selling tanzania 2013

Tourist Map of Tanzania 5Karibu Tanzania - Welcome ! 7Tanzania – the Facts 9The Towns and Cities l l

13Other Places to See 15 The Northern Parks 17

Arusha National ParkKilimanjaro National ParkLake Manyara National ParkMkomazi National ParkNgorongoro CraterOlduvai GorgeSerenegti National ParkTarangire National Park

The Southern Parks 27Mikumi National ParkRuaha National ParkSelous Game ReserveUdzungwa Mountains National Park

The Other Parks 31 Gombe National ParkKatavi National ParkKitulo Plateau National ParkMahale Mountains National ParkRubondo Island National ParkSaadani National ParkSaanane Island National Park

Zanzibar – the Spice Islands 35Tourist MapKaribu Zanzibar - WelcomeStone Town ... and aroundTouring ZanzibarPemba IslandThe Other IslandsZanzibar Festivals

The Swahili Coast 51 Activity Holidays 55Kilimanjaro - the Roof of Africa 59 Special Interest Holidays 61 Conference & Incentive Tourism 63Cultural Tourism – Visit the People 65 Travel Tips 68

Editorial Contents

Selling TANZANIA is published by Nigel Foster’s Selling AFRICA Ltd.Whilst every care has been taken to ensure all information is accurate andup-to-date, responsibility cannot be taken for any errors or omissions.© 2013Selling AFRICA Ltd, PO Box 640, Amersham, Bucks HP8 4BU, UKTel: 44 (0)1494 766099 E-mail: [email protected]: MDA Marketing Services Ltd, Little Maplestead, Halstead, Essex CO9 2RTPrint: Ancient House Press, Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 0HA

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Serengeti

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Mwanza

Musoma

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Mkomazi

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Lake Rukwa Great Ruaha River

Lindi

Bagamoyo

Rubondo IslandNational Park

Butiama

SaananeIsland

Tourist Map of Tanzania

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Tanzania was recently voted thebest safari country in Africa byboth international visitors and

by specialised safari operators. Now, since February 2013 and

after a four year worldwide search, italso boasts the top three ‘NaturalWonders of Africa’. The SerengetiNational Park, Mount Kilimanjaroand the Ngorongoro Crater -outvoting the River Nile, the Red SeaReef, the Sahara Desert and theOkavango Delta.

Tanzania’s 16 national parks,which protect more than 25% of itsland, are home to 20% of the Africancontinent’s larger mammals so it islittle wonder game viewingexperiences are the best in Africa.

It is the place to see seeminglyendless herds of wildebeest andzebra trekking across the plains on

their annual migration – followed bylion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. Itis elephant country, boasting someof the largest populations in theworld. While Gombe and Mahalenational parks are home to groupsof chimpanzees now so rarely seenin the wild.

In Tanzania visitors can enjoyauthentic African wilderness withoutpaved roads and fencing. There areoptions for all sizes of budget. And awildlife safari can be enhanced by awide choice of beach holidays orvarious other activities.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro – the‘Roof of Africa’ and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.Deep-sea Fishing. Hot-air Ballooning.Scuba Diving. Swimming withDolphins. Visits to the numerousarchaeological sites. Whale

Watching. And, perhaps mostvaluable of all, participating in oneor more of the many CulturalTourism Programmes to gain aninsight into the history and cultureof the people.

Both Tanzania’s Swahili Coast,Mafia and, of course, Zanzibar andPemba share beautiful beaches –hundreds of miles of palm-fringedsands overlooking the Indian Ocean.Its huge lakes – Victoria, Tanganyikaand Nyasa – are bountiful with fish.Its mountains are massive andmysterious. Its cities relaxed andfriendly. And travel is easy, with manyflights to and from neighbouringcountries and around Tanzania.

Tanzania is also a politically stableand safe country to visit!

It was in Tanzania that Stanleyuttered those famous words –

“Dr Livingstone I presume” – whenhe tracked down the Scottishmissionary and explorer after a longtrek into the interior. IndeedTanzania was a magnet for severalVictorian explorers who made epicjourneys of discovery in search ofthe source of the Nile.

Today’s visitors are able toexplore the country, and seeTanzania’s remarkable sevenUNESCO World Heritage sites -

Kilimanjaro National ParkKilwa Kisiwani RuinsKondoa Rock-Art SitesNgorongoro Conservation AreaSelous Game ReserveSerengeti National ParkStone Town, Zanzibar

- with none of the hardship but all ofthe adventure of those early,intrepid pioneers.

Karibu Tanzania - Welcome !

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For more information contact:The Conservator, Ngorongoro Conservation Area AuthorityPO Box 1, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha, TanzaniaTel +255 27 253 7019/06 Fax + 255 27 253 7007E-mail: [email protected] www.ngorongorocrater.org

Welcome to the eighth Wonder of the World...the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

A world natural and cultural heritage site; an international man and biosphere reserve; a home to both the ‘big five’ and pastoralists; the ‘cradle of mankind’;

and a ‘living Eden’ for tourists

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HISTORYIt is with good reason that Tanzaniahas been called the “cradle ofmankind” for it was here, in 1960,that Dr Louis Leakey and his wifeMary discovered the fossilisedremains of homo habilis, or “handyman”, calculated to be 1.75 millionyears old. Since then, in 1976,hominin footprints found at Laetolihave been been dated back anincredible 3.5 million years.

Tanzania was originally occupiedby various African tribes, particularlythe Masai with their proudtraditions. Arab merchants visitedthe coast some 2,000 years ago andsettled in Zanzibar around the eighthcentury establishing trade routesinto the interior. The inter-marriageof Arabs and local people created anew race with their own language -Kiswahili, or Swahili whose word fora journey - safari - has become theinternational description of a tripinto the wild. The Portugueseestablished temporary settlementsin the 16th century but in 17thcentury were supplanted by the

Omanis who developed theinfamous slave trade. The scramblefor Africa by the European powers atthe end of the 19th century led tooccupation of the mainland byGermany although Zanzibar becamea British protectorate. After WorldWar I, Germany was forced tosurrender its territory to the British.

Tanganyika, as the mainland wasthen known, achieved independencefrom Great Britain in December 1961.Zanzibar becoming independent twoyears later, in December 1963, andshortly afterwards, in April 1964,joining the mainland to become theUnited Republic of Tanzania.

GEOGRAPHYTanzania covers 937,062 sq kmmaking it the largest country inEastern Africa. Just south of the equator, it borders Kenya andUganda to the north; the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, Rwanda andBurundi to the west; and Zambia,Malawi and Mozambique to thesouth It is therefore an ideal centrefrom which to explore eastern,central and southern Africa.

The Great Rift Valley, the vastfault-line that runs down the spineof Africa, has created manyfascinating topographical features inTanzania including the world-famousNgorongoro Crater, Lake Tangayika,and Mount Kilimanjaro, thecontinent's tallest mountain. Thecentral plateau is a huge expanse ofsavannah and sparse woodland andwhile the interior is largely arid the800 kilometre coastline, and theislands of Zanzibar, Pemba andMafia, are lush and palm-fringed.

The coastal areas are hot and humidwith an average day timetemperature of 30°C. Sea breezesmake the climate very pleasant fromJune to September. The centralplateau experiences hot days andcool nights. The hilly countrybetween the coast and the northernhighlands has a pleasant climatefrom January to September, withtemperatures averaging around20°C. Temperatures vary aroundKilimanjaro according to the seasonregistering a low 15°C during May

to August rising to 22°C duringDecember to March. For the whole country the hottestmonths are from October toFebruary. The long rainy season isfrom mid-March to late May.

ECONOMYAgriculture plays a vital part in theeconomy of Tanzania and touristswill see evidence of this as they aredriven past huge coffee, tea andcotton plantations and witness theprocessing of cashew nuts, sisal,cloves and other spices.

The country also has large mineraldeposits that include gold,diamonds, a wide variety of othergemstones and natural gas.

Of particular interest is tanzanite,a brilliant gemstone found only inTanzania. It is mined in the foothillsof Mount Kilimanjaro and is onethousand times rarer than diamonds.Geological research indicates thatthis source will be depleted in thenext 10 to 20 years and that thechances of finding tanzanite in anyother part of the world are ‘less thanone in a million’.

Tanzania - the Facts

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ARUSHALocated in the north of Tanzania, inthe shadow of Mount Meru, Arushais the safari capital of the country.Tourists usually overnight herebefore their safari around theNorther Circuit. Built by the Germansas a centre of colonial administration,Arusha is now one of the country’smost prosperous towns. The site forthe United Nations Criminal Tribunaland the headquarters for thetripartite Commission for East AfricanCo-operation, Arusha is also thecentre for the trading of Tanzanite, arare gemstone only found inTanzania. The National NaturalHistory Museum, with its collection ofantiquities demonstrating Tanzania’snatural heritage, is housed in an oldGerman Fort in the centre of Arushawhile the nearby Cultural Heritagecentre and its adjacent, four storeyArt Gallery are also well worth a visit

BAGAMOYOSome 70 km north of Dar es Salaam,on the coast opposite Zanzibar,Bagamoyo was once one of the mostimportant trading ports on the EastAfrican coast. The former capital ofGerman East Africa, it is a centre fordhow building. Saadani NationalPark is 45 km to the north and theKaole ruins five km to the south.

Dar es Salaam, which means “Havenof Peace” in Swahili, boasts one ofthe world’s finest natural harboursbut, while it has grown to become a

prosperous centre of the EastAfrican region, it remains a place offascination with many reminders ofits colourful past. Dhows still ply itswaters while dug-outs, piled withfish, bob by the harbourside. Thecity displays the many influences ofits history. There is an Asian districtwith its speciality shops, restaurantsand temples, while the Germancolonisation has left behind aBavarian-style railway station, theRoman Catholic St. Joseph’sCathedral and the Lutheran AzaniaFront Church. The Botanical Gardensand Gymkana Club are evidence ofBritish occupation. Dar es Salaam’s60,000 seater, multi-purposeNational Stadium was been built toboth FIFA and Olympic standards ata cost of US$56 million.

DODOMALocated in the heart of Tanzania,Dodoma is the nation’s officialpolitical capital and its seat ofgovernment. Smaller and lessdeveloped than the country’scommercial centre, Dar es Salaam,Dodoma, is also the centre ofTanzania’s expanding wine industry.

IRINGALocated in the Southern Highlands,Iringa overlooks the Ruaha River andis a popular stopover for visitors toboth the Ruaha and UdzungwaMountains national parks. Duringtheir occupation, the Germanmilitary built the town as a fortifieddefence against marauding tribalwarriors. Iringa was also the site of

several battles during the First andSecond World wars, andCommonwealth war graves can befound just outside the town. TheIsimila Stone Age Site lies about 15km from the town and is easilyaccessible. This is one of the mostinteresting stone age sites in EastAfrica and, with its pillars oflimestone left standing after years oferosion, is well worth a visit.

KIGOMAKigoma, is located on the easternshores of Lake Tanganyika. It is aparticularly good base forchimpanzee safaris to both Gombeand Mahale Mountains NationalParks while Ujiji, the village whereStanley met Livingstone, is nearby.

MBEYANear the Zambian border, Mbeya is amajor agricultural centre. Coffee,tea, bananas and cocoa are allgrown in the area. It is the maingateway to Kitulo National Park andthe site of the Mbozi meteorite.

MOSHINestled at the base of MountKilimanjaro, Moshi is the coffeeproducing centre of the country andvast plantations blanket the area.Sugar plantations are also of centralimportance to the region’s economybut the main reason visitors come toMoshi is to climb Kilimanjaro.

MTWARALocated on the south-eastern coast,near the border with Mozambique,

Mtwara is a good base for exploringthe Mnazi Bay Ruvuma EstuaryMarine Park and nearby Mikandani.

MWANZASituated on the southern shores ofLake Victoria, in the north west ofthe country, Tanzania’s second city isthe perfect base from which to visitnearby Rubondo National Park,Saanane Island and the BujoraSukuma and Nyerere museums. Italso offers easy access to theSerengeti being only a 21⁄2 hour drivefrom the Western Grumeti. Otherattractions include lake cruises,canoeing safaris and fishing fortilapia or giant nile perch. Mwanza isalso known as Rock City because ofthe gigantic rock outcrops juttingout of the lake and strewn aroundthe city. The most famous of theseare the Bismarck Rocks, named afterthe German chancellor under whomthis originally small town wasestablished as the administrationcentre of German East Africa.

TABORAIn the hinterland of westernTanzania, Tabora is a key transitpoint as the main railway line fromDar es Salaam branches here forboth Kigoma and Mwanza.

TANGAThe country’s second and mostnorthernly port, Tanga is a naturalgateway to the Amani Forest NatureReserve, the Amboni Caves, TongoniRuins and both Mkomazi andSaadani National Parks.

The Towns and Cities

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In addition to the world-famousMount Kilimanjaro, covered ingreater detail elsewhere in this

publication, Tanzania has manyother mountains and some of theworld’s largest and deepest lakes.

EASTERN ARCA crescent shaped mountain rangerunning along the eastern side ofTanzania. Formed millions of yearsago, they contain some of the mostbiologically diverse, and endemicallyrich, montane ecosystems in Africa.Often called the Galapagos of Africa,the range includes the Pare,Usambara, Nguru, Ukaguro, Ulyguru,Ribeho and Udzungwa Mountains.

Home to the Hadzabe bushmen,some of the last remaining hunter-gathers in Africa, Lake Eyasai is a saltlake situated on the southern edgeof the Ngorongoro CraterConservation Area.

Situated in Lake Manyara NationalPark, this soda lake is home to hugepods of hippo; thousands offlamingo; and large numbers ofother large waterbirds includingpelecans, cormorants and storks.

A soda lake, at the base of Ol DoinyoLengai, some 200 km north-west ofArusha on the Kenya border. It ishome to thousands of flamingo andthe surrounding area, with itsstreams and waterfalls, is an idealarea for walking.

Set against the stunning backgroundof the Livingstone Mountains, andcalled the ‘Calendar Lake’ because itis 365 miles long and 52 miles wide,the lake shores form the border withMozambique and Malawi where it iscalled Lake Malawi.

In the south-west of the country thisshallow, alkaline lake is Tanzania’sfourth largest. It is home to a largeconcentration of hippo and crocodileand to the rare shoebill stork.

The waters of Lake Tanganyika, thelongest and after Lake Baikal inSiberia, second deepest freshwaterlake in the world, contain one of therichest concentration of fish foundanywhere. More than 300 differentspecies live within it. Many are

endemic to the lake but are morefrequently seen, worldwide, in homeaquariums. Gombe National Parkand Mahale Mountains National Parkboth border the lake’s shores.

The source of the Nile eluded 19thcentury explorers but today’stourists can easily view the watersthat supply it. Lake Victoria is by farthe largest lake in Africa and, thesecond largest freshwater lake in theworld. Nearby attractions includethe Bismark Rocks, Rubundo IslandNational Park and Saanane Island.

A range of low-lying mountains thatrise precipitously from the shores ofLake Nyasa. Mount Jamimbi, thehighest lakeside peak, rises to aheight of 7,870 ft.

The crown of Tanzania, the ‘Roof ofAfrica’, and one of the seven naturalwonders of the world.

MOUNT MERULocated within Arusha National Park,and overlooking the ‘safari’ town ofArusha,. At a height of 14,980 feet itis second to only Mount Kilimanjaro

among Tanzania’s peaks. Its fertilelower slopes, covered in denseforest, support a diverse wildlife thatinclude buffalo, black and whitecolobus monkey, nearly 400 speciesof bird and, supposedly, leopard.

Situated at the southern end of LakeNatron and know as ‘Mountain ofGod’ to the Masai, Ol Doinyo Lengairises to an elevation of 9,442 feet. Itis the only active volcano in Tanzaniaand last erupted in 2007.

UDZUNGWASLocated near the western edge ofthe Selous Game Reserve, close toMikumi National Park. A smallsection of the mountains fall withinthe boundaries of the UdzungwaMountains National Park wherethere are trails covering the forestand mountain peaks.

USAMBARASThis little known mountain range isone of the gems of Tanzania.Located to the west of the coastaltown of Tanga, and part of theEastern Arc Mountains, theUsambaras offer incredible naturalbiodiversity and are a paradise forhikers and bird-watchers.

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For Reservations and EnquiriesMobile : DAR +255 782 354448/49/50 | ARU +255 689 141355/6Email : dar-reservations@�ightlink.co.tz | reservations@�ightlink.co.tzwww.�ightlink.co.tz

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Pemba

Mtwara

Selous

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In addition to the fantasticwildlife, glorious beaches andstunning scenery there are plenty

of other places to visit and things tosee in Tanzania.

AMANI FORESTEstablished in 1997, to protect theflora and fauna of the EastUsambara Mountains, the AmaniForest Nature Reserve is now an ecotourism attraction with an emphasison walking and hiking. The area hasa wonderful collection of birds,butterflies and plants some of whichare only found here. Black and whitecolobus and blue monkeys; ninespecies of African violet, and theNduk eagle owl – a species onlyfound in Amani – are among themany highlights.

AMBONI CAVESAbout 8 km north of Tanga theseten limestone caves, formed duringthe Jurassic Age some 150 millionyears ago, are the most extensivecave system in East Africa.

BUJORA SUKUMAAlso known as the Bujora CulturalCentre, the museum is located in thevillage of Kisesa some 20km fromMwanza. Exhibits commemorate thehistory, traditions and culture of theSukuma, Tanzania’s largest tribe.

Stone Age tools were discoveredhere in 1951. Many fossilized boneswere also found in the area, amongthem those of a mammal related tothe modern giraffe but having amuch shorter neck, and an extincthippopotamus with an unusualperiscope-like projection.

Close to the border with Zambia andnear the tip of Lake Tanganyika, a215 metre drop makes this one ofthe highest waterfalls in the worldand, after Tugela Falls in SouthAfrica, the second highest in Africa.This area is a breeding ground forthe giant marabou stork. Primitive

tools have been excavated from theKalambo Gorge.

KONDOA IRANGIHalf way between Dodoma andArusha, near the village of Kolo, aresome of the finest examples of rockpaintings in the world ! Theseextraordinary paintings, depictingthe animals, customs and people ofthe time, are Tanzania’s seventhUNESCO World Heritage site.

MBOZI METEORITEA 12 ton iron monolith, the world’seighth largest known meteorite, lieson the slopes of Marengi Hill, off theroad to Tunduma, 70km west ofMbeya. Officially discovered in 1930,the absence of legends recountingits arrival suggest it was more than athousand years ago.

NYERERE MUSEUMLocated 190 km from Mwanza, at hisbirthplace of Butiama, the museumis dedicated to the achievements ofJulius Nyerere, the founding

President of Tanzania. Tours includehis mausoleum, his three formerresidences, and a library of some8,000 of his books.

TENDUNGURUA site near Lindi where, in 1912,German palaeontologists found theremains of several dinosaursincluding the complete skeleton ofBrachiosaurus, one of the largestanimals ever to walk the earth.

TONGONIA small village, 17km south of Tanga,where 15th century ruins of a mosqueand 40 tombs may be found.

UJIJIUjiji is a village close to Kigoma fromwhere, in 1858, Burton and Spekecommenced their explorations andwhere, in 1871, Henry MortonStanley pronounced the famouswords ‘Dr Livingstone I presume’.Two engraved plaques and a smallmuseum commemorate thesehistoric events.

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Other Places to Visit

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The best developed ofTanzania’s tourism routes isknown as the Northern Circuit.

Here there’s the chance to see the‘big five’ - elephant, leopard, lion,rhino and buffalo - and huge herdsof wildebeest and zebra on theirannual migration.

The circuit includes many of thecountry’s most famous nationalparks, Arusha, Lake Manyara,Tarangire and the Serengeti as wellas famous landmarks such as theNgorongoro Crater, the OlduvaiGorge and Africa’s highestmountain, Mount Kilimanjaro.

ARUSHAJust 32 km away from the town ofArusha is the Arusha National Parkwhich was described by Sir JulianHuxley as “a gem amongst parks.”It consists of three spectacularfeatures, the Momela Lakes, MountMeru and the Ngurdoto Crater.

On clear days magnificent viewsof Mount Kilimanjaro can be seenfrom almost any part of the park.The vegetation and wildlife varieswith the topography, which rangesfrom forest to swamp. The park isfamous for its 575 species ofbirdlife, both migrant and resident,and black and white colobusmonkey - the only place they may beseen on the Northern Circuit.Elephant are rare, and lion absentalltogether, but other animalsfrequently seen in the park arebaboon, buffalo, giraffe, hippo,hyena, warthog, zebra and a widerange of antelope species includingdik dik and waterbuck. Leopard areever-present but, as always, difficultto find. An area of adjoining landwas recently incorporated into thepark increasing its size to 550 sq km.Tourist attractions include canoesafaris on the Momela lakes,walking safaris around the rim of

the Ngurudoto Crater, and three orfour day climbs of Mount Meru -good acclimatisation for Kilimanjaro.Getting there: A short drive from

Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport.

At 5,895m, Mount Kilimanjaro is thetallest free-standing mountain in theworld, so it can truly be regarded asthe roof of Africa. “As wide as allthe world, great, high andunbelievably white,” was ErnestHemingway’s description. Now aWorld Heritage site, its outstandingfeatures are its three major volcaniccentres, Shira in the west, Mawenziin the East and the snowcappedKibo in the centre. The forests ofthe surrounding national park areinhabited by elusive elephant,leopard, buffalo, bushbuck, theendangered Abbott’s duiker, andnumerous other small antelope,primates and rodents. They are

however difficult to see due to thedense vegetation.Getting there: A two hour drive

from Arusha or one hour fromKilimanjaro International Airport.

This park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which spend most ofthe day spread out along thebranches of Acacia trees six toseven metres above the ground.

Nestling at the base of the GreatRift Valley escarpment the park isnoted for its incredible beauty. Asvisitors enter the gate they passthrough a lush forest, home totroops of baboons and both blueand vervet monkeys.

Further along the forest opens upinto woodlands, grassland, swampsand beyond these the soda lakeitself, covering 200 sq km andsanctuary to over 400 species ofbird including flamingo, pelican,

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The Northern Parks

storks, sacred ibis, cormorants andEgyptian geese.

The park is particularly noted forits huge herds of buffalo andelephant. Also giraffe, hippo,reedbuck, warthog, wildebeest,zebra, a great variety of smalleranimals and, more recently, a familyof endangered wild dog.Getting there: A half hour flight

from Arusha or a 90 minute drive enroute to the nearby NgorongoroCrater, Olduvai and the Serengeti.

MKOMAZIThis former game reserve contains90% of all botanic species found inTanzania with one third classified asunique in the world. It is also hometo the Mkomazi Rhino Project. Thisinvolves the re-introduction of anumber of black rhino from SouthAfrica and the UK which, it is hoped,will breed before being relocated totraditional natural habitats within

Tanzania. The Captive BreedingProgramme for the African wild dogis another project for thepreservation of endangered speciesthat is based in Mkomazi.Getting there: By road from Arush,

Moshi or Tanga.

NGORONGOROThe Ngorongoro Crater, at 2,286 m.above sea level, is the largestunbroken caldera in the world. Surrounded by very steep wallsrising 610 metres from the craterfloor, this natural amphitheatremeasures 19.2 km in diameter and304 sq km in area. It is home to upto 30,000 animals, almost half beingwildebeest and zebra. Buffalo,elephant, hippo, hyena, jackal, lion,ostrich, serval, warthog, bushbuck,eland, hartebeest, reedbuck,waterbuck and huge herds of bothThomson’s and Grant’s gazelle areeasily seen on the crater floor.

Thanks to anti-poaching patrols, thecrater is now one of the few placesin East Africa where visitors can becertain of seeing black rhino, withthe number now approaching 25.Leopard may occasionally be seen inthe trees of the forest surroundingthe crater while cheetah are alsopresent but rarely seen.

Large herds of giraffe live on therim of the crater and will be seen onthe drive to the nearby OlduvaiGorge and the Serengeti.

Countless flamingo form a vastpink blanket over the soda lakeswhile more than 100 species of birdsnot found in the Serengeti havebeen spotted here.

The crater, which has beendeclared a UNESCO World Heritagesite, lies within the NgorongoroConservation Area, which coversmore than 8,300 sq km. It isbounded by Lake Eysai in thesouthwest and the Gol Mountains in

the north. Roughly in the centre isthe Olbalal Swamp and the aridOlduvai Gorge.Getting there: A three hour drive,

or one hour flight, from Arusha. Atwo hour drive from Tarangire orsome 90 minutes from Manyara.

Located within the NgorongoroConservation Area, a short drive offthe main road between Ngorongoroand the Serengeti, the name Olduvaiderives from Oldupai, which is theMasai word for the type of wild sisalthat grows in the gorge.

It was here that, in 1959, Dr LouisLeakey and his wife Mary discoveredthe skull of first ZinjanthropusBoisei, or “nutcracker man”, andthen, a year later, the remains ofHomo Hablis or “handy man” at thattime regarded as mankind’s firststep on the ladder of humanevolution. Many more fossils have

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Part of

since been discovered includingthose of prehistoric elephants, gianthorned sheep and enormousostriches. There is a small museumto view and an observationplatform, where visitors can listen toan informative talk.Getting there: A four hour drive, or

one hour flight, from Arusha. A twohour drive from Lake Manyara orTarangire National Park.

SERENGETIThe Serengeti National Park isarguably the best known wildlifesanctuary in the world.

“Serengeti” means “endlessplains” in the Masai language, andwithin its boundaries are more thanthree million large mammals. Some35 species of plains animals may beseen here including the so-called“big seven” - buffalo, elephant, lion,leopard, rhino, cheetah and African

hunting dog. Unfortunately very fewof the latter remain in the Serengeti.Originally exterminated as a threatto domestic stock they have recentlybecome victims of distemper.

However, after being decimatedby poaching, the black rhinopopulation of the Serengeti hasdeveloped well in recent yearsthanks to constant surveillance andthe shielding of the animals frommass tourism. There are now around30 black rhinos in the Moru Kopjesarea but they may be difficult to seeas visitors are only allowed to drivethrough the area on certain roads.White rhinoceros are not found inthe Serengeti.

In May or early June, huge herdsof wildebeest and zebra begin theirspectacular 600 mile pilgrimage. Intheir wake follow the predators -lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena andjackal - while vultures circle

overhead and some of Africa’sbiggest crocodile lie in wait.

Other animals frequently seen inthe Serengeti include aardvark,baboons, caracal, civet, bat-earedfox, genet, giraffe, hippo, honeybadger, hyrax, mongoose, ostrich,pangolin, serval, both Grant’s andThomson’s gazelle, vervet monkey,warthog and some 20 types ofantelope including eland, hartebeestor kongoni, impala, kudu, reedbuck,roan, topi, waterbuck and the muchsmaller dik dik, duiker, klipspringerand oribi.

There is, of course, also aprofusion of birdlife. Over 500species including bustards, cranes,eagles, herons, hornbills, owls,storks, vultures and the bizarre,long-legged secretary birds.Getting there: A six hour drive, or

one hour flight, from Arusha, or a twoand a half hour drive from Mwanza.

TARANGIREClose to Arusha, 118 km away,Tarangire National Park gets itsname from the river that threads itsway through the reserve. It is famousfor its dense wildlife populationwhich is most spectacular betweenJune and September, the dry period.

During this time thousands ofanimals - elephant, buffalo, giraffe,eland, hartebeest, kudu, wildebeestand the rarely seen oryx andgerenuk - migrate from the dryMasai steppe to the Tarangire Riverlooking for water. Lion, leopard andother predators follow the herds.Tarangire has the largest populationof elephant of any park in thenorthern circuit and is also home to550 varieties of bird including theKori bustard - the heaviest flying bird.Getting there: A 90 minute drive,

or 30 minute flight, from Arusha.

21

emai l : in fo.ngoro@exploreans .com - facebook .com/Exploreans - web: www.exploreans .com

l i v e y o u r a d v e n t u r e t a n z a n i a

real hospitality fused with traditional wood log type lodge architecture and elegant european and african furniture and décor welcome guests in a splendid style

surrounded by the natural magnificence of the ngorongoro crater

The Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro ConservationArea is a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site, and International

Biosphere Reserve, covering almost8,300 sq km with altitudes rangingbetween 1,020m to 3,577m.Frequently referred to as the eighthwonder of the world, the areaencompasses a blend of landscapes,archaeological sites, people andabundant wildlife that isunsurpassed in Africa. Featuringvolcanoes, grasslands, waterfalls andforests, it is home to the nomadicMasai.The centrepiece, and majorlandmark, of the Conservation Areais the breathtaking NgorongoroCrater, a natural amphitheatresurrounded by steep walls risingover 600 metres from the craterfloor. It is one of the world'sgreatest natural spectacles whose

magical setting and plentiful wildlifenever fail to thrill.The crater is a natural sanctuary forsome 30,000 animals including the‘big five’ of buffalo, elephant,leopard, lion and rhino. It is alsohome to cheetah, hartebeest, hippo,hyena, jackal, reedbuck, serval,warthog, waterbuck, wildebeest,zebra and a great many bird andinsect species.Close to the Ngorongoro Craterthere are two less famous, and lessvisited, craters ideal for walking andhiking safaris.Empakaai Crater is about 6 km widewith steep walls rising to almost300m. Nearly half of the crater flooris covered by a deep salt water lakebut eland and waterbuck may beenseen. The trail down to the craterfloor offers spectacular views of astill active volcano, Oldoinyo Lengai,

and, on a clear day, the snowy peaksof Mount Kilimanjaro. On the waydown to the lake there are buffalo,bushbuck, blue monkeys and rarebirds, such as sunbirds and turacos.Olmoti Craters's floor is shallow andcovered with grass where, inaddition to the Maasai and theirlivestock, buffalo, eland andreedbuck may be seen. The MungeRiver crosses the crater beforefalling hundreds of metres in aspectacular waterfall. Yet another attraction of theNgorongoo Conservation Area isOlduvai Gorge, the site where, in1959, Dr Louis Leakey and his wifeMary discovered the remains ofwhat was regarded as man’s firststep on the ladder of humanevolution.The Ngorongoro Conservation AreaAuthority was established in 1959, to

pioneer this multiple land use inwhich conservation, tourism andpastoral activities co-exist incarefully managed harmony.

For further information contact:The Conservator

Ngorongoro Conservation Area AuthorityPO Box 1, Ngorongoro Crater,

Arusha, TanzaniaTel +255 27 253 7019/06

Fax +255 27 253 7007E-mail: [email protected]

www.ngorongorocrater.org

23

25

The Great Migration

The Serengeti is famed for itsannual migration when morethan 1,500,000 wildebeest and

500,000 Thomson Gazelle followsome 200,000 zebra in a 2,000 kmround pilgrimage in search of freshgrazing and water. It is “the greatestwildlife show on earth” and “a oncein a lifetime experience” !Wildebeest feed only on new shootsand very short grass but do, ofcourse, eat the longer grass once ithas been ‘trimmed’ by zebra orbuffalo. It is for this reason theyfollow the zebra. Eland and Thomson’s gazelle alsomigrate but instead of following themain migration they just alternatebetween the plains and thewoodlands. Grant’s gazelle do notmigrate as they are not sodependant on water. They moveonly locally and, in many cases, in

the opposite direction to themigratory species.Predator versus prey dominates themigration. Lion, leopard, cheetah,hyena and a host of other, smallerpredators, watched by the ever-present vultures, gorge on theirannual feast while, in the rivers,giant crocodile wait their turn.The best time to see the migration isbetween June and August when thewildebeest congregate and prepareto cross the Grumeti River. Howeverboth the route and timing of themigration are unpredictable sovisitors must plan carefully to beassured of seeing the spectacle.During December to May theanimals are found on the short grassplains around Lake Ndutu, the GolMountains and the Moru Kopjes inthe south of the park. December is apeak month for zebra foaling and

February the main month forwildebeest calving.Then the migrations starts as vastherds, in columns over 40 km long,head north towards Kirawira andMbalageti, in the Western corridor,before crossing the crocodile-infested Grumeti River into theGrumeti Game Reserve and theIkorongo Wildlife Management Area.Meanwhile some smaller herdsmove directly north through theSeronera area, while others travel upthe eastern boundary of the parkthrough the Loliondo and Loboareas.All routes eventually crossing theMara River, where the animals faceanother life threatening experience,into Kenya’s Masai Mara.Finally, in November, the herds starttheir trek back through theSerengeti arriving at the short grass

plains ready to give birth again. And so the cycle continues ! As it hasfor over a million years !

For further information contact:The Director General

Tanzania National ParksPO Box 3134, Arusha, Tanzania

Tel: +255 27 250 3471Fax: +255 27 250 8216

E-mail: [email protected]

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27

Less frequented than thenational parks in the north, thesouthern parks provide a sense

of African adventure unsurpassedanywhere else on the continent.

The principal areas are the SelousGame Reserve and the Mikumi,Ruaha and Udzungwa MountainsNational Parks.

MIKUMILocated north of the Selous Reserve,less than 300 km. from Dar esSalaam, is the Mikumi National Park.Because of its accessibility it is oneof the most popular parks inTanzania and is an important centrefor education where students go tostudy ecology and conservation.

The Mikumi flood plain, with itsopen grasslands, dominates the park

together with the mountain rangesthat border the park on two sides. Awide range of wildlife inhabits its3,230 sq km area. Lion is commonlyseen as are packs of wild dog, rareelsewhere in Africa. Elephant may beencountered and other animalsfrequently observed are buffalo,civet, eland, giraffe, impala, kudu,reedbuck, warthog, waterbuck,wildebeest, zebra and Lichtenstein’shartebeest. Near the southernboundary of the park it is possible tosee groups of female and youngbachelor sable with their onedominant male.

Crocodiles, monitor lizard andgiant python are among the park’smany other residents.

At the southern end of the floodplain, in the Kikoboga area, families

of yellow baboon live whilewallowing hippos are frequentlyjoined in their pools by flocks ofopen-billed storks, hunting fortasty molluscs.

Over 400 species of birds havebeen observed in the park, many ofwhich are Eurasian migrants whostay between October and April.Getting there: A four hour drive, or

a one hour flight, from Dar es Salaam.

RUAHARecently expanded to become thelargest national park in East Africaand, after Kafue National Park inZambia, the second largest in Africa,Ruaha is home to more than 10,000elephant. Its name derives from theGreat Ruaha River which flows alongits eastern border, creating

spectacular gorges. Flowing into theRufiji River, the Great Ruaha is hometo hippo and crocodile. Variousantelope species, such as eland,grant’s gazelle, impala, greater andlesser kudu, reedbuck, waterbuckand the rare sable and roan antelopethrive in the grasslands borderingthe river alongside buffalo, giraffeand zebra. Predators include lion,leopard, cheetah, both striped andspotted hyena, and wild dog – orAfrican hunting dog as they shouldcorrectly be called.

Birdlife is prolific, over 370 specieshave been recorded, some of whichare not found in northern Tanzania.Eurasian migrants flock to Ruahatwice a year - March to April andOctober to November - joining theresident kingfishers, hornbills,

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sunbirds, egrets and plovers. Best months for game viewing are

during the dry season from July toNovember, when the animals areconcentrated around the shrinkingwater-courses. The park has anairstrip for light aircraft on thewestern bank of the river. Getting there: Up to a ten hour

drive, or a one and a half hour flight,from Dar es Salaam.

The Selous Game Reserve is thelargest wildlife area in Africa. AUNESCO World Heritage site, thispristine, uninhabited area is largerthan Switzerland.

Selous boasts Tanzania’s largestpopulation of elephant as well aslarge numbers of lion, leopard,African hunting dog, buffalo andhippo. Only in the Serengeti willvisitors see a greater concentrationof wildlife.

Once home to over 3,000 blackrhino there are sadly now only a fewhundred left. They tend to hide inthe dense thickets but sightings arepossible. Species commonly seen arebushbuck, red and blue duikers,eland, hartebeest, hyena,

klipspringer, impala, giraffe, oryx,reedbuck, waterbuck and zebra.Yellow baboon and vervet and bluemonkey are a common sight whilefamilies of black and white colobusmay sometimes be seen movingfrom tree to tree. Endangered redcolobus inhabit the west of thereserve but visits to observe thisrare breed can be arranged.

The bird-life in the Selous isprolific and the 400 species recordedinclude the globally threatenedwattled crane and the corncrake.

The topography of the park variesfrom rolling savannah woodland,grassland plains and rocky outcropscut by the Rufiji River and itstributaries, the Kilombero andLuwegu, which together cover thegreatest catchment area in EastAfrica. The Rufiji, which flows fromnorth to south, provides the life-blood of the Selous and sailing orrafting down the river is a superbmethod of seeing game, especiallyduring the dry season between Juneand October. Crocodiles, hippo and avast array of antelope will be seen.

Linked to the Rufiji is LakeTagalala, where elephant, giraffe,waterbuck, reedbuck and bushbuck

gather at the water’s edge. In thelong grassland, safari enthusiastsmay get a chance to see rare sableantelope, greater kudu - or lion.

The park gets its name from thehunter-explorer Frederick CourtneySelous, whose books were bestsellers in Victorian England.

Walking safaris, game drives andboat trips may be organised. Thebest time to visit is during the dryseason, when game is forced fromhiding places to the river to drink.

The waters of the KilomberoGame Controlled Area are home tothe ferocious tiger fish and vanducatfish, the latter equipped with aprimitive set of lungs which allows itto migrate from one landlocked poolto another.Getting there: Between a seven and

nine hour drive, but only in the dryseason, or a one and a half hour flightfrom Dar es Salaam.

UDZUNGWAUdzungwa Mountains National Parkis a conservation area of about 2,000sq km. It lies in the Iringa andMorogoro regions of south-centralTanzania where it is bordered by theGreat Ruaha River to the north and

by the road between Mikumu andIfakara to the east.

The major attraction of the park isits bio-diversity and uniquerainforest where many rare plants,not found elsewhere in the world,have been identified. These rangefrom a tiny African violet to 30 metrehigh trees. For this reason Udzungwais being proposed as Tanzania’seighth World Heritage Site.

The park is home to eleven typesof primate. Five of these are uniqueto Udzungwa, including theendangered Iringa red colobusmonkey and the Sanje crestedmangabey. The plateau alsosupports populations of elephant,buffalo, lion and leopard. Visitorsshould not expect to necessarily seethese larger species however as theytend to be found in the lessaccessible area of the park. Bushbaby or galago, bush pig, civet,duiker, honey badger and threetypes of mongoose are more likelyto be seen.

The park is also home to a numberof rare forest birds many only foundin this area of Tanzania.Getting there: A five hour drive

from Dar es Salaam.

29

uuu31

The Other Parks

In addition to the nine parks of thenorthern and southern circuitsTanzania has seven other national

parks to explore.

GOMBEA mountainous strip bordering theshores of Lake Tanganyika, 16kmnorth of Kigoma. Gombe is currentlyTanzania's smallest park. It coversjust 56 sq km and is only reachableby boat from Kigoma. Gombe offersvisitors the rare chance to observethe chimpanzee communities madefamous by British explorer JaneGoodall. A number of monkeyspecies can also be seen includingred colobus, red-tail and bluemonkeys. The area is heavilyforested making it unsuitable for

carnivores and safe for walking.Birdwatchers will be richly rewarded. Getting there: By air from Arusha or

Dar es Salaam. Or by road or train toKigoma and then a one hour boat trip.

KATAVIRecently extended southward tocover some 4500 sq km the mainfeatures of Tanzania's third largestpark, located about 40 km south-east of the town of Mpanda, areLake Katavi, with its vast floodplains,the palm-fringed Lake Chala and theKatuma River. The park is noted forits Miombo woodland and is hometo buffalo, elephant, leopard, lionand zebra. Antelope species includeeland, impala, topi, roan, and sable.Water fowl are abundant with Lake

Chala particularly rich in bird-life with400 species recorded. Katavi alsoboasts the greatest concentration ofhippo and crocodile.Getting there: By chater flight from

Arusha or Dar es Salaam. Or a day'sdrive from Mbeya or, in the dryseason, Kigoma.

One of the two more recentlygazetted national parks, Kitulo is thefirst park in tropical Africa to berecognised largely for its floristicsignificance. Known locally as ‘God’sGarden’ or the ‘Serengeti ofFlowers’, Kitulo plateau has had over350 species of plants documented todate. These include 45 species oforchids, many of which are not

found anywhere else in the world. Also only found in Kitulo, and the

Nundulu Mountain Reserve adjacentto Udzungwa Mountains NationalPark, the Kipunji - or HighlandsMangabey - is the rarest monkey inAfrica. First discovered in 2003 it wasthe first new monkey genusestablished since 1923.

The plateau is also home to someimportant bird species, again manyendemic to Tanzania, including theendangered blue swallow, Denham’sbustard, mountain marsh widow,Njombe cisticola, and Kipengereseedeater. Some of the world’srarest butterflies inhabit the area. Getting there: By road from Dar es

Salaam to Chimala, via Mbeya, andthen only by a 4x4 vehicle.

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The other sanctuary of thechimpanzee, Mahale MountainsNational Park, is only reached bycharter flight or by boat fromKigoma. Covering an area ofapproximately 1,600 sq km, thepark's western boundary is theshore of Lake Tanganyika. Thechimpanzee population is estimatedat around 1,000 and they may beobserved in their natural habitat ingroups of up to 30. Yellow baboons,red colobus, red-tailed and vervetmonkeys also live in the park and arecommonly seen as are bush-babies,bush-pigs, bushbuck, blue duiker,civet, hyrax and white-tailedmongoose. Buffalo, elephant,giraffe, leopard, lion, porcupine andother various types of antelope arealso present but will prove moredifficult to find.

Lake Tanganyika is also home tomore than 250 species of fish. Getting there: Between a four and

a nine hour boat trip, depending on

the boat, from Kigoma. Or a two hourflight from Arusha or Dar es Salaam.

RUBONDOA water wonderland comprisingRubondo Island and nine smallerislands tucked into a corner of LakeVictoria north-west of Mwanza. Thepark provides a variety of habitatsranging from savannah to openwoodland, dense forest, papyrusswamps and sandy beaches. There isalso a wide variety of animalsincluding bushbuck, crocodile,elephant, genet, giraffe, hippo,mongoose, vervet monkey and thereclusive sitatunga - a shaggy coatedaquatic antelope.

The birdlife is unique with bee-eaters, fish eagle, grey parrot,heron, ibis, malachite kingfishers,paradise flycatchers, spoon-billedand saddle-billed stork flocking to‘Bird Island’ to breed.Getting there: By air from Arusha

or Mwanza. Or by road from Mwanzaand then a boat transfer.

SAADANITanzania’s first coastal wildlifesanctuary is located on the IndianOcean coast some 45 km north ofBagamoyo and directly west ofZanzibar. The park contains manyindigenous species includingLiechtensteins hartebeest and therare Roosevelt sable. A goodpopulation of elephant live inSaadani as do several herds ofbuffalo while numerous largegroups of hippo and crocodileinhabit the nearby Wami River. Lion,leopard, spotted hyena, and black-backed jackal are present as areeland, giraffe, greater kudu, redduiker, reedbuck, warthog,waterbuck, wildebeest, zebra,yellow baboon and vervet monkey.

The bird life is extensive andincludes fish eagle, flamingo and themangrove kingfisher.

Dolphin are common off thecoast; whales pass through theZanzibar channel, and green turtlebreed on the beach.

Saadani village, one of the oldestcommunities on the East Africancoast, the Kaole ruins and historicBagamoyo are nearby.

Getting there: About a four hourdrive from Dar es Salaam or by charterflight from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar.

SAANANESaanane Island, in Lake Victoria, wasrecently elevated to national parkstatus increasing the number ofTanzania National Parks to 16. It isthe smallest national park in EastAfrica covering an area of only 2.18sq km. Saanane is currently home toagama lizards, clawless otter,crocodile, impala, monitor lizard,python, rock hyrax, tortoise, vervetand de brazza monkey, and wild catbut there are plans to introduce newspecies such as dik-dik, grant’sgazelle, klipspringer and zebra. Over40 type of resident and migratorybirds may be seen.Getting there: By air to Mwanza

and then by boat.

33

ZANZIBARThe Spice Islands

Hideaway of Nungwi Resort & Spa is located at Nungwi, on the northwest coast of Zanzibar, famous for its white sandy beach and crystal clear waters that are ideal for swimming and snorkelling.

The 5 star luxury resort boasts Arabic and African architecture, rich in ebony, bronze and onyx, which reflects in the orange and rose sunsets as Africa’s sun drops into the Indian Ocean.

The 100 luxuriously appointed ocean-front accommodations, gourmet dining in three themed restaurants, a fully-serviced oriental spa, a fitness centre, ten hectares of tropical spice gardens, and a multitude of sports and recreational opportunities provide

guests with relaxation and nourishment for mind, body and soul.

A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, Hideaway of Nungwi Resort & Spa is staffed by a team of professionals from Europe, Asia andAfrica with many years international hospitality experience, and is widely recognised to be among the best 5 star luxury retreats in the Indian Ocean.

For further information contact:info@ hideawaynungwi.com www.hideawaynungwi.com

37

Tourist Map of Zanzibar

Unguja(Zanzibar Island)

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Just the name, Zanzibar, evokesdreams of romance and mysteryand the reality will not

disappoint. Zanzibar - the nameincludes the main island, Unguja, andits sister island, Pemba - has forcenturies attracted seafarers andadventurers from around the world.Now it welcomes a new generationof explorers - those who have cometo marvel at the rich heritage,reflected in the architecture and theculture of the people.

Visit Zanzibar’s historic StoneTown - another of Tanzania’s sevenUNESCO World Heritage sites. Relaxon the dazzling white, palm-fringedbeaches, where the azure waters ofthe Indian Ocean beckon swimmers,divers, fishermen and water-sportsenthusiasts alike.

Breathe in the fragrant scents ofcloves, vanilla, cardamom andnutmeg, and discover why Zanzibaris called “The Spice Islands.”

Explore the forests, with their rareflora and fauna. Or visit some of themany ancient, archaeological sites.

Spend a few days here before orafter a safari on the Tanzanianmainland or, better still, allocate aweek or two and immerse yourselfin the magic that is Zanzibar.

A Mix of CulturesZanzibar’s colourful history is an epicsaga of travellers and traders,raiders and colonisers. To its shorescame Sumerians, Assyrians,Egyptians, Phoenicians, Indians,Chinese, Malays, Persians,

Portuguese, Arabs, Dutch and theBritish, each leaving behind a legacyof their stay. From the island thegreat European explorers – Burton,Speke, Livingstone, and Stanley - setoff for their voyages of discoveryinto the vast, uncharted wildernessof the great African hinterland.

Bantu tribes from the mainlandwere the first inhabitants of theisland, but by 700 AD the IndianOcean trade winds had broughtPersians and Arabs to its shores.

From the beginning of the 16thcentury, for 200 years, Portugueseraiders dominated this part of theEast African coast. Then, in 1652,Zanzibar was invaded by Arabs fromOman, signalling the end ofPortuguese domination.

Sultan Sayyid Said moved his

capital from Muscat to Zanzibar in1840 to exploit the flourishing slavetrade and the island grew in power,wealth and population.

David Livingstone stronglyprotested against this inhumaneactivity creating a ground-swell ofopposition in Britain. Under pressurethe Sultan outlawed the export ofslaves in 1873. Zanzibar then becamea British protectorate in 1890 and in1913 total power was transferred tothe British.

Independence was achieved, inDecember 1963, under SultanJamshid bin Abdulla but thesultanate was toppled in favour of aPeople’s Republic a month later. OnApril 26, 1964 the republic joinedTanganyika to form the UnitedRepublic of Tanzania.

Karibu Zanzibar - Welcome

39 uuu

Stone Town...

It may not have a particularlyromantic name, but Stone Town,is the capital and cultural heart of

Zanzibar, little changed in the last200 years. A labyrinth of windingalleys, bustling bazaars, mosquesand grand houses whose extrav-agance is reflected in their brass-studded, carved, wooden doors.

The National Museum is a goodstarting point for finding out moreof the history and culture ofZanzibar. It opened in 1925 andcontains relics from the time of theSultans and the early explorers, aswell as traditional carvings andexhibits of local wildlife, including agood collection of birds and reptiles.

Another “must” is the House ofWonders, with its pillars, frettedbalconies and intricately carveddoors. It was built by SultanBarghash in 1883 and was occupied

by the British in 1911 when theSultan moved to the much lesspretentious palace, now called thePeople’s Palace, on the other side ofthe street.

Next to the House of Wonders isthe Old Fort, built on the site of aPortuguese church when the Arabstook over the island, and now thevenue for many of Zanzibar’snumerous theatrical and musicalevents. Perhaps the mostimpressive, ornate building is the OldDispensary which has recentlyundergone excellent restorationwork. The High Court and AfricaHouse, a former English gentleman’sclub and now a boutique hoteloffering, supposedly, the best viewof the sunset, are also worth a visitas is Livingstone House, where theScottish explorer lived for threemonths in 1866 gathering suppliesfor his last expedition.

At the centre of Stone Town arethe Persian-styled Hamamni Baths,

built at the command of SultanBarghash at the end of the 19thcentury while nearby is theCathedral Church of Christ,completed in 1879 on the site of anopen slave market. Echoes ofZanzibar’s more sinister past are alsoto be found in Tippu Tip House, builtfor the notorious slave and ivorytrader Hamad bin Muhammad el-Marjab, and a former slave pit innearby Kelele Square.

...and aroundNorth of Stone Town are the

former palaces of Maruhubi andMtoni. The ruins of Maruhubi offer atantalising glimpse of the formergrandeur of this palace, built bySultan Barghash in 1880 to house hisharem, but burned down in 1889.The palace of Mtoni suffered asimilar fate. Dating back to the earlypart of the 19th century, it once

housed 1,000 people.Inland from here are the Kidichi

and Kizimbani Persian Baths, builtin1850 for the Persian wife of SultanSaid, and Dunga Ruins, a palace builtbetween 1846 and 1856.

Further north are the Coral Caveand Mangapwani Slave Chambers,used to conceal slaves at night, andTumbatu Island with its numerousShirazi Ruins.

South of Stone Town are theremains of the Mbweni Palace andChukwani Palace while, to the east,are the Bikhole and Unguja UkuuRuins. The latter is the site of theisland’s oldest known settlementdating back to the 8th century.

Still further south is the formerwalled city of Kizimkazi, where theruins of Shirazi Mosque, part ofwhich dates back over 900 years, arefound. A coral stone inscriptionprovides evidence of its age, makingthis one of the earliest Islamicbuildings in this part of East Africa.

41 uuu

Uroa Bay Beach ResortZ A N Z I B A R

Welcome to Paradise

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Touring Zanzibar

Tours of Zanzibar are arewarding experience. Visitorswill travel past fragrant

plantations of cloves, cinnamon,nutmeg and other spices on theirway to numerous places of historicalinterest; to the unique flora andfauna of Jozani Forest; topicturesque fishing villages; and toone of many white sandy beaches.

DHOW CRUISESCruise around the islands on atraditional Arab dhow while enjoyinga seafood lunch of grilled fish andlobster with an exotic fruit juice, ice-cold soda, chilled beer or glass ofwine. All followed by coffee andliqueurs as the sun sets.

Watching or, particularly, swimmingwith dolphins, in their natural habitatcan be both exciting andeducational. However care must be

taken to avoid disturbing theanimals as this could have a negativeeffect on their daily life. Dolphins aremarine mammals that spend theirentire lives in the water. Like othermammals, they are warm bloodedand breathe air. Most commonlyseen around Zanzibar are thebottlenose and humpback varietiesalthough spinner dolphins are alsoseen north of the island.

Brilliant white beaches provide theperfect place to take a break frombusy sightseeing. The beaches are aparadise but there are alsonumerous picturesque fishingvillages where the people live asimple way of life, unchangedthrough the years. So, as well as allforms of water-sports, there is alsoample opportunity for fishing or justwatching the activities of the localfisherman. Nungwi, at thenorthernmost tip of the island,offers possibly the best swimmingon the island. There is also a turtle

aquarium there and a boatyardwhere fisherman’s dhows are stillbuilt in the old traditional way.

JOZANI FORESTThirty five kilometres south-east ofStone Town lies the Jozani ForestChwaka Bay Reserve, an area of 50sq km whose thick forests, withtrees over 100 years old, are the lastremaining sanctuary of the ZanzibarRed Colobus monkey only found inand around Jozani.

Other residents include Sykes bluemonkey, bushbaby, bush pig,chameleon, civet, genet, mongooseand tree hyrax. There are also twospecies of very small antelope –Ader’s duiker, one of the two rarestantelope in the world, and the evensmaller suni. Both are extremely shyand unlikely to be seen.

The forest is also home to over 40different bird species as well as over50 species of butterfly.

South of the park an elevatedboardwalk runs through themangroves providing easy sightings

of hundreds of tropical fish,frantically feeding in the shallowwaters, whist crabs and othermolluscs feast in the rich mud.

SHOPPING TOURSZanzibar is a shopper’s paradise.Stone Town’s narrow windingstreets are crammed with storesselling antiques, art, books, clothes,coffee, gemstones, jewellery,paintings, perfumes, printed fabrics,silver, tea and, of course, spices.Some shops accept credit cards andmost will take dollars.

SPICE TOURSAn organised spice tour is probablythe best way of seeing the island.While taking tourists on a walkingtour, local guides will pluck bunchesof leaves from various bushes andask visitors to guess what they are.Most will be found in the averagekitchen spice rack - black pepper,chillies, cinnamon, cloves, coconut,garlic, ginger, lemon grass, nutmeg,saffron, turmeric and vanilla.

43 uuu

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Pemba Island

Fifty kilometres north ofZanzibar main island anddirectly opposite the mainland

port of Tanga, is the highly fertilePemba Island which, althoughsmaller than Zanzibar, is hillier andgreener and grows three times asmany cloves.

Pemba has its own distinctcharacter with more historicalmonuments, particularly ruinedmosques and tombs, than on themain island; some excellent beaches;and spectacular diving and fishing

In the centre of the island is ChakaChaka, the capital and main town,where there are remains of a 200year old Arab fort. Some 14 km tothe west, at Ras Mkumbuu, are theruins of a 14th century mosque and

some elaborate ‘pillar’ or ‘chimney’tombs used to mark the burial placeof prominent Muslims. While 10 kmto the south the Pujini Ruins featurea fort built around the 15th centuryand known locally as MkameNdume. Other interesting sites maybe seen near Kangagani,Mkamandume, Chakalakati andMtangani Island, on the east coast,and near Wete to the north.

Also in the far north of the islandis the Ngezi Forest Reserve, aprotected area containing rare trees– some not found anywhere else inthe world. These include the PembaPalm known locally as the MapapindiPalm. The wildlife features theindigenous Pemba Flying Fox – reallya large bat – blue duiker, civet,vervet monkey, marsh mongooseand tree hyrax. Bird species includeflycatchers, hornbills, kingfishers,

turacos, starlings and severalvarieties of owl. Four species – thePemba scops owl, white-eye, greenpigeon and violet-breasted sunbird -are endemic to Pemba.

The much smaller Ras KiuyuForest Reserve, joined to the northeast tip of mainland by just a narrowstrip of land, is home to a much lessimpressive range of flora and fauna.

Pemba offers some of the bestdiving in the world although,because of the strong currents,some is best suited to moreexperienced divers. Misali Island, tothe west of Chake Chake, is now aMarine Conservation area, rich inbiodiversity, and with more than 40different species of coral, 350varieties of fish, and five types ofturtle. It is therefore a perfect placefor both snorkelling and diving.There are also some idyllic beaches

where swimming is possible at bothhigh and low tide.

Popular dive sites are EmeraldReef and Wreck Dive, off PanzaIsland in the south, and Fundu Reef,Kokota Reef, Njao Gap, and UvinjeGap in the north-west.

Other good beaches can be foundat Fundu, Varani, Vumawimbi and onthe lesser islands of Funzi, Kiweni,Panza and Uvinje.

Green and hawksbill turtles neston the western side of the island.

Pemba also offers some of thebest game fishing in the world withbarracuda, billfish, blue marlin,dorado, kingfish, sailfish, tuna,wahoo, and hammerhead and tigersharks all found in the watersaround the island and, especially, inthe Pemba Channel that runsbetween the main Unguja islandand Pemba.

Sun Tours and Travel has the mostexperienced tour guides and officestaff who are always available to

provide very competitive services fromthe day you, or your clients, arrive.

Our office is located at Hurumzi Street

P.O.BOX 484 – ZANZIBARTEL/FAX: +255-24-2239695Mobile. +255-777-414196

Email: [email protected] [email protected]

www.suntoursznz.com46

47

The Other Islands

Unguja and Pemba islands aresurrounded by more than 20smaller islands. Most are

uninhabited and are located to thewest of the main island.

Chapwani, or Grave Island, is theclosest island to Stone Town. It ishome to a number of Christiangraves belonging to British sailorskilled fighting against the Arab slaveships or in the First World War.There is a small beach and a patch ofindigenous forest which is home toblue duikers, enormous coconutcrabs and a colony of fruit bats.

Changuu, or Prison Island, is themost popular island excursion fromStone Town. It is only a short 10minute boat ride and the snorkellingis excellent. There was a prison builton the island but it was never usedfor its intended purpose and is nowa hotel. One of the island's mainattractions is the giant tortoises.

Bawe Island which lies south ofPrison Island, has some of the bestsnorkelling spots in the archipelago.About a 30-minute boat ride andslightly more expensive than theboat to Prison Island, this island ismuch less visited.

Chumbe Island is a rare exampleof a still pristine coral island. A UNProtected Area, it carries the

accolade of “one of the mostspectacular coral gardens anywherein the world”. Tanzania’s first marinepark, and the first privately managedmarine park in the world, Chumbeoffers visitors the opportunity tosnorkel through the shallow-waterReef Sanctuary; scuba dive thenearby reefs; explore the ForestReserve with its nature trails andabundance of local birds and flora;or visit the historical monuments.These include a hundred year oldlighthouse and the only ancientmosque, in East Africa, with Indianarchitecture.

Off the north-east coast ofZanzibar main island, Mnemba Islandbasks in its own tranquil lagoon.

Boasting, splendid beaches andspectacular coral reefs, alive withfish, it is renowned as the ultimate in‘barefoot luxury’.

Tumbatu, the largest of Zanzibar'soffshore islands, is located to thesouthwest of Nungwi and isinhabited by the Watumbatu peoplewho speak their own unique dialectof Swahili. In the south-west are UziIsland, which is only connected toUnguja by a causeway, and theMenai Bay Conservation Area whichincludes the islands of Kwale, Miwi,Nianembe, Pungume and Vundwe.The latter is a sea-turtle breedingarea, also famous for its humpbackand bottlenose dolphins, and is aWWF Protected Area.

Festivals

The islands of Unguju andPemba have a wealth oftraditions many of which are

recognised in numerous annualfestivals and celebrations.

This is the three day festival thatfollows the end of Ramadan, wheneating, drinking and smoking isprohibited during daylight hours.The date is dependent on the Islamiccalendar but in 2014 festivities willcommence around July 28.

MWAKA KOGWAThis four day festival, which marksthe arrival of the Shiraz New Year,takes place at the end of July.Although celebrated in many partsof Zanzibar, it is in Makunduchi thatthe ancient rites are mostenthusiastically followed. It involveshuge bonfires; mocks fightsbetween the men; and much playfulbanter between the sexes.

An annual boat race, held everyAugust, featuring the double-outrigger canoes of the local people.

SAUTI ZA BUSARAThis is East Africa’s premier musicfestival and highlights the best musicfrom the Swahili-speaking world.Featuring hip hop, r’n’b, rap andreggae along with the moretraditional ngoma, taarab andreligious music, the six day event isheld each February. In 2014the dates will be February 13 to 16.Taarab is a form of local music that isa mixture of sounds and styles fromIndia, Arabia and Africa. Ngoma is atraditional African dance with fast,rhythmic drumming. More than 400musicians participate.

ZIFFZIFF – the Zanzibar InternationalFilm Festival - is the highlight ofZanzibar’s artistic and culturalcalendar. A two week event, heldevery July, it features films fromAfrica and beyond. ZIFF alsoincorporates the annual Festival ofthe Dhow Countries which highlightsthe arts and cultures of East Africa,the Gulf States, Iran, India, Pakistanand the Indian Ocean islands. Themain venue is the open-air theatre atthe Old Fort but events also takeplace at various other venues acrossthe island and on Pemba.

Remnants of a spectacularhistory give Tanzania’smainland coast an appeal far

greater than just sun, sand and sea.More than 800 kms of coastline,from Tanga in the north to Mtwarain the south, consist of palm-fringed,white sandy beaches looking outover the warm, sparkling waters ofthe Indian Ocean. These offerunlimited scope for big game fishing,scuba-diving, snorkelling and othervarieties of water sports. Howeverinsufficient attention is often paid tothe coast’s vast array of othernatural and cultural resources as, inaddition to the beach resorts toboth the north and south of Dar esSalaam, there are a number of othermajor tourist attractions. Ancient

Bagamoyo, a former capital city, andthe nearby Kaole Ruins; historicalMafia Island; the natural beauty ofPangani; Saadani National Park; andthe history and culture of theUNESCO World Heritage sites ofKilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara.

Areas scheduled for developmentinclude the Mnazi Bay area ofMtwara and the Rufiji River delta.

BAGAMOYOOnce the penultimate stop for slaveand ivory caravans travelling fromLake Tanganyika on their way toZanzibar, the name Bagamoyomeans ‘Bury my Heart’ in Swahili.Missionaries, intent on abolishingthe slave trade, made it the centreof their activities.

The town’s museum has awonderful collection of photographsand mementos relating to DavidLivingstone while a house whereHenry Morton Stanley once lived canbe seen near the beach.

Saadani National Park lies 45 kmto the north and the Kaole ruins 5km to the south.

The largest city and the economiccapital of Tanzania, Dar es Salaamalso has much to interest touristsstaying in the city before, or after,their safari to the parks and gamereserves in the south.

The Nyerere Cultural Centre, aself-supporting handicraft scheme, iswell worth a visit. Here over 100

young artists can be seen at workproducing various works includingpaintings, carvings, batiks, potteryand weavings.

Enjoy the hustle and bustle of theKariakoo Market were fish, fruit,vegetables, traditional medicines,herbs and livestock are traded. Themaze of stalls and shops in thebazaar that surrounds the market,are also worth exploring.

Nearby beaches include Armani,Bahari, Jangwani, Kunduchi andOyster Bay. Jangwani and Kunduchibeaches also feature water parks.

About five kilometres to the southof Bagamayo, at Kaole, are the ruinsof a once prosperous Arab town,

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The Swahili Coast

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which was forced into decline by thearrival of the Portuguese in the 15thcentury. The ruins, dating back tothe 13th century, include two coralmosques, one the oldest in Tanzaniaand one of the oldest in East Africa,and Shirazi-style pillared tombs.

A group of three former settlements– Kilwa Kivinje and Kilwa Masoko onthe mainland and the offshore islandof Kilwa Kisiwani - Kilwa was originallyestablished as a centre for the goldtrade. Now a World Heritage site, it ishome to some of the most spectacularruins on the East African coast. KilwaKisiwani and the nearby Songo MnaraIslands contain numerous ruins manydating back to the 13th century.

A 20 minute flight south of Dar esSalaam, Mafia Island was Tanzania’sfirst Marine Park. It is one of themost exciting diving and fishingareas in the world and is home tosome four hundred species of fishand five species of turtle.

Sports fisherman flock here forthe superb catches, many of themgreat fighters, which includebarracuda, marlin, sailfish and tuna.The main season is from Septemberto March although fishing is possibleall year round within the reef andchannel. Divers will see a veritablekaleidoscope of reef dwellers amongthe fifty types of coral. These includebutterfly fish, clown fish, lion fishand rainbow fish while, in deeperwaters, they will come acrossgroupers, rays and sharks. The raredugong breeds in the Mafia Channelwhile the green and hawksbill turtlenest on the smaller islands.

MIKANDANIThe starting point for Livingstone’sfinal journey, Mikandani is a town,close to Mtwara, on Tanzania’ssouthernmost coast. The Mnazi BayMarine Reserve is nearby as is theRuvuma River, the border withMozambique and home to hippos,crocodile and a myriad of bird-life.

PANGANISituated on the coast two hoursnorth of Saadani National Park, anda further two hours from AmaniNature Reserve, this is a delightfulvillage with its mosque, ancient Arabbuildings and a six km palm-fringedsandy bay. The birthplace of

Tanzania’s sisal industry, and oncethe major port for the export ofslaves and ivory, visitors can snorkelat Maziwe Island Marine Reserve, trydeep-sea fishing, or visit UshongoBeach some 16 km south of the village.

RAS KUTANIRas Kutani, a resort to the south ofDar es Salaam, is ideal for rest andrecreation before or after anexciting wildlife safari.

RUVUMA RIVERThe river, which forms Tanzania’sborder with Mozambique, is hometo hippos, crocodile and, with MnaziBay, forms one of the country’s newmarine sanctuaries.

SAADANINow a national park, and enlargedto over 1,000 sq km, Tanzania’s onlycoastal park is situated on theshores of the Indian Ocean north ofDar es Salaam and Bagamoyo andsouth of Tanga.

TANGAThe country’s second, and majornorthern port, Tanga lies close tothe border with Kenya.

It is a convenient gateway to theAmanai Forest Nature Reserve, theAmboni Caves - the most extensivelimestone caves in East Africa - andthe recently gazetted MkomaziNational Park.

Dar es Salaam, City Centre

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Situated on the Swahili Coast 25, minutesfrom Dar es Salaam city centre, and boastingtwo bars, a restaurant, gym, swimming pool, spa & sauna, boating facilities, shops andconference halls.reservations@jangwaniseabreezeresort.co.tzwww.jangwaniseabreezeresort.com

Tented Lodge, Selous

A luxury tented camp, on the banks of theRufiji River, offering game drives, walking

safaris, boat trips and fishing.The newest camp in the Selious with its

own with own air strip and [email protected]

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54

With its mountains, ruggedterrain and Indian Oceancoastline, there’s plenty for

the activity enthusiasts in Tanzania.

Hot air balloon safaris in theSerengeti and Tarangire NationalParks, and over Lake Manyara,provide an exciting vantage point forviewing the wildlife beneath.

BUDGET CAMPING Budget camping, as opposed to flycamping at luxurious lodges,involves travelling with all necessaryequipment, setting up camp and,perhaps, cooking your own meals.Very economical - and great fun.

Explore the bush on the back of the“ship of the desert”!

CANOEINGCanoe safaris in Arusha or LakeManyara National Parks offer anideal opportunity to get close to thewildlife, while kayaking on the manylakes, are exciting and fun.

CAVINGThe Amboni Caves, just north ofTanga, form the most extensive cavesystem in East Africa. There are tencaves with chambers up to 13 metreshigh which support stalactites andstalagmites. It is essential cavers goin pairs, with a guide, as there havebeen fatalities when people haveexplored on their own. The caves arehome to many bats.

DIVINGThe waters of the Indian Ocean,particularly those off the mainland

coast and around Zanzibar, Pembaand Mafia Islands, provide superbopportunities for scuba divers. Thecoral reefs, teeming with colourfulfish, can be explored on divingexpeditions for both beginners andexperts. Encounters with dolphinsand turtles add to the wonder of thisunderwater world.

FISHINGThe rivers and lakes of Tanzaniaoffer anglers ample opportunity tocast for trout; fish for tilapia or giantNile perch; or do battle withferocious tiger fish.

GAME FISHINGSome of the richest sports fishing seasare to be found off the Tanzanianmainland. Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafiaislands, and the Kilwa coast, werethe haunts of Ernest Hemingway and

amongst the record-breaking prizesto be caught are barracuda,broadbill, dorado, giant trevally,kingfish, mako, sailfish, yellowfintuna, wahoo black, blue and stripedmarlin and tiger and other shark.

Tanzania cannot be considered themost renowned of golf destinationsbut courses can be found in majorcities. The first nine holes of a new18 hole championship course, builtto USGA specifications, will opennear Kilimanjaro late 2012 with thefinal nine holes ready by June 2013.Facilities for tennis are far morewidespread.

HORSERIDINGEquestrian safaris and horsebackexpeditions allow horse-lovers theexperience of riding across unfenced

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Activity Holidays

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wilderness, or private game ranches,in close contact with the wildlife.Riders will often see a wide varietyof plains animals and encounterswith elephant are a commonoccurrence in the Manyara and WestKilimanjaro areas. It is surprisinghow close one can sometimes cometo these animals when onhorseback, while on occasions it ispossible to canter alongside herds ofgiraffe or wildebeest and zebra.

JET SKIINGJet-skiing is available at severalcoastal hotels.

MOUNTAIN BIKINGCycling up mountains and downvalleys; through deserts and forests;and close to herds of giraffe, zebra,wildebeest and other antelope is anexciting experience.

MOUNTAINEERINGFor climbers, the major draw is the5,869 metre (19,340 ft.) MountKilimanjaro, covered in greater detailelsewhere in this publication. However, Mount Meru, anothervolcanic peak reaching 4,560 metres,is also a popular climb, partlybecause of the lovely flora and faunawhich can be observed on the wayto the top. It takes about two daysto climb this, Africa’s fifth highestpeak while Ol Donyo Lengai, coupledwith a visit to Lake Natron at thebase of the volcano, is anotherfavoured climb.

Tanzania’s huge lakes with their off-shore islands are ideal for a leisurelysail on a converted dhow or bananaboat or aboard a luxury catamaran,lake cruiser or yacht.

SEA KAYAKINGEnjoy the waters of the IndianOcean, and view the marine-life,from a different perspective, by seakayaking to sand islands, hidden

beaches, bird-filled mangrove creeksand tiny fishing villages unreachableby road.

TREKKINGIn addition to the much publicisedKilimanjaro, Mount Meru and OlDonyo Lengai treks there arenumerous other trails on MountHanang, Africa’s ninth highestmountain, and in the Udzungwa andUsambara Mountains. The KituloPlateau in particular - with its

incredible floral displays, unique birdlife and rare butterflies is also wellknown as a hiker’s paradise.

WATER SPORTSTanzania’s coast, islands and lakesprovide the perfect setting for awide variety of water sports.

Canoeing and kayaking;catamaran sailing; jet-skiing;kiteboarding and kitesurfing; scubadiving; snorkelling; surfing; waterskiing; windsurfing and yachting.

Mount Kilimanjaro is thecrown of Tanzania. Risingabruptly from the open

plains, capped by snow andfrequently fringed by clouds, it isone of Africa’s classic images. At19,344 feet, it is the highestmountain in Africa and the highestwalkable summit in the world. Thediameter of its base is an incredible40 miles.

Now voted one of the top three‘Natural Wonders of Africa’,Kilimanjaro is a dormant, but notextinct volcano. Ominous rumblescan sometimes be heard - and gasesemerge from the fumeholes in thecrater. Although just three degreessouth of the Equator, the peaks ofboth Kibo and Mawenzi havepermanent caps of snow and ice.

During their time on themountain, climbers pass from atropical to arctic environment in justa few days. The various trails firstpass through lush rainforests beforereaching heather and openmoorland where giant lobelia andhuge, cactus-like groundsel grow.Above this moorland is the almostlunar landscape of an alpine desertwhich stretches between the twopeaks of Kibo, the flat-topped domeat the centre, and Mawenzi, a groupof jagged points and pinnacles onthe eastern side. Inhospitable as this‘moonscape’ may seem, animalssuch as herds of eland thrive there.

The highest point on Kibo, andindeed the whole of Kilimanjaro, isUhuru Peak, with its spectacularhanging glaciers and stupendous

views of the African plains some20,000 feet below. Also on Kibo isthe slightly lower peak of Gillman’sPoint. These are the goals for mosttrekkers. The peaks of Mawenzi arefor mountaineers only.

With the help of porters and aguide, it is possible to walk all theway to the summit withoutspecialised mountaineeringequipment - or experience - andKilimanjaro can be conquered by anyreasonably fit person.

There are several different routesincluding Marangu, the easiest climb

and therefore the most popular,Machame, Shira, Umbwe andRongai. The total climb normallytakes five to six days and involvesfour or five overnight stays incomfortable mountain huts.

Fees, payable in US dollars,include the cost of both parkentrance and accommodation forclimbers, guides and porters but notfood and equipment.

Many thousands of trekkers reachGillman's Point or Uhuru Peaksuccessfully each year without anyreal difficulty.

To avoid altitude sickness andfailure, it is important to aclimatiseby ascending slowly and steadily.It is best to plan a stay at a Moshi orMarangu hotel - climbing straightafter the drive from Arusha is not agood idea.

Kilimanjaro can be climbed at anytime of the year but the best time isconsidered to be from August toOctober and January to March. It iswet in the rainforest during the rainsin April, May, June and November.December through to February arethe warmest months.

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IN TANZANIA ALONE WE HAVE OUR OWN GUIDES, OUR OWN FLEET OF VEHICLES AND OUR OWN KILIMANJARO CLIMBING COMPANY.

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While the sun, safari andadventure options aremore likely to appeal to the

majority of tourists, Tanzania alsooffers something extra for thespecial interest enthusiast.

Archaelogists will be in their elementwhen visiting the world-famousOlduvia Gorgeand nearby Laetoli,the Isimila Stone Age Site, theKondoa Irangi rock paintings, thesite of the Tendunguru dinosaurexcavation and historical sites atKaole, Kilwa and on the islands ofMafia, Zanzibar and Pemba.

BIRD-WATCHINGFor birdwatchers the country is aparadise, with over 1,000 species tobe seen in their varying habitats.Flamingos, pelicans and storks flockin abundance to the lakes as dovarious goose and duck types.

Wheeling high in the clear blueskies are the birds of prey includingeagles - amongst them the Tawnyand the African Fish Eagle - as well askites, falcons, hawks and buzzards.The Sacred and Hadada ibises areother treats for ornithologists, whileall visitors will warm to the comicalgait of the Secretary Bird.

Kori bustards, the heaviest flyingbird, giant ostrich and weaver birdsare other fascinating species.

Watching, and swimming with wilddolphins, in the waters aroundZanzibar and Pemba, can be anexciting and educational experience.However care must be taken toavoid disturbing the animals.

For flower lovers the country is averitable wonderland, its ever-changing topography reflected in aplethora of different shrubs, flowers,succulents and trees. Indeed thevariety of eco-systems in Tanzania isconsidered to be wider than in anyother African country with the KituloPlateau the ‘Gem in the Crown’.

Africa is home to over 3,500 speciesof butterfly and a far greater varietyof moth. Many of these can befound in Tanzania and some are, infact, endemic to Tanzania such as

the extremely rare Urania ripheus orSunset Moth. Lepidopterists will findthe Kitulo, Mahale, Mkomazi andUdzungwa National Parks; theNgorongoro Conservation Area; andthe Usambara Mountains,particularly rewarding.

TRAIN BUFFSRail enthusiasts will want to travelon the Great Uhuru Railway, whichgoes through some of the moststunning scenery in East Africa. Itruns from Dar es Salaam, throughMikumu National Park and theSelous Game Reserve, to Mbeya andthen to Zambia. Herds of animalscan be seen from the carriages.

The Tanzania coastline offers a richarray of coral reefs, mangroveforests, estuaries, beaches and seagrass beds that provide breedinggrounds for its five species of turtle -green, hawksbill, leatherback,loggerhead and olive ridley.

Whale sharks, the largest shark andthe largest fish in the world, whichcan reach lengths of up to 14m andweigh up to 15 tons frequent theTanzania coastline. Humpback andsperm whales may also be seen offMafia and in the Zanzibar Channel.

Special Interest Holidays

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E-mail: [email protected]

+ 255 28 2500 517/617+ 255 78 4700 500

Hotel Tilapia - MwanzaRelax on the shores of Lake Victoria




What could be a moreimaginative place for ameeting or conference

than Tanzania? Conference tourism in the country

is booming with national, regionaland international delegates all keento visit the country’s spectacularsites on pre conference or postconference tours.

These range from wildlife safaristo the some of the sixteen nationalparks; the Ngorongoro Crater; or theSelous Games Reserve; to spendingrelaxing days on the beaches of theSwahili coast or the islands of Mafia,Zanzibar or Pemba.

Luxury hotels in Dar es Salaamand Arusha offer state-of-the-artfacilities for large meetings but allthe country’s major hotels, andmany of its luxury lodges, both onthe mainland and on Zanzibar, alsoprovide all the necessary equipmentand services.

For that really big conventionthere is the Arusha InternationalConference Centre, deep in theheart of safari country. It is a shortdrive from Kilimanjaro InternationalAirport, served by intercontinentaland regional airlines, and there are agrowing number of internationalstandard hotels nearby to provideaccommodation.

Recreational facilities in andaround Arusha are excellent whiledelegates are within easy reach ofmany of the country’s famousnational parks.

Within the Conference Centrecomplex there is seating for up to1,350 delegates in the Simba PlenaryHall. Smaller halls and roomsaccommodate between 10 and 290delegates. A small exhibition area isalso available.

Most halls and rooms areequipped with simultaneousinterpretation systems of up to four

languages and all halls arenetworked with LAN to allow videoconferencing. Audio visualequipment, document reproductionand catering services are alsoprovided. The AICC hosts an averageof 100 meetings and more than11,000 delegates each year.

The Africa Travel Association’s33rd Annual Congress and theprestigious Sullivan Summit, withover 4,000 participants from 147nations, were held in Arusha during2008 in order that delegates mightexperience the unique surroundingsand take advantage of thespectacular tour opportunities.

The new Julius NyerereInternational Conference Centre, anultra modern facility in Dar esSalaam, can host some 1,850 people.The main hall accommodates over1,000 delegates while a number ofother meeting rooms accommodate50, 100 or 200. There are also rest

rooms, a press room, a businesscentre and a small library.

Motivation, team building and theimprovement of relations betweenmanagement and employees are thegoals of incentive tourism. This is avery specific type of business travel,although it is frequently combinedwith attendance at a conference orconvention. More and morecompanies appreciate the benefitsgained from incentive tourism. It isthe creative and innovative way toreward and motivate personnel;business partners; and clients. It’stourism with a twist.

Whether organising a presentation,building teamwork, or enhancingsales nothing impresses more than avacation to an exciting destinationcoupled with a unique program oftours and events.

So, if planning a conference orincentive programme, Tanzaniacertainly meets all the criteria!

63

Conferences and Incentives

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Leading role at trade shows around the world

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attatourism l www.atta.travel l [email protected] @atta_tourism

PROMOTING TOURISM TO

AFRICA

TOURISM TO

AFRICA

FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD

Recognised as the Voice of African Tourism,Atta reaches across 22 countries in Africa,showcasing over 530 elite buyers and suppliersof African tourism product.

ole at trade shows arLeading rNetworking opportunities

esentation on intereprIndustry rInteractive platform for information & educationDaily news service on all aspects of African tourism

FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD

Recognised as the Voice of African Tourism,Atta reaches across 22 countries in Africa,showcasing over 530 elite buyers and suppliersof African tourism product.

ound the worldole at trade shows ar

national commitees & the mediaesentation on interInteractive platform for information & educationDaily news service on all aspects of African tourism



Join our knowledgeable and experienced membershipto increase awareness and visibility of your company

Lead Sponsor | orking in partnership with AttaW



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65

The Tanzania CulturalProgramme was launched in1997 to give local communities

the opportunity to improve theireconomic livelihood by participatingin tourism activities.

Co-ordinated by the TanzaniaTourist Board, supported by theMinistry of Natural Resources &Tourism, there are currently some 47initiatives operating in various partsof the country.

Tanzania is endowed with the richheritage of 120 ethnic tribes and theCultural Tourism Programme enablestourists to gain a unique insight intothese people’s way of life.

Leave your vehicle behind andwalk through the tropical slopes ofMount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Meet the Maasai and learn of theiralmost forgotten traditions and away of life that is so closely linkedto nature and wildlife.

Listen to drumbeats and interpretmusic and dances inherited fromancient ancestors.

Learn the history of the SwahiliCoast. Explore the savannahs oncamelback. Boat down a river, orrow on one of the many lakes.

Paddle between mangroves or sailto pristine sandy islands.

Climb a holy mountain and benefitfrom the diagnostic methods of atraditional healer.

Taste the local cuisine. Andsample the local brew!

And then, in the evening, listen toancient legendary tales around anopen fire. An experience you willnever forget.

Visit the people of Tanzania!

For further information contact:Cultural Tourism ProgrammeEmail: [email protected]

Visit the People

66

Nigel Foster would like to thank the following for theirvaluable support and kind assistance. Aloyce Nzuki, DevotaMdachi, Geofrey Meena and all at the Tanzania TouristBoard offices in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza and Iringa.Allan Kijazi, Johnson Manase and Victor Ketansi at TanzaniaNational Parks. Bruno Kawasange and Veronica Ufunguo atNCAA. Abubaker Al Amry; Andrea Ballardini; Manny Bhamra;Raj Bhamra and Annie Birch; Seamus Brice-Bennett; JulianCamm; Mary Carneiro and Musaddiq Gulamhussein;Suleiman Chasama; Riz Dhanji and Waheeda Essajee; FirozDharamshi; Munawer Dhirani; Antonie du Preez; Zul Fazal;Bruce and Jane Fox; Hans Heuer; Naveed Khan; David Kizito;Judd Lehmann; Taqi Moledina; Shamez Nizar; Esther Oh;Julian O’Leary; Sanjay Pandit; Mustafa and Akber Panju;Hein Prinsloo and Emma Wilson; Gijs de Raadt, OscarSybesma and Jans Budding; Paulina Raguz and Sujit Shah;

Mehboob Rajabali; Vandy Sandhu; Simone Scarapicchia andAntonella Archidiacono; Henning Schmidt and HolgerWiebe; Madeleine Schroder; Mkunde Senyagwa; HarshitShah; Anuj Sharma; Stefano Soro; Wissem Souifi; KennyStorbeck and Janine Gaedke; and Nigel Vere Nicol.

…andSpecial thanks are extended to Paul Joynson Hicks of BlueMango Photography, who loaned many of the picturesfeatured in this brochure. Paul can be contacted [email protected] pictures are courtesy of Ian Batchelor; Rob McDowell;the late David Pluth; the Arusha International ConferenceCentre; Busara Promotions; Cultural Heritage; Easy Travel;Equestrian Safaris; Fundu Lagoon; Hotels & Lodges;Kichanga Lodge; Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority;Spice Island Hotel; Tanzania National Parks and the TanzaniaTourist Board.

AccommodationArusha HotelsAfrican Tulip 62

Arusha Safari Lodge 4

KIA Lodge 4

Moivaro Lodge 4

Dar es Salaam HotelsDoubleTree Dar es Salaam 50

Formula 10 Livingstone Hotel 53

Holiday Inn 54

Kilimanjaro HotelsKeys Hotel 58

Marangu Hotel 59

Mountain Inn 58

Mwanza HotelsHotel Tilapia 62

Safari Camps & LodgesCrater Forest Tented Camp 4

Eco Lodge Africa 67

Exploreans Ngorongoro Lodge 22

Four Seasons Safari Lodge 6

Ikoma Tented Camp 4

Karatu Simba Lodge 16

Katavi Wildlife Camp 28

Lake Natron Tented Camp 4

Mbalageti Serengeti 60

Mbuyu Tented Lodge 54

Migunga Tented Camp 4

Mufindi Highland Lodge 28

Robanda Safari Camp 4

Ruaha River Lodge 28

Rufiji River Camp 28

Sanctuary Kusini, Serengeti 32

Sanctuary Saadani River Lodge 32

Sanctuary Saadani Safari Lodge 32

Sanctuary Swala, Tarangire 32

Selous Wilderness Camp 4

Serenegti Simba Lodge 16

Simba Portfolio 16

Stanley’s Kopje 28

Tindiga Tented Camp 4

Vuma Hills Tented Camp 28

Whistling Thorn Tented Camp 4

Swahili Coast HotelsJangwani Sea Breeze Resort 54

Kijongo Bay Beach Resort 56

Ledger Plaza Bahari Beach 52

Lazy Lagoon, Bagamoyo 28

Zanzibar HotelsBaraza Resort & Spa 34

Barkez Palace 38

Beit Al Bahar 38

Breezes Beach Club & Spa 34

Che Che Vule 4

DoubleTree Nungwi 49

DoubleTree Stone Town 48

Dream of Zanzibar 44

Fumba Beach Lodge 4

Hideaway of Nungwi 36

Langi Langi Beach Bungalows 38

Ocean Paradise 40

The Palms 34

The Swahili House 4

Unguja Lodge 4

Uroa Bay Beach Resort 42

Z Hotel 46

Zanzibar Heritage Hotel 38

AirlinesFlighlink 14

Safari Air Link 28

Car HireGreen Car Rentals 64

Safari & TourOperators

Afromax 58

Albatros Travel 60

Alpha Travel 20

Bushbuck Safaris 24

Capture Safaris 56

Cordial Tours 64

Easy Travel & Tours 61

Foxes African Safaris 28

Leopard Tours 2

Masumin Tours & Safaris 57

Ranger Safaris 20

Roy Safaris 12

Shah Tours 58

Simba Safaris 30

Sun Tours 46

Tanzania Experience 18

Other Products &Services

African Travel & TourismAssociation 64

Arusha International ConferenceCentre 10

Ngorongoro Conservation AreaAuthority 8

Rajinder Motors 65

Tanzania National Parks 26

Advertisers Index

Thanks to...

Tanzania Tourist BoardIPS Building, 3rd Floor, PO Box 2485, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Tel: 255-22 2111244/5 Fax: 255-22 2116420 E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

PO Box 2348, Arusha, TanzaniaTel: 255-27 2503842/2503843 Fax: 255-27 2548628 E-mail: [email protected]

www.tanzaniatouristboard.go.tz

GETTING THEREThere are no direct flights toTanzania from the UK or the USA.

British Airways fly, from London,to Dar es Salaam via Nairobi,Entebbe or Johannesburg; KLM,from Amsterdam, to Kilimanjaro andDar es Salaam; and Swiss, fromZurich, to Dar es Salaam.

Emirates fly to Dar es Salaam, viaDubai; Egyptair via Cairo; Ethiopianvia Addis Ababa; Oman Air viaMuscat; Qatar Airways via Doha; andTurkish Airlines via Istanbul.

Numerous regional carriers flyinto Tanzania from Kenya, Malawi,Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa,Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Domestic carriers such as AirTanzania, Coastal Aviation, Flightlink,Precision Air, Regional Air Services,Safari Air Link and ZanAir link themajor cities with tourist attractionsand game parks.

Air Tanzania, Coastal Aviation,Flightlink, Precision Air and ZanAir flybetween the mainland and Zanzibar.

AIRPORTSInternational flights serve JuliusNyerere International Airport (DAR),15 km from Dar es Salaam city centreand Kilimanjaro International Airport(JRO), 42 km from Arusha. ZanzibarInternational Airport (ZNZ) airport is8 km from Stone Town.

VISASMost visitors require visas with theexception of citizens of certaincountries of the Commonwealth. Itis advisable to obtain them inadvance from Embassies and HighCommissions as several airlines insiston them prior to departure. Theycan however also be obtained, onarrival, at all points of entry.

Requirements may change so youare advised to contact theappropriate diplomatic or consularauthority before finalising yourtravel arrangements. Although partof the union of Tanzania, Zanzibarremains independent so,passports/Tanzania visas arerequired even on a day’s visit.

It is essential that all visitors take acourse of anti-malaria tabletscommencing two weeks beforedeparture. The UK Department ofHealth also recommendsvaccinations against hepatitis A,polio and typhoid. Personalinsurance is advised.

Travellers arriving from, or via,countries where yellow fever isendemic will need a Certificate ofVaccination although vaccination isavailable on arrival.

Hospitals provide good medicalcare in cities and towns. FlyingDoctors facilities are also available.

WHAT TO TAKEDon’t forget the camera, camcorderand binoculars and take a torch forfinding your way around your campat night. Stock up with replacementbatteries for all these goods.

Take sun-glasses, hat, sun lotion,lip balm - and some insect repellent,it is better not to get stung even ifyou are taking anti-malaria tablets.

It’s best to take any medicinesrequired for the duration of the visit.A spare pair of glasses or contactlenses is also a good idea. Takeplenty of film, it is difficult to obtainoutside the main centres. Whiletraveller’s cheques can beexchanged in cities and towns,banking facilities in remote areas arerestricted, so take plenty of cash.

Some safaris/air charters limitbaggage to a 10-15 kilo maximum.

English is widely spoken but a fewwords of Swahili are alwaysappreciated.

CURRENCYThe unit of currency is the Tanzaniashilling which is divided into 100cents.

Most major currencies -particularly US dollars - andtravellers’ cheques are accepted andmay be converted at banks andbureaux de change in the maintowns and tourist areas. Do NOTchange money in the street howeverfavourable the rate appears.

It should be noted that not allestablishments accept credit cardsand certain cards, particularly Dinersand Amercan Express, are frequentlyrefused even by major hotels.Mastercard and Visa are preferred.

ON SAFARIDistances in Tanzania are vast, andtravel by road can be tiring. It is wiseto spend more time in fewer parks.You will see more and won’t returnhome exhausted. Keep your distancefrom animals to avoid distressingthem. Always follow the instructionsof your ranger or guide. Don’t leaveyour vehicle in the parks except indesignated places. Keep torecognised tracks to avoid damagingvegetation.

WHAT TO WEARIt never gets really cold in Tanzaniaso lightweight clothing is the norm.On safari avoid brightly colouredclothes, they may alarm the animals.

Browns, beiges and khaki arepreferred. Short-sleeve shirts/blouses and shorts are ideal, butpack a sweater, it can be chilly in theearly morning and in the evening.Wear a hat to avoid sun-stroke anddon’t forget a swimsuit. Shoesshould be sensible - walking throughthe bush is not like strolling throughHyde Park - and for climbingKilimanjaro or Mount Meru takethermal underwear, a rain jacket,good socks and sturdy boots. Shortsfor women are acceptable - but nottoo short. Women should carry awrap to cover their legs in towns orvillages as revealing clothes cancause offence, especially in Zanzibarand other Muslim areas. On thebeach, and within the confines ofbeach hotels, normal swimwear isacceptable but nudity certainly not.

TIPPINGNot normally obligatory but a tip forexceptional service - a maximum of10% - will be appreciated. Tip $10-$15per day for drivers or tour guides butremember an excessive tip can makeit difficult for the next customer.

selling tanzania 2013

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