There’s more to Tanzania than
spectacular scenery and amazing wildlife.
Our country is home to more than 120
fascinating tribes, making us one of the richest in cultural diversity. If you
are interested in learning more about these tribes and cultures it’s possible
to spend part of your safari visiting, learning from and interacting with
Tanzanians. Some of the people to visit on the northern circuit include:
Maasai, Datoga, Hadzabe, Iraqw, Chaga and Meru. Each tribe has distinct
rituals, beliefs, customs and artistic endeavours.
Perhaps
the colourful Maasai people are the most well known from the region but there
are many other interesting stories to learn as well. Among the activities you
can partake in are: a medicinal botanical tour – which includes a visit to a
traditional Maasai herbal doctor, a guided visit of one of the oldest
irrigation systems in Africa, a visit to a local cattle market, a walk through
farms in a green oasis at the foot of the Rift Valley and interaction with
women/ youth village groups to exchange ideas on family planning and HIV/AIDS.
Most
safaris incorporate a taste of local culture such as a village or boma tour or
entertainment by local acrobats or dancers but if you would like to designate
more of your safari time to pursuing cultural opportunities please let us know
and we’ll forward you our complete list of available options.
Seek
out local festivals
Some places to visit
>Zanzibar island is one of
the best places in Tanzania for experiencing local festivals. An island
highlight is the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, where you'll be treated to the
sight of entire families dressed up and celebrating, processions in the streets
and other festivities. The dates follApart from wildlife and beach tourism,
Tanzania is miles ahead in promotion of anew brand of tourism – Cultural
Tourism which has become popular with visiting tourists. With 120 ethnic
tribes, Tanzania has a wide resource of customs, traditions and taboos that can
enrich the understanding of many people of the world.
>Longido Village is about 90
kilometers north of Arusha Town. It is one of the places to visit and see
Wa-Masai and other tribes like Wa-Arusha. Visitors have a chance to see cattle
being auctioned in the market and how local people (Masai and Wa-Arusha)
conduct that business traditionally.
>Mamba and Marangu: At the foot of Kilimanjaro lie
the beautiful towns of Marangu and Mamba. Here, local people have planned
various walking tours through valleys with numerous waterfalls, and to show you
mountain village life. Enjoy the panoramic scenes and natural beauty of
Kilimanjaro.
>Mulala Village: Just outside Arusha lies the
picturesque village of Mulala, on the slopes of Mount meru. Tours begin at Mama
Anna’s farm, which is also home to the Usangi Women’s Group.
>Ng’iresi Village: On the slopes of Mount Meru you
can experience real African village life.
>The Ruins of Engaruka: Guided by Maasai warriors,
walk through the mysterious ruined city of Engaruka and the surrounding
scrubland. Located at the foot of the Rift Valley Escarpment, Engaruka remains
one of Tanzania’s most important historic sites. Over 500 years ago a community
of farmers developed a unique irrigation and cultivation system channeling
water from the Rift Escarpment into stone canals and terraces. Although
abandoned in the 1700s Engaruka illustrates a once highly specialized and
integrated agricultural community which has been investigated by archeologists
world-wide.
>Longido Mountain: Experience one of Africa’s most
fascinating cultures, the Maasai, while visiting Longido Mountain. . Spend a
day walking around the extensive plains of Longido Mountain and get some
insight into traditional African culture.
>Northern Pare Mountains: The spectacular Northern
Pare Mountains offer unique opportunities to experience the Pare culture of
Tanzania.
>Southern Pare Mountains: Deep within the Southern
Pare Mountains, about 150km from Moshi town are the Mbaga Hills. Rising from
the plains, visitors will be led through winding roads into the mountains where
you can experience some of Africa’s most spectacular scenery. A visit to the
Southern Pare Mountains are ideal for people wanting to combine trips with the
Mkomazi Game Reserve. With a strong history of German settlement, Mbaga is home
to a backdrop of quaint stone buildings, landscaped terraces and mini-waterfalls.
>Mto wa Mbu: Mto wa Mbu offers both walking and
bicycle tours through some magnificent scenery. Conveniently located on the way
to the Serengeti, and Ngorogoro Crater, Mto wa Mbu provides visitors with an
excellent opportunity to stretch their legs and compliment their holiday with a
cultural safari. Here you can see a mixture of different Tanzanian cultures
while enjoying the tropical lush-green vegetation at the foot of the Great Rift
Valley.
>Usambara Mountains: The Usambara Mountains are
situated in the northeastern part of Tanzania between Mount Kilimanjaro and the
Indian Ocean. The mountains rise up steeply from the surrounding plains and can
only be entered via a few roads. The only paved road in the area winds along a
small river to Soni and Lushoto, the largest towns in the area. Because of its
pleasant climate, the mountains were favored by the Germans and the English
during colonial times, as is evidenced by the numerous historic buildings from
the past.
>Babati and Hanang: Babati district is located
along the Arusha-Dodoma road in the Rift Valley, south of Lake Manyara Park and
west from Tarangire. The town boasts Lake Babati where floating hippos can be
seen and which is rich in fish, both tilapia and Nile perch. Here commercial
and farming tribes co-exist with conservative cattle herding tribes to provide
a distinguished cultural contrast. In Hanang District close by the beautiful
Mount Hanang (3418m), live the Barbaig people whose traditional culture is
still unchanged and unspoiled. The women wear traditional goatskin dresses and
the men walk around with spears. Visitors can mix freely with the Barbaig,
commonly known as the Mangati living in the Mangati plains. If you are
interested in bird watching, 400 bird species will welcome you on your walks in
the area.
>Ilkiding’a Welcome to our village at the foot of
Mount Meru where the sounds of rivers, birds and people are in harmony. A
cultural tour of Ilkiding’a will give you the opportunity to experience
traditional Wa-arusha culture. Spend a day walking around the hills of
Ilkiding’a and get some insight into traditional African culture.
>Pangani Coast: Pangani is situated about 50km
south of Tanga, at the extreme North-Eastern corner of Tanzania. Several
historical sites serve as reminders for the strong Arabic influence and the
later German, British colonial period in East Africa.
>Mkuru Village: Welcome to the camel camp at
Mkuru, where you can make camel safaris to the plains between Kilimanjaro,
Mount Meru and Lake Natron, and enjoy the friendly behavior of the “ship of the
desert.” Mkuru is situated on the north side of Mount Meru, not far away from
the irrigated fields of Engare-Nanyookye and the Momela gate of Arusha National
Park. From a distance the area can be easily recognized through the remarkable
shape of Ol Doinyo Landaree, the little mountain that looks like a pyramid. ow
the cycle of the moon, and vary from year to year.
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