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While the city received media attention recently in light of 2025 election demonstrations, Arusha is abuzz with other goings-on, too, courtesy of local entrepreneurs, from Afro-minimalist Makao Collective, which curates gorgeous handcrafted furniture and home decor, to Opuk Lounge, which makes delicious boxed-picnic lunches for conservation-focused safari outings with The Wild Source. Sports enthusiasts, take note: The 30,000-seat Samia Suluhu Hassan soccer stadium in Arusha’s Olomoti region will open in the summer of 2026, primed to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Looking beyond the city, the much-anticipated Koroi Forest Camp from Entara, a community-focused operator, opened this summer in Arusha National Park. This eight-chalet property in the Momella Forest, on the lower slopes of Mount Meru, gives a distinct alternative to the classic game viewing of Tanzania’s plains; instead, here, you might see elephants, shy duikers, and the black-and-white colobus monkeys that give the camp its name. Another newcomer to the safari scene is the Laba Mama Simba, which opened this spring in the 1,730-acre North Dolly wildlife estate.
How to plan it: You can visit Tanzania year-round, although expect the northern part of the country to be busiest in August, when travelers come to see the Great Migration. Flying in is relatively straightforward, with flights from Amsterdam, Doha, Dubai, and others arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a one-hour drive from town. For those traveling to Koroi Forest Camp, consider avoiding the long rainy season of March through May. —Samantha Falewée
Bazaruto and Vilanculos, Mozambique
Go for: barefoot-luxury island lodges, new bush-to-beach flight routes, and seahorse snorkeling
