Bull Fighting
The island of Pemba is famed for its
traditional sport of bull fighting. Unlike its Spanish counterpart, this
sport does not involve killing the bulls, but is a hangover from the
days of Portuguese rule in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Fishing
The waters off Tanzania's coast are ripe for
big-game fishing, best done from the island of Mafia. Big catches are
made in the waters here, including shark, barracuda, marlin and snapper,
with power boats and tackle available for hire from the lodges on the
island.
Hot air ballooning
The endless plains of the Serengeti (www.serengeti.org)
come to life in the early hours of the dawn, and seeing the park wake
from a hot air balloon is of the world's great natural spectacles. The
annual migration of some two million wildebeest followed by their
predators, from November to May, is the best time to hitch a ride.
Mount Meru
The lower slopes of Mount Meru
(4566m/14980ft) in Arusha National Park are one of the most easily
accessible places to spot buffalo, giraffe, black and white colobus
monkey and warthog – and it is one of the few parks where walking is
permitted. The 3-day trek to the summit of the mountain, although far
less popular, is an equally challenging and cheaper option than climbing
Mt Kilimanjaro.
Mwenge Carvers' Market
Located 8km (5 miles) north of Dar es Salaam
on the way to the northern beaches, this fascinating market has vendors
selling their beautiful handmade wares. Many of the items are carved
from dark shiny ebony, and this is the place to come to buy famous
Makonde wood carvings – the Makonde people come from southern Tanzania
and are considered to be some of the finest carvers in East Africa.
National Museum & House of Culture
Located next to the Botanical Gardens in Dar es Salaam, the National Museum (www.houseofculture.or.tz)
reveals the fascinating history and culture of this ancient region,
and features the 1.7-million-year-old skull of Nutcracker Man. Peacocks
stroll the gardens, where there is a striking sculpture in memory of
victims of the 1998 Dar es Salaam US Embassy bombing.
Ngorongoro crater safari
At 610m (2,000 ft) deep, 20km (12.5 miles)
wide and covering 311 sq km (122 sq miles), the Ngorongoro Crater is the
largest intact caldera in the world. Another of Tanzania’s UNESCO World
Heritage Sites, the crater is densely packed with almost every species
of African plains mammal (including the densest lion population in
Africa). Safaris to the crater are often made in conjunction with visits
to the Serengeti National Park.
Safari in the Serengeti
The most famous national park in all of Africa is found in Tanzania, and a safari through the Serengeti (www.serengeti.org)
is a must-do on any visit to Tanzania - especially during the famed
wildebeest migration (November to May). Close sightings of the 'big
five' (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino) are almost
guaranteed. Safaris can be arranged all over Tanzania, particularly in
nearby Arusha, which is the springboard town for safaris to all the
parks in Tanzania’s northern circuit.
Scuba-diving
The technicolor marine life surrounding the
coral islands of Zanzibar and Pemba makes for an ideal place to try
scuba-diving and snorkelling. There are countless dive sites around the
islands that are protected as marine national parks and reserves. The
warm Indian Ocean has clear visibility to see all kinds of coral,
brightly coloured fish, dolphins, manta rays, turtles and sharks.
Tracking chimpanzees on Lake Tanganyika
Troops of wild chimpanzees thrive in the Gombe Stream and Mahale national parks (www.tanzaniaparks.com)
on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Both parks have spectacular scenery
with mountains of forested valleys plunging into the lake and are one of
the few places in Africa to see chimps in their natural habitat. Treks
can be arranged to follow the troops with sightings almost guaranteed.
Trekking Mount Kilimanjaro
As the highest peak on the African continent
at 5,895m (19,341 ft) Mt Kilimanjaro has taunted avid explorers with its
snow-capped peak for decades. It’s a hard slog to the top, but anyone
of reasonable fitness can do it, and five- or six-day well organised
climbs include guides, porters, food and equipment. Watching the sunrise
over this splendid summit is an indescribable spectacle.
Visit Bagamoyo
The ancient town of Bagamoyo, 72km (45 miles)
north of Dar es Salaam, was a one-time slave port and terminus for the
trade caravans. The town mosque and Arab tombs date from the 18th
century, while there are a number of churches and mission buildings
dating from the 19th century and later buildings from when the Germans
occupied the town during the colonial period. Pick up a guide for a walk
around town, and it’s an easy day excursion from Dar es Salaam.
Zanzibar's beaches
Zanzibar’s magnificent swathes of palm-backed
white sands make for a wonderful beach holiday. The many resorts (from
simple beach cottages to 5-star luxury) offer a range of activities,
such as water-sports, diving and snorkelling, sunset cruises on
white-sailed dhows – not to mention delicious dining in fine seafood restaurants.
Selous Game Reserve
For a truly remote wildlife adventure, head to an isolated lodge in the Selous Game Reserve (www.tanzaniaparks.com).
This UNESCO World Heritage Site covers an area larger than Switzerland
(about one-sixth of Tanzania's land surface), making it one of the
biggest reserves in the world. It is home to a full complement of
African animals, and is renowned for its exceptionally large elephant
herds.
Stone Town
Zanzibar's Stone Town was the hub of the
ancient spice trade, and once served as the maritime metropolis of East
Africa, variously ruled by Shirazi Persians, the Portuguese, the Omani
Arabs and British colonials. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site
remains a labyrinth of narrow, winding streets lined with exotic shops,
bazaars, colonial mansions, mosques and squares.
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara is easily seen from the road
that climbs up the Rift Valley, where all safari vehicles on their way
to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater stop for a gawk at the pink
flamingos. Once inside the park there are tracks through the permanent
oasis of lush greenery, with the algae-streaked lake on one side and
impressive baobab-strewn cliffs on the other. It’s famous for its
tree-climbing lions, and elephant are easily spotted among the giant
acacia and fig trees.
Game drive at Tarangire National Park
The Tarangire National Park, only 130km (80
miles) from Arusha and 8km (5 miles) off the Great Cape to Cairo road,
is easily accessible but often overlooked in favour of the other
northern circuit parks. However, a game drive here rewards with unusual
scenery of giant silver-trunked baobab trees, and the Tarangire River is
a favourite haunt for wildebeest, zebra, eland and elephant.
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