Activity Duration: a few hours to a full day for each activity
Location: Arusha
The Arusha area is the starting point to most Northern Tanzania safaris. This hub is not only a functional stopover before you begin your safari adventure, but it is also a great area to acclimate to your new time zone and surroundings. Below is a list of possible activities you can include on a free day after arrival in addition to even more wildlife viewing at Arusha National Park.
Arusha Cooking Tour:
Your guide will take you to a local Tanzania market to shop for the ingredients to make lunch. You will return to the A2T office complex where you will learn how to make your local dish and enjoy lunch together! Non-alcoholic drinks included. (half-day, extra fees
Coffee Farm Tour:
The Aranga Coffee Group consists of 28 Tanzanian families, some of whom have been growing organic coffee since the early 1900's. A three-hour guided tour wends its way through Nkoaranga Village to their nursery, where one of the local farmers will walk you through the process of growing, picking and drying the berries, before a tour of the factory where the coffee is ground and packaged as the delicious final product enjoyed the world over. (2-3 hours, extra fees)
Cultural Heritage Center:
Established in 1994, the Cultural Heritage Center in Arusha is dedicated to sharing and preserving the artistic and cultural heritage of East Africa/Tanzania. The center's art museum not only boasts array of arts and crafts including unique masks, Verdite carvings, and paintings by famous African sculptors but also promotes local artists as well. Whether your interest is in art, history, or exploring their gift shops, your stop will surely open you up to new perspectives. You can also enjoy refreshment at their in-house restaurant or coffee shop. Karibu!
Maasai Market of Curios and Crafts:
Get your bargaining hat on! The Masai Market is comprised of dozens of small curios shops selling a wide array of handicrafts including, but not limited to, beaded jewelry, fabric, wood and soapstone carvings, and clothing. The vendors and artisans have a knack for taking traditional art forms and creating lovely items to bring home to use in your modern home. It's wise to bring local currency to this shopping experience and be ready to negotiate price. That's part of the fun.
Via Via / Artist Alley and Drum Making:
Come ready to cut, stretch and sew your own traditional cow hide drum. This is a great activity for children who will be able to take home their drums as a remembrance of their journey. The drum makers guiding the process end the activity with a "jam session" on completed drums and a marimba. While parents watch their children in the creative process, they can also browse the Via Via Artist Alley where painters are busily painting and offering their art for sale. Please allocate 2 hours for this activity. Drums should dry for a few days before onward travel.
Maji Moto (Moshi):
Green sprawling fig trees fed by underground springs, will appear out of nowhere in this dry landscape, indicating Kikuletwa Hot Springs are within reach. The crystal-clear water of the springs is perfectly refreshing, and you may take a plunge via a rope from the trees, slowly wade into the water from the side or just relax in the shade of the trees. (half day, extra fees)
Materuni Waterfalls (Moshi):
Enjoy views of the tallest peak in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. If the cloud cover is too thick, visibility may be limited. While in the Moshi area make a visit to Materuni Waterfall, which is the highest and most impressive waterfall at the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro with a height of about 90m. (half day, extra fees)