About
The Arusha Region lies in northern Tanzania, and it is the setting for Mount Meru, the mountain that rises above the region and gives it much of its character. For many travellers it serves as a gateway, the place to base yourself before heading out to some of the country's best-known wildlife areas.
Why visit
The region is most often chosen as a starting point. Several of Tanzania's famous national parks are reached from here, among them the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. If your plans include either, Arusha is the natural place to prepare, arrange transport, and settle in before the journey into the parks begins.
What the region offers
- Mount Meru, a prominent volcanic peak that shapes the landscape and the views across the region.
- A base for trips to the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, both within reach from the region.
- A northern Tanzanian setting that gives visitors a sense of the country's varied terrain before they head further afield.
Planning your visit
Because the region works best as a gateway, it suits travellers who want to combine time in the region with a longer safari. Allow time to look around the area itself as well as to move on to the parks. The region is a practical and scenic place to begin or end a Tanzanian journey, and many visitors find that its mountain views make a fitting prelude to the wildlife that follows.