SandraJoy

After our 11 day safari in October, we fly back to Arusha around noon and will be transported to Kia Lodge where we'll have a day room.

Our flight leaves JRO late in the evening for Amsterdam....so suggestions on how to spend that last day will be appreciated.

Should we arrange for a car and driver that day or are taxis and/or public transportation available? We'll probably have seen enough (is there ever enouigh?) wildlife, so perhaps some recommendations on a restaurant or shopping for trinkets for the grandkids or other "can't do without stuff".....or maybe just a walk around and enjoy the town...but I have no idea of how close and accessible Kia Lodge is to everywhere..or how safe the town is.....so HELP Please!

ShayTay

On the way into town from the domestic Arusha airport, you could stop at the Cultural Heritage Center, which has lots of souvenirs for sale. They also have a cafe there. They are building a new center next door; it's been under construction for years. Wander over there and look at the sculptures on the grounds. The one of Maasai warriors attacking a lion is amazing. I met the older gentleman who did them... fascinating guy.

See if your transport to KIA Lodge can take you to any shops, restaurants, etc. before you go to out to the Lodge, given that it's almost 40km out of town. They might want to charge you for the extra time, but it would be worth it to do any shopping, etc. before you leave Arusha.

Malpa

Hi,

When I was in Arusha, we went to what is called the Maasai market.....which are lots of small shops near the town. It's a good place to get reasonably priced gifts if you want them.

We found the town very safe to wander around and taxis around town okay.

SandraJoy

So is the Maasai market the same thing as ShayTay mentioned?
or is it any closer to Kia Lodge?

gruezi

The Maasai market is not the same thing and is a lot better option than the cultural center. Low prices, good quality and a real experience. You can do all your souvenir shopping there.

Skip the cultural center unless you want to overpay...

Have lunch at the Arusha Coffee Lodge. Lovely.

sandi

There's nothing out at KIA Lodge.

Suggest you arrange for your day-room in Arusha. Also arrange to have driver/vehicle from p/u at ARK for the afternoon.

You can then stop for lunch, shopping, walkabout, relax at hotel pool, have dinner. Then depending on time of homebound/ongoing flight, be transferred to JRO.

pixelpower

To be honest; I'd stay in the KIA lodge.

I'd relax at the pool on top of that little hill, have a last Tusker at the bar ...and then sit quietly at the bird bath (between the pool and the reception). Cannot believe the birds I shot there.

climbhighsleeplow

Absolutely avoid buying anything at the overpriced cultural center. Tourist trap, tourist trap.

Take a look at this map:
http://www.go-safari.com/Arushamoshi/CityCenterWeb.jpg

If you land at Arusha Airport, stop at Shanga Shangaa - they provide work for handicapped people making jewelry and other interesting souviniers. It is a lovely place for lunch too - but your guide has to call-ahead to book.

Then stop at the cultural center perhaps to look around but don't buy anything. Note the prices of items you may want to buy. To buy, go to the Meru Maasai Crafts market near the Arusha Hotel on the map. Keeping in mind the prices you saw at the cultural center, negotiate but be reasonable!

For more modern shopping and great coffee and restaurants you can go to Njiro on the map.

Then on to Kia Lodge where you can relax until the evening - I like the bar and pool too!

aby

Let's sum up the options
a) pixelpower's good suggestion: stay at the lodge and relax
b)go to the expensive Cultural Center (any driver wouldn't mind stopping thinking about the comission he may get)
c) visit the cheap "maasai Market" promoting locals, though may have to add some "chai" to the transportation
D) my suggestion: go to Serena Mountain Village, from where you can take a nice walk to the beautiful lake & forest just next to the lodge {take an escort, as i've heard of a robbery there}

aby

KennyK

Isn't there a view of Kili from the KIA lodge...if the day is clear?

SandraJoy

You guys are all great! Thanks...so now i'll write to Warrior Trails and see what they can do for us.

canadian_robin

Hi Sandra! I am writing from Heathrow on my way back from 3 weeks in Tanzania so this will be brief:
Have lunch (in the garden) at the Coffee Lodge - we stayed there overnight and it is a great place. Their pizzas are reputed to be the best in Southern Africa for good reason - the clay oven is in the garden and you can watch them being made. Ours was delicious. Needless to say, the coffee is also very good.

The Cultural Centre is expensive as others (above) have said. The Masai market is excellent - I would highly recommend it for the goods and the experience (be prepared for some tiresome vendors, although most were very friendly - we found those at Vic Falls far worse). It reminded us of Greenmarket Square in Cape Town. Two hundred stalls with every bit the quality of the Cultural Centre but much better prices. The market had a much better selection of Tinga Tinga paintings (we had wanted to purchase one) and Masai jewelery than the cultural centre. There were several carvers at work at the market and they were great fun to chat with. If it comes down to a choice - skip the Cultural Centre and go to the Masai market. If you have time to do both, then go to the market first because I suspect you will then not feel the need to go to the Cultural Centre. We went to the Centre first and regretted some of the purchases we made there after going to the market - there was better selection and prices at the market.
We felt perfectly safe in the market and were there without a guide - we drove ourselves there - safety was not an issue and it was a great experience. The driving is a challenge - Arusha is a tad crazy - but we had just spent 4 weeks driving ourselves through Kenya and Tanzania so we were comfortable with the chaos. Both the CC and market are a short drive from the Coffee Lodge. I am not familiar with Kia, so I can't comment re distances etc.

I hope this is coherent - I spent the night on the plane from Nairobi. Onwards to Canada in the morning! Robin

SandraJoy

Thanks Robin....hope you had a safe trip home....guess we'll have lunch at the Coffee Lodge and check out the Masai market and then have our guide take us to Kia Lodge....probably in the late afternoon so we'll have time to pack all our "purchases" for the trip back that night. We too, fly forever...first JRO to Amsterdam...and then Amsterdam to LA.
Should be a fun 25+ hours.

canadian_robin

Hi Sandra! Still at Heathrow - we fly out in a couple of hours. Having had some sleep, I now realize that I should have pointed out that the CC does have some things that the Masai market doesn't - namely, some good quality and very nice Tanzanian and Kenyan T-shirts (that we then discovered are also available at the Nairobi airport for the same price), books/maps and CDs. However, for Tanzanian souvenirs (carvings, bowls, Masai wedding necklaces, Masai jewelery, Ting Tinga paintings etc.), you can't beat the Masai market - my only regret was that we didn't leave ourselves enough time at the market - you need at least an hour. Vendors will accept $US or Tsh - we used both. The only public transport available are the minibus taxis, so I would arrange for a driver to take you to the market. Robin

pixelpower

KennyK wrote;
>>> Isn't there a view of Kili from the KIA lodge...if the day is clear?

Yes, a very beautiful view actually.

See:

http://www.pixelpower.be/TRAVEL/IMGS/ZAN_PIC8.jpg

This is actually an image straight from the travelogue on my site. On the left is a bird photographed at the bird bath (pin tailed whydah). On the right is the view from the pool.

SandraJoy

Hope we have a clear day....so after lunch and the market..shop till I drop....we'll save some daylight hours to enjoy the gardens at Kia Lodge. Depends on the weather and the clarity of the sky...Thanks again all...