"Arusha" Top 5 Page for this destination Arusha Region by JohnniOmani

Arusha is the safari capital of East Africa, a bustling, vibrant town with the streets filled with 4X4 game viewing vehicles criss-crossing the potholed roads. Maasai warriors in full regalia stroll the streets, mingling with tourists fresh off the plane from Europe or the United States. If youre flying in on a pre-organized safari, you are unlikely to spend much time in Arusha, as your hosts will whisk you through on the way to one of the great game parks.

This is a pity, because Arusha is the kind of place where you can get a whiff of what modern Africa is all about. At the nearby International Conference Centre, some of the most important peace treaties and international agreements in modern African history have been signed. The Rwandan war crimes tribunals were held here, as have been several attempts to broker peace in the Great Lakes States. Ive personally had the pleasure of meeting some UN workers working on the peace deals which led to some fascinating stories over a few drinks. Arusha has some great markets and worth a few days.

Local Market Place in the Town Center

Arusha is home to some great markets and you can find just about anything you desire. I had good fun bargaining with the local people and they were all friendly and open to me. Some travellers need to realize the amount you are actually bargaining for because to the local people $ 4 US dollars is a huge difference. I noticed some of the younger people were more interested in my clothes and hat than the money in my pocket making me step back and think about where I actually was, Overall shopping in East Africa is a rewarding experience.