Early arrival for Safari starting August 19th.

CatherineField

Would love to hear from others who will be on this safari. I am arriving very early on the morning of August 18th and looking for people interested in seeing Arusha or other activities before the trip starts.

Cath from Reston, Virginia.

Rmm6

Hi Cath,

We just got back from the K and T safari and you will have the trip of your life. However, the only place you would want to go in Arusha is the Cultural Heritage Center. It has shops, no bargaining, a wonderful art gallery where everything is also for sale, outdoor sculptures and a cafe behind the stores. Tauck will take you there for 1/2 hour just before you cross into Kenya and it won't be nearly enough time. You DO NOT want to go to the market in Arusha or see anything else there. It is NOT for tourists and you will not feel comfortable. You'll see the "market" on your way to the heritage center and can judge for yourself.

Have a blast!
Melanie

British

There is Arusha National park, very well worth a visit. Some people have enjoyed the market tour with a guide. It is certainly not what I need to go to, though it was interesting driving through it and I believe some contributors on the forum have bought items there, I think it was cloth in typical African patterns.

AlanS

British wrote:

There is Arusha National park, very well worth a visit. Some people have enjoyed the market tour with a guide. It is certainly not what I need to go to, though it was interesting driving through it and I believe some contributors on the forum have bought items there, I think it was cloth in typical African patterns.

DO NOT go to the local market w/o a guide! One couple on our tour went with a guide to the market near the hotel- said it was interesting from a cultural perspective, but there was really nothing for them to buy- mainly merchandise for locals only- food stuffs, cans of cooking oil, recycled clothing, household items, etc., It was VERY, VERY, CROWED on market days (Saturday?) and almost deserted other times. Another couple went into town, also with a guide, looking for African Art. Once locals discovered they were Americans (Canadians?) they were immediately set upon by street vendors (and touts) so they had to take refuge in the vehicle until they reached the art store.

As British suggests, if you want to go out, arrange with the hotel for a guide/escort and vehicle to take you to the Tanzanian Cultural Heritage Center, which, despite it's name, is a privately owned giant art, jewelry (Tanzanite specialists) and souvenir complex that you will visit again with Tauck before heading to Kenya, or arrange a tour of nearby Arusha National Park. You'll find a lot of information about visiting the park in the K&T forum archives here and can also read about the park itself on its website.