(Redirected from Arusha, Tanzania)
:''This article refers to the city of Arusha. For other uses, see
Arusha (disambiguation).''
'Arusha' is a city of northern Tanzania surrounded by some of
Africa's most famous landscapes and
national parks. Beautifully situated below
Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the
Great Rift Valley, it has a pleasant climate and is close to
Serengeti,
Ngorongoro Crater,
Lake Manyara,
Olduvai Gorge,
Tarangire National Park, and
Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as having its own
Arusha National Park on Mount Meru.
Arusha is the capital of the
Arusha Region and has a population of 270,485 (
2002 census).
Geography and climate
Despite its closeness to the equator, Arusha's elevation of 1400 m on the southern slopes of Mount Meru keeps temeratures down and alleviates humidity. Cool dry air is prevalent for much of the year. The temperature ranges between 13 and 30 degrees Celsius with an average around 25 degrees. It has distinct wet and dry seasons, and experiences an eastern prevailing wind from the
Indian Ocean, a couple of hundred miles east.
Arusha is considered to be one of the best African cities when it comes to great weather and tourism combined.
Almost within the entire city; if you go north you will be going up hill, and going south is always down hill.
Modern history
Official documents ceding independence to Tanzania were signed by the
United Kingdom at Arusha in
1961.
The
Arusha Declarations for Self Reliance in Tanzania were signed in 1967 in Arusha.
The
Arusha Accords were signed at Arusha on
August 4,
1993, by representatives of competing factions in the Rwandan civil war.
In 1994 the UN security council decided by its Resolution 955 of 8 November 1994 that Arusha should host the
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The establishment of the tribunal with its employees has influenced the local economy of Arusha. The tribunal is expected to end its normal work in 2008 with two more subsequent years for appeals handling.
Arusha officially became a city on 1st July 2006 (Source: Arusha Times http://www.arushatimes.co.tz/2006/19) .
Industry and economy
The primary industry of the region is agricultural, with large vegetable and flower producers sending high-quality produce to Europe. Small-scale agriculture was badly hit by the coffee crisis of recent years and is now largely
subsistence farming. Arusha has several factories including a brewery, tyre and fibreboard plant, and a large pharmaceuticals maker.
Arusha is a only home for expensive jewery called
Tanzanite[1] which currently has been produced by in high capacity by big companies. It seems as though many local do not profit from these mines even thought they create some employment; many South African companies have taken advantage of Tanzanian tax systems to avoid taxes. Now the government has started to look at these issues in detail.
One of the principal industries is tourism, with the city playing host to numerous safari companies, hotels and lodges.
Districts
Among Arusha's notable districts are the 'Central Business Area', located by the Clocktower, 'Sekei' in the North-West which is largely residential with a vibrant nightlife, 'Njiro', a rapidly-growing suburb in the South, and 'Tengeru', a lively market-town in the East.
North of Arusha is a small village called
Longido. It is about 90 minutes north of Arusha by
daladala.
Transport
Arusha is mostly served by
Kilimanjaro International Airport for international travellers, some 60km east, approximately halfway to
Moshi. The airport provides international and domestic flights.
Arusha Airport is a smaller domestic airport in the west of the city, currently undergoing expansion. It serves more than 87,000 passengers yearly, amazingly for its size. It is surrounded by a beautiful drape of hills and lush savanna. There are no passenger train services to or from Arusha, but there are regular coaches (buses) to
Nairobi,
Dodoma and
Dar Es Salaam, plus other local towns.
Culture
Arusha is reputed as being one of the most pleasant
cities in the world, due its exquisite, weather, location, beautiful countryside and lively music scene, notably Tanzanian
hip-hop. Mostly performed in
Swahili, with various genres influenced by
African American music, locally known as
Bongo Flava. A good example of this genre is the band,
X Plastaz, singers like Bushoke, Mr.Blue,
TID etc..
Arusha is home to many of Tanzania's vivid festivals, the yearly fiesta is hosted by a few Tanzanian corporate sponsors, that attract various artists from around the world. Artists like
Shaggy,
Ja rule are just a few of one of the world's most popular artists to perform in the wonderous city of Arusha.
Arusha also hosts The annual Arusha nane nane Agricultural show.
Nane Nane is one of the many vibrant public holidays in Tanzania, held on August 8th (the 8th of the 8th month, nane nane means "eight eight" in Swahili). Nane Nane,is marked on August 8th every year where farmers and other stakeholders exchange knowledge and business. it attracts up to a half million people every year.
Arusha is also known for its vibrant night life, with outstanding local
night clubs like, Colobus Club and the Blue Tripple 'A'.
Schools
There are three international schools in and around Arusha: Arusha International school, International School Moshi Arusha Campus, Braeburn School, and St Constantine's International School.
The School of [St Jude]http://www.schoolofstjude.co.tz/ provides free education to children from the poorest families.
==
Sister cities==
★
Durham, North Carolina,
USA
★
Kansas City, Missouri,
USA
Trivia
★ 'Arusha' is also the
Hindi name for the rising
sun.
★ Arusha's clock tower is supposedly situated at the midpoint between Cairo and
Cape Town, therefore representing the halfway point between the two termini of the old British Empire in
Africa. The clock tower is currently adorned by the logo of the
Coca-Cola Company.
★ Arusha was the setting for the 1962 film ''
Hatari!'' directed by
Howard Hawks and starring
John Wayne.
★ A slang name for the city among locals is "A-Town".
★
Princess Margaret visited Arusha in 1956
See also
★
Lake Manyara
★
Arusha Region
★
Longido
★
Arusha Accords
★
Mount Meru (Tanzania)
★
Arusha National Park
★
Tarangire National Park
★
Meru
★
Tanzania
★
Umba Valley
★
Arusha Declaration
External links
★
Website of the Arusha Times
★
School of St Jude
★
St. Constantine's international school
References