The rapidly growing metropolis of Arusha has caused an exodus among Tanzania's many tribes who continually gravitate towards it in large numbers. A lot of tribes from different parts of the country have flanked into city, providing it with a rich cultural mosaic that complements its status as "The Gateway to the popular Northern Safari Circuit."
Fondly called "A" Town by locals, Arusha is at the foot of Mount Meru, Tanzania's second highest mountain after Kilimanjaro and Africa's 5th tallest peak. This altitude gives the city a pleasant climate and a lush environment. The closest national park is Arusha National Park, which offers forest walks and picnics to see blue monkeys, colorful turacos and trogons, and the Ngurdoto Crater, whose steep rocky cliffs are dotted with herds of buffalo and warthogs. The park is the only one in the northern circuit to have acrobatic black-and-white colobus monkeys. Leopards can be seen hunting hyenas, while giraffes, zebras, and dik-dik birds feast on the rolling grassy hills enveloping the tranquil Momela Lakes, home to thousands of flamingos and other waterfowl.
Extra sheets of clothing are needed to endure the extreme temperatures of Mount Meru, Arusha's most famed hikers' paradise. Along the way to the peak, one will come across buffalos and giraffes. Red-hot pokers, Spanish moss, giant lobelias, and everlasting flowers crown the summit. June to February is the best time to hike Meru, but December to February provides the best moments to view the mountain's taller cousin, the snow-capped Kilimanjaro.
Pre-climb lodging and dining is also Arusha's specialty, especially for those trekking Meru or Kilimanjaro. The city has two airports and numerous vehicles-for-hire that take tourists to the safari chain of Serengeti, Tarangire and Manyara. The remains of a 1,000-year-old stone structure can be spotted in Engaruka, Great Rift Valley.
The ubiquitous daladala buses take anyone around the city, although travelers are warned that road accident is the commonest cause of death in Tanzania because of these buses. Taxis are also plentiful and cheap, and these take visitors to cultural immersions with tribes like the Maasai, Rwa, and Mbulu, who sell masks, spears, textiles, drums, and other handicrafts so they can send their children to school.
