Arusha: Traditional Tanzania Cooking Class & Food Market Tour

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Arusha, Tanzania

5 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

What's Included

Market Tour & Shopping: Guided exploration of Arusha Central Market with an expert local guide.
Pickup and Drop-off at your hotel near the city center
Fresh Ingredients: All costs for the fresh, local ingredients selected for your cooking session.
Hands-on Cooking Lesson: Full masterclass led by a local host using a traditional charcoal kitchen.
Complete Meal: Sit down and enjoy the full, delicious Tanzanian lunch or dinner that you prepare
Beverages: Refreshing mineral water provided throughout the tour and cooking session.
Taxes: All local government taxes and service fees.

Crew Tips: Gratuities/tips for your local cooking host and market guide (highly appreciated)
Personal Shopping: Any personal items, souvenirs, or extra spices you wish to buy at the market.
Extra Beverages: Alcoholic drinks, sodas, or additional specialty beverages.
Travel Insurance: Personal medical or travel insurance coverage.

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

We will pickup our customers to the right position they select near the city center of Arusha

Itinerary

Arusha

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Sanawari

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems

Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

5.0

based on 83 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Tanzanian market tour and cooking class

Nicole_K, Feb 2026

Great tour! Our guide, Israel, is very friendly and is very knowledgeable about Tanzania. A plus is that his english is perfect! The tour at the market was fun. We also enjoyed cooking in traditional Tanzanian way. No stoves, instead ground charcoal grill and gas bottle with cooking ring. The food turned out delicious! Our Chef was great! It's definitely hands on which made it a great experience. Dishes prepared are all vegetarian. Now I get to return to the US and prepare yummy Tanzanian food. We prepared ugali, vegetable pilau, mchicha and chapati. In the back yard is a mango and avocado tree. We had mangos picked fresh from the tree. Delicious!

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you so much for your kind words! It was an absolute pleasure hosting you and sharing my passion for Tanzania with you. I am thrilled that you enjoyed the 'hands-on' experience—cooking over charcoal and using the gas ring is truly the heart of a local kitchen! It is wonderful to hear that the vegetarian menu was a success; Pilau, Mchicha, Chapati, and Ugali are some of our absolute favorites. I’m also so glad we could share those fresh mangoes from the backyard with you! I am honored that you’ll be taking these recipes back to the US with you. Thank you so much, and you are always welcome back to Arusha!

Great experience

Patricia_K, Aug 2025

This was an amazing tour. We chose it because it sounded interesting, and we needed something to do for a half day in the afternoon while we were in a Arusha, getting ready to go on Safari the next morning. It was not only interesting, it was very educational and fun. Talking with Isaac, Leroy, and Neema while we toured, shopped, and learned to prepare food was so informative. They were great conversationalists, and we learned so much about the lifestyle of the people in the town of Arusha, Tasmania.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your wonderful review and for your kind words about Tanzania Songbirds Safaris. We are delighted that you enjoyed the authenticity of the experience, especially the visit to the local market and the opportunity to prepare traditional meals. Your feedback and the time you took to share it mean a lot to us.