A rusha is the safari capital of the world but it’s often unfairly overlooked in favour of its more glamorous, better known neighbours; Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater. But Arusha has a wealth experiences to offer tourists from safaris in Arusha National Park, to breathtaking hiking on Mount Meru, cultural tours, Tanzanite and more.

Arusha National Park rolls out like a patchwork quilt of contrasting landscapes, verdant forest where black and white colobus monkeys chatter and play, savannah and moorland, the Momella Lakes with acid pink fl amingos, wallowing hippos, delicate herons, and shaggy waterbuck. Giraff e, elephant, zebra roam the green foothills. Eagles and buzzard soar above Ngurdoto Crater, buff alo and antelope wander through the forest fringed rim. Bushbuck pick their way through the ancient cedar trees, volcanic cones lead the way up towards Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro stands proud and majestic on the horizon.

Mount Meru is Africa’s fi fth highest peak, a dormant volcano, once worshipped as a rain god by the Arusha and Meru people. The mountain provides combines challenging climbing and breathtaking scenery as an aff ordable alternative to Kilimanjaro.

Arusha Town grew up from a German settlement on the Boma Road, built by Masaai labour. Plantations of sisal, tea and coff ee thrived and the city fl ourished. Known as the Geneva of Africa, Arusha is home to the International Human Rights tribunal and several NGOs. The Kilimanjaro airport provides local and international transport links, making Dar, Zanzibar and remote safari camps only a plane ride away.

Agriculture and tourism are the two main components of Arusha’s economy and the two meet in cultural tourism. There’s tours of the coff ee plantations, Tanzanian cookery courses, workshops in drum making and batik, giving you an insight into local life. Arusha is also home to the Maasai people. With their red shukas, beaded jewellery, spears and nomadic warrior traditions, the Maasai have become one of Africa’s most iconic tribes, with an aura of mystery about them. Maasai communities open up their villages to tourists with guided tours lasting from anything from half a day to three days. Walk through the forests gathering plants with a traditional healer, make cheese and ugali with the women, learn traditional songs and observe their pastoral lifestyle.

If you need to do souvenir shopping, Arusha is a noted crafts centre. The Cultural Heritage Centre in town boasts an array of superb Makonde carvings, Tingatinga paintings, gifts and curios. If you’re looking for a more exclusive gift, Arusha is the best place to buy Tanzanite, a brilliant blue gemstone found in the hills surrounding Arusha and Moshi. The gemstone is used by the Maasai to celebrate birth and gained international prominence after a Tanzanite was featured in the movie Titanic as the centre jewel to the Heart of the Ocean necklace.

There’s a relaxed atmosphere to Arusha in the evenings, with a good choice of restaurants off ering Swahili, Indian and international cuisine. There’s live music in the evenings, with everything from jazz and salsa, to local hip hop, traditional music and full moon parties in the bush.

So, if you’re heading out on safari, or returning from days of game driving, Arusha is well worth a visit.