Must-See in Arusha, Tanzania

| May 5, 2016 |

Arusha is a city in Northern Tanzania, and capital of the Arusha Region. It is located directly below Mt. Meru of the Great Rift Valley at an elevation of 4,551ft (1,387m) and has a temperate climate. Accessible sites from Arusha include: Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Convservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, Arusha National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Mount Meru (to name a few). When visiting the national parks, some time could certainly be allotted to exploring Arusha. In our EduTours Africa Mission Trip, we spent the first 8 nights in Arusha at Outpost Lodge while volunteering, so our evenings were filled with local sights. This is the second installment of my Arusha adventure recommendations!

Last Highlight: Mt. Meru Waterfall Hike

See Next: IBUKA DANCE Foundation, Cultural Heritage Center, Clock Tower, Mt. Kilimanjaro viewing, Maasai village visit, Maasai market, Shanga Shangaa, Kimemo Holdings Ltd.

IBUKA Dance Foundation

Located on Themi Hill in Arusha, IBUKA DANCE Foundation is the largest dance stage and studio facility in Tanzania. It provides education and dance lessons to attendees of the associated school, but is also open to the public! Our group had a private dance lesson with the professional dancers, and our visit here was certainly a highlight of the trip for me. Here’s the list of classes for this semester:

Cultural Heritage Center

According to my new best friend at the Delta Sky Lounge in Atlanta, GA, a must-buy in Tanzania is the gemstone tanzanite. Mined in the Manyara Region of Northern Tanzania and NOWHERE ELSE, tanzanite is a staple of the country. Here’s John – Delta employee by trade, gemstone expert by passion:

We decided to explore the option of purchasing tanzanite in Tanzania per John’s recommendations. At the Cultural Heritage Center in Arusha, there is a large selection of tanzanite with negotiable and competitive pricing. If you attempt the gem anywhere else, and you’ll face fixed prices and salesmen who don’t faithfully direct your purchases. Here, it’s sold in both standalone gemstones (raw, and in a variety of compressed/heated colors) and set jewelry. Custom orders can also be fulfilled at this center, so make sure you allot enough time for this if you’re interested (it takes a few days!). I’ll admit that I didn’t end up purchasing tanzanite because I wasn’t sure what I wanted. However, I plan to return to Tanzania and buy a gem knowing the following:

• Expect to pay about $500-600 per carat of tanzanite if you’re just buying the gemstone.
• Colors are either blue-violet or violet-blue. In other words, it will either look more blue or more violet. If it’s of superior quality, it will ALSO have a magenta/pink glow to it in the light.
• Do not get set the stone with prongs as it’s a soft gem and can be easily damaged if it hits into something. Instead, get it BEZEL set. See below:

• Trillion is the most common cut (triangular).
• Maybe it’s personal preference, but white gold/sterling silver looks better than yellow gold.
• The best jewelry ideas are pendants or earrings, as these are less likely to be damaged by bumping into things (versus rings).
• Tanzanite definitely look best when accompanied by diamonds… Hmm, future engagement ring? (just saying, Future Husband, wherever you are…)

The Cultural Heritage Center has a beautiful art gallery you don’t want to miss, plus a huge variety of wood and African art.

The Clock Tower, Arusha

If staying around Arusha, you may drive past this inconspicuous clock tower without knowing its significance. It is actually the mid-point in Africa between Cairo, Egypt and Cape Town, South Africa! Pretty cool, eh?

Maasai Bomb (village)

There are a ton of Maasai bomba (village) tours you can set up around Arusha (or in Tanzania in general). On this tour, you will see a traditional Maasai home, learn about their traditions, and experience a warrior dance. Although group did not schedule an official visit with a Maasai tribe, we organically encountered the Maasai during our volunteer experiences (+ during the Mt. Meru waterfall hike/safari trips). If you are traveling to Tanzania without an organized group, I would definitely recommend making a stop to learn more about the Maasai! Read more about the Maasai traditions in my previous post.

Maasai Market

In downtown Arusha (on School Road near Sokoine), the most overwhelming tourist shopping experience exists. Locals and tourists alike will purchase local artisan items from the Maasai market, but the experience for a visitor versus local is quite different. As I meandered the market, shop owners called me “sister” in attempt to lure me into their stalls. It took about 15 minutes to push past the first three shops due to the relentless hassling from the owners (all of which I escaped without a purchase). Since we arrived a wee bit late to the market and only had about 1.5 hours to shop (it closes around 6:30pm), I knew I needed to be effective in my negotiating skills. Negotiating prices in this area is HARD WORK, as the shop owners nearly double the price for mzungus (“white people”). It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the haggling of shop owners, but I stayed calm, gathering information of the ‘going rate’ for various items (i.e. pants, paintings, etc.).

When I began feeling overstimulated and frustrated from constant directional commands from shop owners, I started telling them to “give me peace” so I could simply look around. This created a shift in our interactions, and I was treated with greater respect, often being told hakuna matata. I then felt I was able to begin working for purchasing deals. When it came to negotiation, I started at a bargaining price MORE THAN HALF of the going price (i.e. elephant pants are typically sold for ~25,000 TZS [$12.50USD] each, so I offered 30,000 TZS for two). Some stalls negotiated prices over a calculator so their competitors did not hear their going price. Each negotiation lasted more 10-15 minutes, with multiple subtle threats to simply walk to the next stall and find a better price. Overall, my efforts were quite successful. After a stressful 1.5 hours, I left the shops with: a stone coaster set, 2 elephant pants, a painting, a crossbody bag, bottle opener… and a spinning head!

Shanga Shangaa

This center is devoted to providing jobs to local Tanzanians with disabilities. At Shanga Shangaa (literally “beads amazing” in Swahili), you will find a variety of recycled materials used to make artisan crafts such as blown glass, Maasai beaded jewelry, glass beads, fabrics, paintings, etc. The tourist shop benefits a beautiful cause and group of people, and the community is always open to visitors. I was particularly stricken by a painter who suffered a Spinal Cord Injury and has found his refuge in art. He paints in the “tinga tinga” style, using a rainbow of colors to paint wide-eyed, cartoon animals. It is truly inspiring to see individuals with a variety of disabilities learning a trade, and compensating for all physical limitations to produce works of arts. It’s definitely worth supporting their cause and visiting the center, and you’re bound to leave feeling inspired.

Via Via

This cultural café on Boma Road in Arusha is open Monday to Saturday with weekly special events. On Thursday nights, there’s karaoke and a live band for dancing that our group of “mzungus” took over, singing songs such as “My Heart Will Go On” and “Hakuna Matata,” while enjoying some local drinks.

Local Beers

Kilimanjaro: premium, light lager from Tanzania Breweries Ltd., Dar es Salaam {Compare to: Bud Light, Corona Light}
Safari: American adjunct lager from Tanzania Breweries Ltd., Dar es Salaam {Compare to: PBR, Corona Extra}
KIBO Gold: Euro Pale lager from Tanzania Breweries Ltd., Dar es Salaam {Compare to: Heineken}
Serengeti: Euro Pale lager from Serengeti Brewery Ltd., Dar es Salaam {Compare to: Stella Artois}
Tusker: American adjunct lager from E. African Breweries Ltd., Kenya {Compare to: Budweiser}

Local Spirits

Konyagi: this liquor is very affordable and 35% alcohol volume. It’s similar to gin, whiskey, vodka, or rum… AKA, it doesn’t really fit into any category, but you can drink it like any of the above! It can be enjoyed on the rocks, as a shot (followed by a lime), or in a mixed drink. Konyagi is made from sugarcane (molasses), and super smooth. Quite simply, it’s the “Spirit of Tanzania.”

Kimemo Holdings Ltd.

At the base of Mt. Meru, this coffee plantation is available for public tours (*advanced booking required*) and sipping a delicious cup of coffee with an outstanding view. Our group enjoyed a lunch prepared by the owners, complete with lasagne, garlic bread, and salads. It’s certainly worth a visit for a relaxing morning or afternoon. On a clear day, you can marvel at Mt. Meru and enjoy the expansive, hilly landscape.

Getting around

During our stay in Tanzania, we were transported via EduTours Africa with guides via buses and vans to accommodate our large group. However, public transportation in Arusha is cheap and easy. Most common and easily accessible are daladala – a taxi/minibus that packs in passengers, driving in all directions in/out of Arusha. It’s only about 300 Tanzanian shilling ($0.20USD), and apparently quite the experience. Similarly, pikipiki’s are motorbikes you can hop on for a ride (hopefully the driver has an extra helmet for you). That being said, there’s no Uber in Arusha, but it’s definitely easily accessible.

Walking in Arusha is safe, but be prepared to be flooded with locals trying to sell you various items (especially if in a smaller group/solo). We walked from our lodge to a local fruit/vegetable stand, and were escorted by a shop owner across the street (he later was upset we did not buy from his stand). Local markets and areas are best traveled with a group or local guide to prevent being haggled and to overall feel safer. Also, I wouldn’t recommend walking around with expensive items in the open, as it will only attract more locals.

Confession: I’m A Mzungu

As mentioned earlier, in Tanzania, us American/white tourists are called “mzungus.” The word “mzungu” is literally translated to mean “someone who roams around aimlessly” or “aimless wanderer.” Though I don’t feel my wandering is aimless per say, I’ll admit the word “mzungu” is fitting for my nature beyond the color of my skin… 🙂

Questions or comments? Please share!