Arusha
Those booking to climb Kilimanjaro with Team Kilimanjaro will usually have planned quite a full itinerary with their coordinator. Some climbers do, however, like to factor a day or two at leisure into their itineraries, and may want to know facilities are available in Arusha, so as to make good use of their available time.
Shopping in Arusha
We would ordinarily expect climbers to arrive into Tanzania with everything that they need. There are a number of reasons however –
There are a number of shops where you can buy the essentials.
But remember, your idea of essentials might be different from what you’d find in a small African town.
Be that as it may, Arusha does offer clothing, food, electronics and medicine.
Restaurants in Arusha
While there are many excellent restaurants in Arusha, we would ask that climbers please exercise extreme caution when deciding when to eat before their climb. The reason for this is that we have had several climbers express regret to us for having been adventurous with their restaurant choice ahead of their climb, and suffering stomach upsets during the first couple of days of the climb that made acclimatising very difficult. But again, the majority of restaurants that are geared towards foreigners in Arusha are safe and of good quality.
Nightlife in Arusha
While we would certainly not recommend any nightlife to be enjoyed before a Kilimanjaro expedition, many climbers will want to celebrate together with a few drinks in Arusha after their climb. Where they choose to do so, we would advise in the strongest possible terms that no valuables should be carried with them, and that they travel only in taxis, preferably taxis organised by their hotel as opposed to those found on the street.
Banks in Arusha
If climbers choose not to rely on bringing with them all the cash that they are likely to need for the duration of their time in Tanzania, they will usually use their credit or debit cards at an ATM. Where they choose to do this it should be noted that the maximum amount that can be withdrawn from a single ATM is usually 400,000 Tsh, though some have a limit of 200,000 Tsh.
In the event that a climber is substantially shorter than they anticipated where, for example, they decide to extend their stay and add a short safari to their itinerary, there is one bank in Arusha that is able to issue USD 800 in cash on a credit card. This bank is Barclays in the Serengeti Road, close to the Outpost Lodge.
Changing Money in Arusha
Climbers do not need to go to the trouble of obtaining Tanzanian Shillings in their own countries, as these are generally considered rare and need to be ordered, which is an unnecessary hassle. Changing money in Arusha is relatively straightforward and good rates are obtainable if changing high value denominations of US Dollars.
Buying Tanzanite Safely
With Tanzanite now claimed to be 1,000 times rare than diamond and the gem fast becoming one of the most coveted stones available, many of our climbers will want to take the opportunity to buy some Tanzanite while in Arusha. Those with such an interest are advised to plan a rest day in Arusha before their climb, during which –
Conversely with sapphire –
With such considerations in mind, we strongly recommend that buyers do not necessarily look for the cheapest prices per carat and alleged grade –
We believe that many climbers ask their equally unsuspecting guides to accompany them around town to find the best prices for stones and –
In the event that climbers have an interest in buying a Tanzanite stone of some pre-