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For those who do not appreciate haggling in the local African markets…
The Cultural Heritage Center is the place for you!
Located in the outskirts of Arusha, the Cultural Heritage Center is equal parts gallery, market and food venue and the perfect location to spend a day in Arusha!
The Cultural Heritage Center offers genuine African antiques and handicrafts, a spice store, a Maasai hut, leather shop, bead shop, clothing stores and Tanzanite jewelry. Products are offered without the hassle of bartering for set prices and many items are available for any budget.
Numerous demonstrations are also performed throughout the day, illustrating the different skills required to manufacture the various pieces created and sold throughout Africa.
One of the largest art galleries on the continent and a modern, architectural marvel, the gallery has many levels that will amaze you with it’s beautiful pieces available to both ponder and help you part with your shillings. Masks, furniture, artwork and artifacts from all parts of Africa decorate each level and are guaranteed to amaze! Be sure to give yourself ample time to explore it in its entirety.
We especially enjoyed the astonishing sculptures that decorate the grounds. If you are searching for unique cast pieces, this is your place…a real outdoor museum. Admire them or have one shipped home!
Another area we especially enjoyed was the mask shop. Masks from all parts of Africa decorate the walls, each with a description of the country it hailed from and the tribe that created it. As an avid collector of masks, this was especially enlightening and although they were much beyond my price range, they were quite fascinating.
The perfect place to spend the greater part of the day, all of your shopping needs can be met at the Cultural Heritage Center. Once your retail therapy has been satisfied, reward yourself with a selection of mouth-watering delicacies and snacks from the on-site restaurant or have a coffee on the terrace.
After the intense bartering we experienced in the local Maasai market, it was refreshing to walk around and enjoy the well-maintained grounds and browse the plenitude of well-made items available for sale at our leisure. Make sure to allow time during your visit to Arusha to stop in and check out this modern foundation.
- http://www.culturalheritage.co.tz/
- Address: Cultural Heritage, Arusha, just before the Arusha Airport
- Hours: 0800-1700, daily
- Admission: free
Our flight from New York to Istanbul was uneventful, if not a long one. Movies and a nap helped pass the time and I was quite comfortable in economy class with the help of my new neck pillow and foot sling. Before long, we were landing in Turkey, gazing longingly at the skyline, wishing I had time to visit the Bazaar (how I miss Istanbul’s shopping!) After a three hour sit, we boarded our plane and were landing in Kenya six hours later, making our way through customs and immigration quickly.
Making our way out of Terminal 1D, we began looking for a cafe that we could have a bite to eat and hang out. Paul Caffe was near the main part of the airport, and after entering, we discovered that many other people were spending time and even taking naps (which the workers did not seem to mind). Ordering a couple of sodas, we found a table with outlets nearby to charge our devices. After having breakfast a little later, we found very clean bathrooms just around the corner and were able spread out our things, change clothes and take a quick sponge bath.
There are a few companies that offer shuttle transportation between Nairobi and Arusha. We chose Riverside from a recommendation from a friend and because the price was higher than two of the others that I had investigated. Believing the higher price made the product more desirable, we were a little disappointed to find the bus’ interior to be only adequate. A few seats were available near the back of the bus and we found the ride to be a bit uncomfortable due to the lumpy seats and the many speed bumps along the highway. Despite the cramped quarters, however, we were able to take a quick nap before arriving at a rest stop about three hours later. Given ten minutes to use the facilities and get a drink, we even had time to peruse the many crafts available at the site.
Departing the rest stop, we soon found ourselves at the Namanga border crossing, about 120km from Arusha. Ushered into the building and lined up against a wall, the process was a bit confusing. A uniformed officer checked to ensure that each person had a yellow fever immunization card before allowing us to proceed to the window. Since we had arrived into Kenya, the night before, we were quickly re-fingerprinted and stamped out. Heading to the exit, we found our bus waiting for us and hastily dodged the numerous Masai women selling bracelets, necklaces and other items. Driving around to the Tanzanian side of the border, we were required to claim our baggage from the bus and proceed into the building to clear immigration and customs. Once again, our yellow fever immunizations cards were checked and we were ushered into one of the lines snaking through the new building. At the window, our immigration forms (given to us by our driver) were handed to the agent and $100 (per person) was paid while our visa was pasted into our passports. Though we were required to bring our baggage into the building, we were not required to pass it through the x-ray machines nor was it inspected.
One of the oldest hotels in East Africa, the Arusha Hotel was established in 1894 in the then new and undeveloped town. Over the years, the hotel was a haven for those traveling from Cairo to the Cape and beyond. Enduring many changes and improvements over the years, the hotel has retained its status as one of Arusha’s grandest hotels, offering its foremost hospitality to many guests over the years, including the Prince of Wales, Baron Von Blixen and John Wayne, while filming Hatari.
An Airtel office, a block away, was also a convenient find. Knowing that we would be restricted to WiFi in the lobbies of our lodges during our safari, adding a local sim card to my extra phone ensured that I could be reached in the event of an emergency. It also allowed me to have access to the internet while we were out and about or in our room.