Things to do in Arusha
Most visitors pass through Arusha on the way to a safari, and the city rewards one or two extra days. The big draws are the national park on the edge of town, the museums, the coffee slopes on Mount Meru and the crater lake at Duluti. Each is a separate outing, and none is covered by the others' tickets.
Pick one or two. A museum morning and a Lake Duluti afternoon work well together, and a park day trip fills a full day. The tours guide shows how day trips are put together.
Our picks: things to do in Arusha
Coffee and a waterfall, a Maasai market stop and a cooking class cover the city and its surroundings.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Maasai market and Tanzanite museum tour
- Guide and driver
- Maasai market visit
- Hotel pickup and return
A two-hour trip by van to the Maasai market. Museum entry and tour are only included if you choose that option.
Check availability →Coffee farm and Mangalia waterfall
- Entry fees
- Local snacks and water
- Local guide
A visit to a coffee farm on the slopes of Mount Meru and a walk to the Mangalia waterfall. A village cooking class or a lake boat trip can be added.
Check availability →
Market tour and Tanzanian cooking class
- Guided market tour
- Hands-on cooking lesson
- The meal you cook
You shop at the central market with a local host, then cook and eat a Tanzanian meal on a charcoal stove. Ingredients are covered.
Check availability →Things to do in Arusha: tours and day trips
Safaris, coffee tours, city tours and park day trips, with live prices and availability.
Museums and the clock tower
The city centre in a few hours.
Arusha has two national museums in separate buildings. The Arusha Declaration Museum is in Kaloleni and tells the story of independence and the Arusha Declaration. The National Natural History Museum is on Boma Road in the former German military and administrative complex. The Cultural Heritage Centre on Dodoma Road adds galleries, a market and workshops. Our museums guide has details on all three.
The clock tower is a landmark roundabout in the centre, and a story says it marks the midpoint between Cairo and Cape Town. Treat that as a tale. For the city in general, see the Arusha city guide.
Tengeru and the coffee slopes
A rural outing on the slopes of Mount Meru.
Tengeru is only 1.3 kilometres from Lake Duluti. Coffee tours there visit community plantations on the Meru slopes, show how coffee is prepared and end with a tasting. A visit to a community market is a walk of about two hours and 3.4 kilometres there and back. That figure belongs to the market walk, not to every trip from Arusha.
Prices and market days vary. Ask about both, and about any village fee, when you book.
Napuru waterfall and other falls
Waterfalls near the lake and inside the park.
The Napuru and Themi waterfalls are an excursion near Lake Duluti. Free entry, swimming and an open path are not guaranteed, so ask locally about access and fees. Do not assume you can swim.
Inside Arusha National Park, the Tululusia waterfall drops 28 metres. It is a different place from Napuru. You reach it as part of a park visit. Ask the rangers at the gate how to get there, and read the Arusha safari guide to see how walks are arranged.
Lake Duluti, Usa River and the park
Green places on the edge of the city.
Lake Duluti
A forest reserve with a crater lake, birds and canoes, about 14 kilometres from the centre. Read the Lake Duluti guide.
Usa River
The main park entrance, Ngongongare Gate, is near Usa River. There are places to stay in the area, which makes it a handy base before a safari.
Arusha National Park
Drive, walk or paddle in the park. See the wildlife guide for what lives there.
EAC headquarters
The East African Community has its headquarters in Arusha. Visits need written confirmation. Individuals can visit Wednesday to Friday from 10:00 to 12:30, groups from 15:00 to 17:00. There are no organised visits from 15 December to 10 January or on EAC holidays.
For most visitors with two spare days, a museum morning and a Lake Duluti afternoon on the first day and a park day trip on the second works well.
Beyond Arusha
Moshi and the Kilimanjaro foothills.
Moshi and the village of Materuni lie in the Kilimanjaro area and have their own guide. See Moshi and the Kilimanjaro region for what to do there.
Travel advice for Tanzania warns of rising kidnapping and extortion crime in Arusha and recommends avoiding walks and overland trips after dark. Arrange transport for the evening in advance.
Things to do in Arusha: frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Arusha?
One day covers the city or the park. Two days cover both, with a museum morning and a Lake Duluti afternoon on one day.
Can I swim at the Napuru waterfall?
Do not plan on it. Ask locally whether swimming is allowed and what access costs.
Is the Maasai market worth a visit?
Check the opening hours before you go, arrive before late afternoon and do not rely on Sundays. Agree on prices before you buy.
Can I visit the East African Community headquarters?
Only with written confirmation. The visiting times are given above.
Is this the official Arusha tourism site?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the City of Arusha, Tanzania National Parks, any museum or any tour operator.