1. Go on a safari … or three
Tanzania is home to two of the most iconic safari destinations in Africa – the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. The vast plains of the Serengeti
are home to the Great Migration, an annual event that sees massive
herds of ungulate follow the rains to greenier and tastier pastures. The
Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest inactive and unfilled volcanic
caldera, is home to a huge variety of wildlife. Whatever kind of safari you’re after, you’ll find it here.
Game drive in Ngorongoro Crater (Shutterstock.com)
While most safari-goers flock to Tanzania’s northern parks, don’t
forget the country’s south. It’s home to one of the largest reserves in
the world – Selous Game Reserve, nearly four times the size of Serengeti National Park –and it's even wilder.
Then there’s newly-minted Wami-Mbiki Wildlife Management Area - a great place to get close to elephants, giraffes, hartebeest and zebra. In Tanzania, you’re spoilt for choice.
2. Conquer Kili
Many people make the mistake of thinking that Mount Kilimanjaro is an easy climb.
And compared to Everest, it is. But the climb up Kibo – the snow-topped
crater that is the highest point of Kilimanjaro – is steep and bitterly
cold. It’s worth it. The view from the top is spectacular and the sense
of achievement you’ll feel is unparalleled. But make not mistake, you
are testing yourself against all that nature can throw at you.
The top of Mount Kilimanjaro (Shutterstock.com)
Careful planning is essential.
Pick the right route for you. Choose the right guide. And get yourself
into shape. The risk of altitude sickness can be lessened by taking an
extra day to do the climb, but lack of fitness is not so easily
overcome.
While there are plenty of hardships to endure – and even some danger
to avoid – there’s also an enormous amount of pleasure to derive from
climbing Africa’s highest mountain. Concentrating on the positives will not only make the trek more enjoyable, it will also help to spur you on to the summit.
3. Witness the Great Migration
They call it ‘great’ for a reason:
some two million ungulates – over a million wildebeest, plus zebra,
gazelles and eland – rumble across the sweeping savannah of Tanzania’s
Serengeti. It’s one of nature's greatest spectacles and a highlight of any visit to Tanzania.
Wildebeest jumping into the Mara River (Shutterstock.com)
There isn’t just one Great Migration experience;
depending on where you are at any given time, you might see massed
herds in the south, the action-packed river crossings, or the rumbling
exodus to the north.
Head to southern parts to see the huge herds gathering from April to
May, to the Grumeti River from May to July for the crossing, or to the
northern zones July-September to see the herds spread across the plains
or over into Kenya.
4. Discover magical Zanzibar
Languishing just off mainland Tanzania in the turquoise-blue Indian Ocean, the island of Zanzibar conjures images of perfect, palm-swayed beaches, white sand, billowing sailing boats and smiling locals.
Even the narrow streets of Stone Town, twisting and turning through
ancient Arabic buildings, look like an exotic film set. Whether you want
to laze on a sugar white beach or becoming actively involved in island
life, Zanzibar has something for everyone.
Dhows sailing near Zanzibar (Shutterstock.com)
Divers will love Zanzibar too.
The Swahili Coast has some exceptional dive sites, and both scuba
novices and hard-core enthusiasts will find plenty of entertainment.
Visibility is usually good (ten to 30-plus metres) year round, and water
temperatures of 25-30ºC ensure longer dives are perfectly comfortable.
5. Find your perfect kanga
Kangas are a rectangular piece of cloth that are the must-have item
in every Tanzanian wardrobe. Depending on the way you wear them or the
patterns they display, they can reveal your status in life, your plans for the day or even your mood. With their bright colours and striking geometric patterns, they also make the perfect souvenir of your East African adventure.
Kangas for sale in Stone Town, Zanzibar (Shutterstock.com)
You’ll find Kangas for sale in markets all over the country.
They are often used to spread messages about social and political
issues so don’t be surprised if yours features a picture of a local
politician or even a famous foreign one like Obama. It may even bear a
message in Swahili extolling the virtues of washing one’s hands.
6. Get Tanga’d
The sleepy northern port of Tanga was the first administrative
capital of German East Africa and, for a time, a hub for the export of
sisal. But those days have long past, leaving the town to slip into a
gentle torpor. For travellers worn out from the excitement of climbing
Kili or watching the Great Migration,
Cycling through Tanga (Melanie Finn)
Not that the town is short of sights.
The limestone caverns of the Amboni Caves are well worth exploring –
remember to leave a small offering at the pagan shrine at the entrance –
and the European cemetery is a reminder of it’s more illustrious past.
But the best thing to do is hire a bike from Mikey at the Central
Market and amble past the crumbling Art Deco mansions to a sandy beach
you’re guaranteed to have to yourself.
7. Get a real taste of Tanzania
While Tanzania is famous for its wildlife, art and music, its cuisine
has gone largely unnoticed. It’s true that in most places you’ll be
offered grilled meat, maybe with a curry sauce. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find fabulous dishes that reveal a considerable Indian influence but zinging with the freshness of local mangoes and coconuts.
Traditional food market in Zanzibar (Shutterstock.com)
Drinking in Tanzania is quite the adventure too.
Hang out in a village in Africa for long enough and you are bound to be
offered some of the local hooch. There’s honey beer, banana beer and
fermented sugar can juice called pombe. Gongo is
another favourite, known locally – and euphemistically – as gin. When in
doubt, simply order a Safari – preferably served ice cold, straight
from the chest freezer in the Africa House Hotel in Zanzibar
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