Old Boma Museum
Old Boma Museum
4
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
113 reviews
Excellent
31
Very good
43
Average
25
Poor
10
Terrible
4
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Manish S
6 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
Very nice Museum that takes you through various sections like Natural history, flora & fauna history, etc. There is a small artist corner at the back of the museum where you could buy local handicrafts. Then there is Baruta, the 160 year old giant tortoise :). We spent around 3 hours at the museum. Worth very minute. I'd like to highlight the knowledge, experience and brilliant explanation of Christian, the local guide. He had immense knowledge about the history and was proud while explaining. Answered our questions with patience. Infact, we also took his help to arrange for a tour to the snake park and the Masai village the following day. So, if you are in Arusha, would certainly recommend the museum for a half-day visit. Ask for Christian, the guide. You'd be in good hands.
Written March 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gathoni K
2 contributions
Mar 2023
The Museum is within walking distance from the clock tower in Arusha CBD. You can easily have a coffee in the area and walk in for a quick look around. Go to the back entrance exit to see the painters at work and get some wares when you're there.
You could get a guide but I didn't need to take one.
Very affordable too. (TSH 2,500 without a guide)
You could get a guide but I didn't need to take one.
Very affordable too. (TSH 2,500 without a guide)
Written March 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rombach2017
Aarau, Switzerland41 contributions
Jan 2024 • Friends
Small, simple natural history museum in the old boma in Arusha. Display cases show the history of the evolution of mankind, Tanzania's wildlife and German colonial history. And the commitment of the exhibition organizers, who run a studio in the building, was impressive. Don't forget the art gallery at the back.
Written February 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wanderingwonderE
Calgary, Canada6 contributions
Nov 2021 • Friends
We had a great time visiting this museum before heading up Kilimanjaro and a safari.
We had a guide (Eric) who did a fantastic job touring us around the museum. Great way to get familiar with Tanzania and some of the history here. We got introduced to animals we would see later in the safari as well as some of the notable fossils found in Tanzania like Lucy.
If you have a day or two in Arusha I recommend checking it out.
We had a guide (Eric) who did a fantastic job touring us around the museum. Great way to get familiar with Tanzania and some of the history here. We got introduced to animals we would see later in the safari as well as some of the notable fossils found in Tanzania like Lucy.
If you have a day or two in Arusha I recommend checking it out.
Written November 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandra H
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Couples
The exhibits are a bit dated but the female Masai guide did an excellent job of bringing it all to life. I didn’t get her name, but she deserves 5 stars! A lot of German boma history to read, natural history including a 160 year old living and breathing tortoise! Gardens, taxidermy and optional local crafts to view and buy. Well worth a visit
Written August 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AwayWeGo!
14 contributions
Mar 2020
Nothing noteworthy except some tortoises in the garden, which costs 12000 shillings to see. Guys in the back are selling souvenirs but it's mostly the same stuff you see everywhere. It is in a nice location, but you're better off hiring a ride and going to the cultural heritage center.
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fi R
Glasgow, UK68 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
Very relaxed and not information overload which we like. 3 main areas that you take at your own pace: human evolution, photos of safari animals, smaller area for German colonialism. Then theres some turtles to see/hold. Art area out the back but noone is pushy or anything. It's all very pleasant and a nice way to spend an hour.
Written October 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travlinmomz
California124 contributions
Feb 2011
This little natural history museum has a variety of exhibits, housed within some of the first colonial buildings built in Arusha. Collections include: an exhibit about colonial history, an exhibit about animals in Tanzania (taxidermy examples), an outdoor exhibit of some live animals, an exhibit about fossils, and an exhibit about early hominids.
This museum is also the repository of early hominid and other fossils unearthed in Tanzania. These are all kept in a vault under lock and key. Our group was lucky enough to be able to view a real early hominid fossil from the vault, which was amazing and very much unlike casts. The exhibit on early hominids is pretty nice as well.
According to curators, the museum is planning an expansion and improvements along with moving to a new site in the future. If you are in Arusha, it is definitely worth stopping by, both for the exhibits as well as the Arusha history and old buildings.
This museum is also the repository of early hominid and other fossils unearthed in Tanzania. These are all kept in a vault under lock and key. Our group was lucky enough to be able to view a real early hominid fossil from the vault, which was amazing and very much unlike casts. The exhibit on early hominids is pretty nice as well.
According to curators, the museum is planning an expansion and improvements along with moving to a new site in the future. If you are in Arusha, it is definitely worth stopping by, both for the exhibits as well as the Arusha history and old buildings.
Written March 27, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RebeccaRLV
Leamington Spa, UK71 contributions
Nov 2012 • Friends
Interesting and informative on the work of Dr Mary and Louis Leakey and their excavations at Oldupai (Olduvai) Gorge discovering the origins of man... Natural history section with stuffed animals offers an insight into some of the more prevalent species of wildlife in Tanzania
Written November 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karl S
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI101 contributions
Sep 2019
It's not the Carnegie, but it does have an extensive collection of wildlife photos, along with a few stuffed exhibit, a small but interesting botanical garden, and a few resident animals (turtles and birds). My guide was knowledgeable and helpful. The location itself is interesting, part of the German colonial occupation.
The place is a bit run-down, but not to distress. Definitely worth a visit if you have a spare couple hours.
The place is a bit run-down, but not to distress. Definitely worth a visit if you have a spare couple hours.
Written October 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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