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Arusha
Arusha is the capital of Arusha
Region, the largest region of Tanzania. Arusha is also one of Tanzania’s
most developed and fastest-growing towns. The birth rate is approximately
3,5%, but the growth rate is about 9% because of the immigration from rural
areas.
The German colonialists established
Arusha in the year 1900 as garrison. The German era lasted until the end
of the World War I, where ‘Deutsche Ostafrica’ came under British
administration. Official documents ceding independence to Tanzania were
signed by the United Kingdom at Arusha in 1961. Later Arusha became headquarters
of the East African Community in the days when Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda
were members of this economic and custom union. Today, it is the seat of
the Tripartite Commission for East African Co-operation - a revived attempt
at regional collaboration.
Arusha
International Conference Centre (AICC) has a total of 23.000 m2 office space,
which are rented to various international and local institutions and companies.
Major tenants include, the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for
the Rwanda genocide.
This
lovely town lies on the Southern slopes of Mount Meru - at an altitude of 1.450
metres (4.757 ft), which ensures a temperate climate almost throughout the year
despite its vicinity to the equator.
Because of the fertile volcanic soils and the two rainy seasons, agriculture
is a major source of income for most inhabitants of Arusha. Over two million
head of cattle feed on the rich grasslands; coffee, wheat and banana farms surround
the slopes of Mount Meru - and the local marked is booming with all kinds of
vegetables throughout the year.
Arusha
takes the advantage being located close to the border with Kenya and only five
hours by bus from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JRO) in Nairobi. Further
more - Arusha is well served by Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) only
30 minutes from town. This very friendly position has made the town a perfect
starting point for safaris to Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha
National Park, Lake Manyara - just to mention a few. Also thousands of mountaineers
have Arusha as meeting point each year - before and after climbing the two nearby
mountains Kilimanjaro and Meru.
Pictures: Historic
shot of Arusha Clock Tower - the very exact point un Africa between Cairo
in the North and Johannesburg in South Africa. (Top left). View og Mt. Meru
from Old Moshi Road in Arusha (in the middle RH side).
Left bottom: Masai giraffes
in Arusha National Park. All pictures by: Hans Kristoffersen.
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