Arusha district, Tanzania

Places to visit near Arusha

Arusha is a city in Arusha district, Tanzania, home to about 341,136 people. Within 50 km by road there are 186 places to visit — 68 churches, 35 hill stations & viewpoints, 17 forts & heritage and 11 wildlife, forests & gardens. The must-see places are Mount Meru Ashcone (21 km), Arusha National Park (27 km) and Kikuletwa Hot Spring (72 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Arusha on the map

Arusha, Tanzania
Arusha, Arusha district, Tanzania. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Arusha at a glance

Location
Arusha district, Tanzania
Population
about 341,136
Coordinates
3.3667° S, 36.6833° E
Places within 50 km
186 (2 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches

Top places to visit near Arusha

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Arusha: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

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Things to see near Arusha, by type

Churches near Arusha

78 churches within 100 km of Arusha. The closest is Arusha Community Church (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Hill stations & viewpoints near Arusha

52 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Arusha. The closest is Summit of Mount Meru (1 km); the best-known is Mount Meru Ashcone (21 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

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Forts & heritage near Arusha

26 forts & heritage within 100 km of Arusha. The closest is Arusha Declaration Monument (1 km). Best time: october to february.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near Arusha

16 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Arusha. The closest is Arusha Mini Botanical Garden (2 km); the best-known is Arusha National Park (27 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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Parks near Arusha

11 parks within 100 km of Arusha. The closest is East Levolosi Park (1 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Waterfalls near Arusha

10 waterfalls within 100 km of Arusha. The closest is Themi Falls (7 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

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A one-day trip from Arusha

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 45 km on the road.

  1. Start in Arusha
  2. 1 km Arusha Declaration Museum · museum, Arusha
  3. 1 km Arusha Declaration Monument · monument, Arusha
  4. 1 km Sikh Temple · Buddhist site, Arusha
  5. 1 km Natural History National Museum (Hominids Aisle) · museum, Arusha
  6. 20 km Mount Meru Ashcone · viewpoint, Arusha
  7. 21 km Back to Arusha

Plan a longer trip from Arusha — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Arusha

No traveller has reported from around Arusha yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Arusha

    All places near Arusha by distance

    Within 15 km of Arusha

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Arusha by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Churches6878Arusha Community Church (1 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints3552Summit of Mount Meru (1 km)
    Forts & heritage1726Arusha Declaration Monument (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens1116Arusha Mini Botanical Garden (2 km)
    Other attractions1315Elephant (2 km)
    Parks911East Levolosi Park (1 km)
    Waterfalls910Themi Falls (7 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs79Lake Duluti (15 km)
    Mosques & dargahs89Masjid Quba of Levolosi (1 km)
    Museums55Arusha Declaration Museum (1 km)
    Temples22Calvary Temple Arusha (1 km)
    Caves02Sieny Caves (74 km)
    Buddhist sites11Sikh Temple (2 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves11Papyrus Island (14 km)

    Arusha: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Arusha?

    Mount Meru Ashcone (viewpoint, about 21 km), Arusha Declaration Museum (museum, about 1 km), Arusha Declaration Monument (monument, about 1 km), Sikh Temple (Buddhist site, about 2 km), Clock Tower (attraction, about 2 km), Natural History National Museum (Hominids Aisle) (museum, about 2 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Arusha?

    186 places on Spotwander: 68 churches, 35 hill stations & viewpoints, 17 forts & heritage, 11 wildlife, forests & gardens, 13 other attractions.

    Which is the nearest church to Arusha?

    Arusha Community Church, about 1 km by road; St. James Anglican Church (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Arusha?

    Summit of Mount Meru, about 1 km by road; Uruhu Peak (2 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Arusha?

    Arusha Declaration Monument, about 1 km by road; Boma Gallery Near Palace Hotel Arusha (2 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Arusha?

    Start in Arusha, visit Arusha Declaration Museum, then Arusha Declaration Monument, then Sikh Temple, then Natural History National Museum (Hominids Aisle), then Mount Meru Ashcone, and drive back — about 45 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Arusha?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches.

    Towns near Arusha

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Arusha’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Arusha on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.