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Located in the northern highlands of Tanzania, beneath the twin peaks of Mt. Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha is the safari capital of the country. Guests embarking on the popular northern safari circuit all stop in the ‘Geneva of Africa’ to prepare for their journeys into the African bush.The dramatic crater of Mt. Meru stands over the town like a majestic sentinel, it’s crater strewn with thick clouds, it’s slopes dark with verdant forest. Arusha’s ideal location near the major national parks and it’s highland setting make it a peaceful idyll of relaxation before the start of an exciting journey.

It was established in 1900 by the German colonialists as a garrison, and the headquarter of the former East African Community in 1967-1977. Its prominence has very much increased in recent years by becoming again the headquarter of the revived E.A.C and by hosting the International Tribunal, dealing with the Rwandan genocide.  Arusha is the tourists' gateway to Tanzania's major national parks and game reserves, such as Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara National Park Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro  Conservation Area, Tarangire and Mount Kilimanjaro.

The town takes the advantage of being located near the boarder with Kenya, and is well served by Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA). This position has made the city a starting point for safari in the northern tourist circuit (north-eastern Tanzania) Safari is Swahili word with the meaning of" Journey", therefore, you will be starting Here if you have booked for Northern Tanzania Safari.

Arusha has five major districts, which are Arusha, Ngorongoro, Monduli, Arumeru, and Karatu.

Link: http://www.bunge.go.tz/bunge/Mp_ByRegion.asp

Population:

Male Population	638,261
Female Population	654,712
Total Population	1,292.973
Total Household Number	286,579
Average Household Size	4.5
Intercensal Growth Rate 1988 - 2002 (%)	4.0

Link: http://www.tanzania.go.tz/census/pwani.htm


CULTURE AND TRADITIONS:

Due to its position as one of the most famous tourist destination in the world, people from all over the country migrated there to seek employment. This brought about different cultures and tradition. However, Maasai people are the dominating group, whose culture and tradition fascinate a lot of tourist.

The Maasai are an indigenous African ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania. Due to their distinctive customs and dress and residence near the many game parks of East Africa, they are among the most well-known African ethnic groups internationally.

The official Maasai colour is red. The Maasai themselves are very distinctive as they are always wearing some form of red, however little. Their society is patriarchical in nature with the elders deciding most matters for each Maasai group.

The laibon or spiritual leader acts as the liason between the Maasai and their one god, "Enkai", as well as the source of Maasai herblore. The traditional Maasai lifestyle centres around their cattle which constitutes the primary source of food. They also believe that God gave them his cattle to watch over.
Being nomadic, the Maasai construct temporary houses out of cow dung and mud. This mix dries quickly in the sun and is almost as hard as cement and does not smell.

The houses are built in a circle, and at night all of the cows are placed in the center, safe from wild animals.

Young Maasai males are initiated into adulthood through various initiation ceremonies. One such ceremony occurs when young men, who are about 15 or 16, become Morrani or warriors. Their faces are painted, and they wear headdresses made out of feathers and wood. The main initiation ceremony is a mass circumcision, where thousands of boys are circumcised at the same season. This makes them belong to one age set. There is a myth from non-Maasai especially the tourism industry that each young man is supposed to kill a lion before they are circumcised. This is not true. However, killing a lion gives one great value and celebrity status in the community.

 

Click on a region for more information:

• Kagera • Mara • Mwanza • Shinyanga • Arusha • Kigoma • Tabora • Killimanjaro • Manyara • Singida • Dodoma • Tanga

• Rukwa • Mbeya • Iringa • Morogoro • Pwani • Ruvuma • Lindi • Mtwara • Dar es Salaam • Pemba • Zanzibar

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