ARUSHA, July 18 -- ON most days, Arusha is known as the gateway to some of Africas most celebrated wildlife destinations, dispatching safari vehicles toward the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro.

This September, however, the northern Tanzanian city is preparing for a different kind of traffic.

From September 5 to 6, thousands of motorists, transport operators, financiers, technology firms and automobile enthusiasts are expected to converge on the Magereza Grounds in Kisongo, on the outskirts of Arusha, for what organizers describe as Tanzanias premier automotive exhibition and one of the countrys largest auto trade fairs.

Now in its eighth year, the Arusha Auto Show has grown from a niche gathering of car enthusiasts i...