Arusha Tanzania — Hotel in Arusha

We explored Tanzania with Firelight Safaris and were amazed by the experience. ||The Firelight team was easy to work with (Thank you, Belinda!). They customized a trip for our large group that included several locations and environments, a stunning diversity of wildlife, and the right mix of “comfortable yet authentic” accommodations. They took care of the logistics so we could focus on the adventure.||Tom’s decades of experience and knowledge of Tanzania’s culture, biodiversity, and services made for an exciting few weeks. In addition to having a comprehensive understanding of the African bush, and a great knack for finding the most elusive animals, Tom knows someone everywhere he goes in Tanzania. This proved to be very useful. He’s also a great storyteller and appears to tell great jokes in Swahili. We don’t speak Swahili but he was always making the locals laugh.||If you’ve never been on safari in Africa, do it with Firelight Safaris. The access to wildlife that Tom and the camps with which he works is incredible. Elephants, zebra, lions, wild dogs, wildebeest, buffalo, hippos, giraffes, turtles hatching..yeah, turtles hatching, crocodiles, more birds than you’ve ever thought possible. The full list is longer but you get the point.||The camps that Firelight chose for our visit were all great, each had its distinct style. Our hosts and staff at each camp were super friendly and the accommodations were comfortable. The food throughout the trip was great.||You’ll have moments on the top of a hill overlooking the rolling plains of the Serengeti or rushing through the African bush on the back of a converted Toyota Landcruiser at sunset that no picture or video will ever come close to capturing. We feel very grateful to have had this opportunity.||…also, Tanzania has great beer. ||Thank you, Tom, Belinda, and Firelight Safaris for an...

Arusha The third largest city in Tanzania is Arusha. It is situated at the foothills of Mount Meru – a volcanic mountain held sacred by the inhabitants of the area. However, its importance is not in its size but location. It is the hub of Tanzania’s wildlife tourism. You have all the wildlife parks / areas easily accessible from Arusha. The city has a domestic airport and an international one – Kilimanjaro airport, some thirty kilometers away.

That you get tour operators very easily in the city is not a big point but the big point is the pleasant weather of Arusha. I made it a base for all my safari related activity and left it only when I decided to go to Zanjibar / Dar es salaam towards the end of my three week East Africa itinerary.

I entered Tanzania from Kenya overland through the Namanga border point. Arusha is 100 Km from Namanga and transport was not a problem. Anyone visiting Tanzania for a safari ought to make Arusha their base for the wildlife venture. I was there from Aug 10 to 17, 2023 and the weather was very pleasant.

I will plan a safari next and again...

Dorthy said, “There’s no place like home”, and she wasn’t lying. With that said, Tanzania made me feel like I was home, and Arusha made me feel like I just found a hidden doorway to another world. The air was not too hot, not too humid, not too cool, it was a temperature Goldilocks situation where I literally felt it was “just right.” I was with the love of my life, experiencing the love of my life, surrounded by life’s loving experiences. Everyone there was kind and I all I could do was give it back. I had been learning Swahili and the people including the lady I bought groceries from were always willing to correct and guide me through my language development. The mountains were lush and green. We got a tour with a local family owned company, which ended in us making our own coffee. This is another place I must return to. The sights, smells, and sounds joyfully haunt...