Quick answerArusha is a city in Tanzania, with 617,631 people inside the city limits in 2022. It is best known for the Safari capital of Tanzania, the Mount Meru and the Clock Tower. Its official languages are Swahili and English, and its currency is the Tanzanian shilling.
Arusha is a city in northern Tanzania, with about 618,000 people (2022 census). It sits at the foot of Mount Meru, 1,400 metres above sea level, and is the gateway to the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Kilimanjaro.
Key facts
| Country | Tanzania |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 617,631 (2022) |
| Elevation | 1400 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Africa/Dar_es_Salaam |
| Language | Swahili, English |
| Currency | Tanzanian shilling (TZS, TSh) |
| Coordinates | 3.3667° S, 36.6833° E |
Overview
Arusha is a city in northern Tanzania and the capital of Arusha Region, at the foot of Mount Meru, 1,400 metres above sea level. The city had 617,631 residents in the 2022 census, making it the fourth-largest city in Tanzania. It sits between Mount Meru and the plains that lead to the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Arusha grew as a German military post and trading town in the early 1900s, and it is famous as the place where the Arusha Declaration, the founding statement of Tanzanian socialism, was issued in 1967. Its Clock Tower is said to stand midway between Cape Town and Cairo. The city is also the headquarters of the East African Community and of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda's successor institution.
Today Arusha is Tanzania's safari capital, the starting point for trips to the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, and for climbs up Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro. It is also a diplomatic town, hosting the East African Community's offices and international courts, and a market town for the Maasai people of the surrounding region.
What Arusha is known for
- Safari capital of Tanzania
- Mount Meru
- Clock Tower
- East African Community headquarters
- Arusha Declaration
- Gateway to the Serengeti
Landmarks
- Mount Meru
- Clock Tower
- Arusha National Park
- Arusha Declaration Museum
- Cultural Heritage Centre
- Lake Duluti
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area gateway
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Arusha?
About 618,000 people live in Arusha (617,631 in the 2022 census). That makes Arusha the fourth-largest city in Tanzania, after Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and Dodoma. It is the capital of Arusha Region in the north of the country.
What is Arusha famous for?
Arusha is famous as Tanzania's safari capital, the starting point for trips to the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Kilimanjaro, and for Mount Meru rising over the city. It is also known as the headquarters of the East African Community and as the place where the Arusha Declaration of 1967 was issued.
Where is Arusha located?
Arusha is in northern Tanzania, at the foot of Mount Meru, between the Serengeti plains and Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the capital of Arusha Region and sits 1,400 metres above sea level. Its coordinates are 3.37° S, 36.68° E, and its time zone is East Africa Time.
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Keep exploring
- Tanzania — the country Arusha is in
- Dar es Salaam — another city in Tanzania
- Mwanza — another city in Tanzania
- Dodoma — another city in Tanzania
- All cities in Tanzania
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.