Arusha travel guide

Air

Kilimanjaro International Airport, T027-250 2223, is half way between Arusha and Moshi. To get to the airport you can get the Air Tanzania or Precision Air shuttle buses, which leave about 2 hrs before flight departure. Air Tanzania fly to Dar daily (booking in advance is essential), Mon-Wed, Fri 0800, 1550 and 1930, Thu, Sat-Sun at 1615 (55 mins). Some flights have connections in Dar for Zanzibar. Precision Air fly daily flight to Dar at 0915; and to Nairobi at 0835, 1615 and 1940. There are flights to Mombasa Mon-Wed, Sat-Sun 1440 (1 hr). Also a daily flight to Shinyanga (1½ hrs) and Mwanza at 1120 (2 hrs).

Closer to town is Arusha Airport, 10 km west along the road to Dodoma. This is mostly used for charter flights and scheduled services operated by Coastal Air. To Dar daily at 1215 via Zanzibar (2 hrs). To Mwanza daily 1230 via Grumeti (3½ hrs), Manyara and the other airstrips in the Serengeti (2½ hrs). To Ruaha 0800 (3½ hrs) via Manyara (25 mins), Tarangire and Dodoma.

Airline offices

Air Tanzania, Boma Rd, T027-250 3201, http://www.airtanzania.com. Coastal Air, T027-211 7969, T027-211 7960, T0713-530730 (mob), http://www.coastal.cc. Ethiopian Airlines, New Safari Hotel Complex, Boma Rd, T027-250 6167, www.flyethiopia. com. KLM, New Safari Hote Complexl, Boma Rd, T027-250 8062/3, http://www.klm.com. Precision Air, New Safari Hotel Complex, Boma Rd T027-250 6903, T027-250 2836, http://www.precisionairtz.com.

Bus, dala-dala and shared taxi

There are now 2 bus stations in Arusha. The first is on Zaramo St just to the north of the market and buses from here mostly go to places not too far away. Buy your ticket from the driver on the day of travel. There are regular buses and dala-dala to Moshi, 1½ hrs, US$1.50. You can also get a shared taxi, which will be more expensive.

Long distance buses go from the new bus station opposite the Shoprite Supermarket at the western end of Sokoine Rd. There are reported to be thieves operating around the Arusha bus stations and there are certainly many persistent touts. Go directly to the bus companies’ offices and make sure there is the company’s stamp on the ticket. There are daily departures to Tanga and Mwanza: via both the Serengeti and Singida. There are countless departures each day to Dar, 8-9 hrs, around US$30 ‘luxury’, US$20 ‘semi- luxury’ and US$12 ‘ordinary’. The road has improved considerably and journey times are shortening. Taqwa offers a fast, reliable service; Fresh ya Shamba and Royale are also very good; Scandinavia Express Services Ltd, Kituoni St near the police mess, south of the bus station, T027-250 0153, http://www.scandinaviagroup.com, are recommended for reliability and safety.

To Kenya

Dala-dala take 4 or 5 hrs from here, depart regularly through the day, and the border crossing is efficient. There are several through shuttle services to Nairobi, including Riverside Shuttle, ACU Building, Sokoine Rd, T027-250 2639, www.riverside- shuttle.com, which departs at 0800 and 1400 daily, US$25.

Car hire

Available from most tour companies and Angoni, AICC, T027-250 8498, www.angoni. com, which offers car hire and shuttle services; Avis, Bushbuck Building, T027-250 9108, http://www.avis.com.

Cars can also be hired at the Arusha Naaz Hotel, Golden Rose Hotel and Meru House Inn.

Banks

Barclays, Sopa Plaza, Serengeti Rd; Central Bank of Tanzania, Makongoro Rd near the roundabout with Goliondoi Rd; CRDB, further west along Sokoine Rd, on the corner with Singh St; Exim, at the Shoprite Centre; National Bank of Commerce, Sokoine Rd down towards the bridge; Stanbic Bank, next to the National Bank of Commerce; Standard Chartered, Goliondoi Rd. Almost all the town centre banks now have ATMs.

Currency exchange

There are many forex offices in town. Some will change both cash and TCs as well as give cash advances in local currency against credit cards. Others will not change TCs – cash only. Most of the bureaux are open Mon-Sun 0900-1700. Good exchange rates at National Bureau de Change opposite the post office at the clock tower. Impala Hotel will give cash advances but there is a large fee – approximately 25%.

Immigration

Immigration office, East Africa Rd, T027-250 3569, Mon-Fri 0730-1530 for visa extensions.

Internet

Places to check email are all over town. The Patisserie, near the clock tower; an internet café next to Meru House Inn on Sokoine Rd; and McMoody’s, Sokoine Rd. Typical cost US$0.50 per hr. Worth looking around as there are differences in charges.

Medical services

AICC Hospital, Old Moshi Rd, T027-250 2329; Mount Meru Hospital, opposite AICC, East Africa Rd, T027- 250 3352/4; X-Ray Centre, near the tourist office, T027-250 2345.

Police

Makongoro Rd, T111/112.

Post office

The main post officeis by the clock tower opposite the Arusha Hotel, Mon-Fri, 0800-1230, 1400-1630, Sat 0800-1230. Meru Post Office is at the other end of Sokoine Rd beyond the market. There are 3 other post offices around town. Courier Services DHL, Sokoine Rd next to the Stanbic Bank, T027-250 6749.

Telephone

The cheapest place to make calls is from the Telephone House on Boma Rd, opposite the tourist office. Very efficient service, Mon-Sat 0800-2200, Sun 0900-2000. There are also mobile phone shops all over town if you plan to buy a local SIM card. The main networks are Vodacom, Zain, Tigi and Zantec.