Cosmopolitan Arusha is considered the safari capital. Here you'll find plenty of hostels, better hotels, bars and clubs, non-profit organizations and a mix of tourists and whites who have settled here because of the growing interest in safaris and national parks.

The city, below both Mount and the extinct Meru volcano (4,566m), is home to members of the Meru tribe, Indian and other Asian populations numbering around 350,000.

It is the third largest city in Tanzania and is located a short distance from Mount Kilimanjaro, so most of the climbs are organised from here. Moshi, about an hour away and closer to Kili, also has plenty of companies offering Kili climbs, but you'll find more in Arusha.

Acclimatisation climbs to Meru are also organised from here, and for those who really want to conquer Kili, a four-day trek to Meru is a must.

The volcanic ash around Arusha has created the perfect soil for growing a variety of crops, and in recent years coffee has been grown here, with small cafes scattered throughout the town. Rice, corn, millet, sorghum, bananas, beans, vegetables and flowers are grown here. Around Arusha is a deposit of tanzanite, the famous local blue semi-precious stone. Mining and trade are now dominated by large multinational companies. Arusha is an important diplomatic centre and has been the seat of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda since 1994.

Arusha is not a true historical centre of Tanzania, there are not many monuments here. However, the National Museum of Natural History, the Clock Tower, the Uhuru (Independence) Monument and the central market are worth a visit.