Arusha is located at the base of volcanic Mount Meru.  It is the gateway to the world-famous game sanctuaries of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara and also to Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.  Arusha is also one of the oldest towns in Tanzania.  From a tiny German military area in the 1900’s, Arusha has grown to become the tourist capital of Tanzania with a population of over 400,000 people.

Arusha offers a very agreeable climate throughout the year.  It also offers excellent opportunities for authentic souvenir shopping for the bold Makonde carvings and the Tingatinga art works and paintings. The Maasai market offers a variety of handmade craft and curio products made using the Maasai technology and to represent the Maasai culture.  The Cultural Heritage Center also offers a large variety of curio shops, jewelry boutiques, and an outstanding art gallery along with clothing, textiles and accessories.  Along with a variety of locally owned shops in and around Arusha

Tanzanite it the native gemstone of Arusha and one of the most beautiful and exciting gems to come out of Africa.  It is sold in all gemstone in town and alongside other locally mined stones like the Ruby, Rhodonite, and Tourmaline.  Tanzanite was first discovered in 1967, about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Arusha in Mererani.  To date, Mererani remains the only commercially viable source for Tanzanite in the world.  Tanzanite was named after Tanzania.