Shanga Craft Experience
- Working glass, bead and textile studios
- Employs artisans with disabilities
- Shop and café on site
- Easy visit within Arusha
Shanga sits in the coffee gardens on the western edge of Arusha and it is the most quietly impressive thing in the city. It is a workshop employing people with disabilities — deaf, physically disabled, visually impaired artisans — producing glass, beadwork and woven textiles, and it has been doing so since 2007.
The glass is the centrepiece. Bottles collected from Arusha’s hotels and bars are broken down, melted in the furnace and blown into new pieces by hand while you stand a few metres away. Watching a beer bottle become a drinking glass or a lamp is oddly compelling, and the heat off the furnace reaches you.
The looms are in the next section, and the beadwork beyond that. Everything sold in the shop was made on site, and the prices are fair rather than inflated because the point is employment rather than margin.
Staff communicate in Tanzanian sign language and there is usually someone who will interpret. Ask questions — people here are proud of the work and happy to explain it.
Allow an hour to ninety minutes. It combines naturally with the Cultural Heritage Centre and the Maasai Market as a half day, and it is entirely accessible.
Honest suitability
Families
Suitable for families. Tell us ages and we will pace the day accordingly.
Couples
Works well for couples; we can arrange a private vehicle.
Solo travellers
Popular with solo travellers.
Accessibility
Tell us about any mobility needs and we will adapt where we can — and say so honestly where we cannot.
What to bring
- Neutral colours — khaki, olive, grey
- Wide-brim hat and sunglasses
- High-factor sun cream
- Insect repellent
- Binoculars
- Layers — dawn is cold, midday is hot
- Reusable water bottle
Missing something? We rent almost all of it — see the equipment list.
Add this to your trip
Tell us your dates and we will tell you honestly whether it fits — and what it costs for your group size.
What it costs your group
One vehicle, one guide, one tank of fuel — whether two of you come or eight. Split further, the per-person price falls. Only the entrance fee is per head. This is the price, not an estimate.
Includes transport, a licensed guide and every entrance fee. Nothing is added afterwards — the figure above is what you pay.
Answers, right now
The things people usually message to ask — answered here so you do not have to wait for a reply.
How much is it for my group?
It depends how many of you there are, and the reason is simple: one vehicle, one guide and one tank of fuel cost the same whether two of you come or eight. Split further, the price each falls. Only the entrance fee is per head.
- 2 people — $29 each
- 4 people — $19 each
- 6 sharing — $36 each
Use the group calculator above for your exact number. That figure is the price — nothing is added afterwards.
What is included?
Private transport and all fuel, a licensed local guide, every park or village entrance fee including VAT, drinking water, and pickup and drop-off at your hotel.
Not included: tips — appreciated, never expected — drinks other than water, and personal items.
Nothing is added at the vehicle door. What you see is what you pay.
Can I book for tomorrow?
Usually yes, if you message tonight. Same-day depends on where you are staying and what you want to do.
Send your dates and group size on WhatsApp and you will get a straight answer — including if the answer is no.
Do East Africans pay less?
Not on this particular trip. The entrance fee here is a community or village fee, which is the same for everyone — there is no government differential to pass on, so we do not pretend there is one.
On national park trips the saving is real and significant. Ask and we will tell you which.
How long is the day?
A full day. Pickup from your hotel in the morning, back in the late afternoon or early evening — exact times depend where you are staying.
If you are jet-lagged or acclimatising for a climb, say so and we will tell you honestly whether it is too much.
