What is there to do in Arusha? – when you have just one day
Do you have a few days between trips to explore Arusha and you are not sure what to do? Arusha's to-do list may seem endless when exploring the many safaris, hikes, and day tours you can do from the city itself, but what about the days off where you want to be simply exploring Arusha Itself? The White House Hostel is located just 10 minutes from town, and we know it is the best home base for your stay in Arusha. So, we wanted to make our travelers a list of all the fun things you can do whilst staying in Arusha!
It's a gateway to the worlds best Safari destinations and to Africa's highest peak
Visit the waterfalls on Mt Meru
Just a half-day activity, you can take a taxi from The White House to the edge of Arusha National Park and Mt Meru gate, where you then take a one-hour hike to visit waterfalls on the base of Mt Meru. These waterfalls are not quite as big as those on Kilimanjaro, but the trek and experience make this activity a fun little half-day adventure, which costs merely 30,000 TSH to do.
Maasai Market
In the mood to shop and buy some unique souvenirs to take home? You can’t pass up a visit to Massai Market, just 5 minutes from The White House Hostel and Clock Tower. Maasai Market sells hundreds of different cultural items, which are mostly handmade by local people, and if you are up for some intense bargaining, then this is the perfect place to shop for friends and family.
African Cultural Heritage Museum
The African Cultural Heritage Museum is one of the biggest of its kind in Africa, and is located right here in Arusha! The museum is reminiscent of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum inside but showcases hundreds of incredible artworks and photographs from Artists across the continent. They also have a floor featuring old tribal masks from different African countries, traditional wood carvings, and sculptures. There is a Tanzanite shop on site, a sweets cafe, and oftentimes, exhibits.
The best part of this activity is that it is free to visit the museum and is about a 20-minute drive from the White House Hostel, on the Arusha bypass road.
Shanga and Arusha Coffee Lodge
We mentioned it on our free wifi blog, but this place is so special, it gets another mention here too; If you are looking for a nice, outdoor setting where you can experience some local culture, along with amazing food and free wifi, we definitely recommend a visit to Shenga and Arusha Coffee Lodge. You can take the bypass road, just 15 minutes from The White House Hostel in Njiro, to the place, and easily spend a whole day.
Shenga is a support program, whereby they teach adults with disabilities core practical and employment skills. You can take a tour of the program, where the students learn glassblowing, weaving, beading, etc, along with all other sorts of amazing things.
Lake Duluti
If you’re wanting some more outdoorsy type activities, the team at The White House Hostel can help arrange a taxi to take you to a nearby lake, on the edge of the city, where you can do a nice 1.5-hour walk around, canoe, and visit the coffee shop!
General shopping – Arusha City Center and Markets
Wanting to practice your Kiswahili skills and spend some money on perhaps new clothes, vibrant materials, or grab a Massai blanket? You could always spend a day exploring the Arusha shopping district, which has hundreds of stores and markets, selling everything you may need. Here, you can also find rows and rows of vibrant kitenge (traditional African materials), and have an outfit tailor-made. It can be fairly hectic, but if you simply want to experience shopping on a day-to-day basis in Arusha, it’s always good fun to visit before grabbing lunch at a nearby cafe or restaurant.
Grab a drink at the Gran Melia Rooftop Bar
If you’re in the mood to celebrate, perhaps you’re wrapping up your trip and want to do something special with your afternoon/evening, you could enjoy a cocktail, wine, or otherwise at The Gran Melia Hotel Rooftop Bar. This bar has plenty of comfy outdoor seating, a direct view of Mt Meru, and overlooks surrounding golf courses, and neighborhoods. It is perfect to catch a sunset and relax.
Whilst there are other things you may be interested in doing whilst staying in Arusha, hopefully, our list can offer some enjoyable activities. Of course, at the White House Hostel, we offer an even wider range of full-day tours you can join, Safari tours, and other cultural experiences you can join, so if you’re looking, please get in contact with us.
Otherwise, our hostel is an oasis for travelers, backpackers, and digital nomads from around the world, so you can easily spend multiple days enjoying your time at the hostel itself.
