Arusha is more than a departure lounge for the Serengeti. Give it half a day and the town rewards you with colour, craft and a genuine slice of northern Tanzanian life - all a short drive from the hotel.
Markets
The curio (Maasai) markets are stall after stall of beadwork, wood carvings, soapstone, kanga and kitenge fabric and bright Tinga Tinga paintings. Bargaining is expected and friendly - open at about half the first price and settle somewhere in the middle. For everyday life, the Central (Kilombero) Market is a photographer's dream of spices, coffee, grains and produce piled high in woven baskets.
Crafts done well
On the edge of town, the Cultural Heritage Centre is a vast gallery of carvings, paintings and jewellery, with certified Tanzanite under one roof. Shanga is a working glass-and-craft studio that employs artisans with disabilities - you can watch them blow glass and weave, then buy directly.
Tanzanite
The violet-blue gemstone is mined in just one place on earth, in the hills south of here. If you are buying, stick to reputable, certified dealers and ask for a certificate.
Downtown, the little Clock Tower is said to mark the halfway point between Cairo and Cape Town. The city centre is about fifteen to twenty minutes from Moshono and is comfortable to explore by day - reception can arrange a driver or guide who knows where to go and what things should cost.
Photo: Noel Feans, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
