinea fowl, egrets, and storks!
- Chemka Hot Springs
Chemka Hot Springs are an extraordinary tourist spot where one can enjoy a picnic, relax in the breathtaking scenery, or swim in the hot springs. This geothermal oasis is one of the most glorious tourist spots in Arusha, and is famous because of its unforgettable beauty.
- Tarangire National Park
Tourists can take a day trip to the amazing Tarangire National Park, one of the top safari parks of the country. Visitors can enjoy game viewing, bird watching, or wildlife viewing, as they can spot elands, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, impalas, waterbucks, wild dogs, gazelles, mongooses, badgers, lions, monkeys, and baboons! The park is home to huge herds of elephant herds, and is famous for the extraordinary elephant migration that travellers can witness during their trip!