Overview
The Cultural Heritage Centre on the outskirts of Arusha is a sprawling museum and craft shopping complex showcasing Tanzania's tribal cultures and arts together in one place. Its five-floor gallery displays and sells thousands of works - Makonde ebony sculptures, Tingatinga paintings, Maasai beadwork, tanzanite jewelry, contemporary East African art - and visitors can watch artists at work. The museum itself is free, making it a great stop for souvenir shopping or for spending time before or after a safari. Clean cafes and restrooms make it a frequent group stop too. Free entry. About 10 minutes by car from downtown.
Opening Hours
Daily 08:00-18:00
Travel Tips
Prices can be negotiated - compare across the floors. If buying tanzanite, ask for a GIA certificate. The cafe is fine for a light lunch.
Hotels near Cultural Heritage Centre
Hotels and guesthouses in Arusha, Dodoma Road, Arusha
Other attractions in Arusha
Serengeti National Park
A world-renowned wildlife reserve famous for the wildebeest migration. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ngorongoro Crater
The world's largest intact caldera, home to about 25,000 wild animals inside the crater.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Africa's highest peak (5,895m), famed for treks toward its snow-capped summit.
Arusha National Park
A small national park at the foot of Mount Meru, with giraffes, buffalo, and colobus monkeys.
Tarangire National Park
A safari park famous for giant baobab trees and massive elephant herds.
Lake Manyara National Park
A rift-valley lake park famed for tree-climbing lions and pink flamingos.