Oh Tanzania, what a wonderful place
ith its many extraordinary national parks, the wonders Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru, the magnificent Lake Natron and Lake Victoria, its hundreds of different tribal cultures, its fast rising big cities and the wonderful sandy beaches at the coast of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, Tanzania is quite the pearl of East Africa. But do you know all the wonders, this amazing country has to offer? Here is a short guide to some of our favorites!
Nearly 30% of Tanzania consists of national parks, and especially Serengeti with its wildebeest migration is known throughout the world. During the migration, approximately 2 million animals move through the park.
Hakuna matata, asante sana and rafiki are all phrases you might have picked up from the Lion King movies. But just like the name Simba (which means lion), they are all Swahili words and phrases. Swahili is the common language spoken in much of East Africa and in particular, in Tanzania. Many have heard about Tanzania one way or another, but where is Tanzania exactly? The country is the largest in East Africa and borders both Kenya to the north and Uganda to the west as well as it has a beautiful coastline to the east. The countries population consists of several 100 tribes with each their unique traditions and language, Sukoma from the northern part of Tanzania being the largest tribe. Well known is also the Masaai tribe with their high jumping dance, their beautiful beaded jewelry and their colorful clothing.
Tanzania has, as mentioned above, some of the most beautiful natural sights and hosts amazing wildlife. We have tried to list some of our favorite activities as well as our favorite must-see places.
CITIES / LOCATIONS
Arusha and Moshi in the north:
Our beautiful White House hostel is located in Arusha, the 3rd biggest city in Tanzania. We of course think this is the best city in all of the country, most importantly due to its location. It is located within a few hours drive from all the large national parks in northern Tanzania making it the perfect starting point for any safari adventure. It is also only a 2-hour drive from Mt. Kilimanjaro and literally at the foot of Mt. Meru, making it the perfect starting point for any mountain climbing experience. Besides these major trips, Arusha offers a variety of different day trips such as smaller waterfall climbs, visit to local hot springs and cultural experiences with different tribes, eg. the Masaai tribe. The city itself has several large food markets, second hand clothing markets and our local masaai crafts market, where you can purchase any possible souvenir. As for dining and nightlife, Arusha has plenty to offer of either. The city is full of restaurants from all over the world – Greek food, Chinese and Indian street food are some of our personal favorites.
Moshi is a slightly smaller city located at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, making it beautiful green and lush throughout the year. Moshi is located approximately 2 hours drive from Arusha, making it a possible starting point for the same adventures mentioned above. It is also the home of the Chagga tribe, the second largest tribe in Tanzania. The tribe has a rich history and culture and staying in Moshi will allow you to experience this in depth!
Lushoto in the middle:
When moving east towards the coast, you will arrive in Lushoto. This is a much smaller city than Arusha, but definitely not to be missed. Lushoto is the home of the beautiful Usambara Mountains, making it green, lush and beautiful throughout the year. It has been described as the “Norway” of Tanzania due to the resemblance and offers a variety of nature experiences. In Lushoto, you can go on hikes in the Usambara mountains of different length, you can go on bike-trips thorugh the beautiful area, you can visit the Irente Biodiversity Reserve or go in safari in the Saadani National Park a bit further towards the coast. All in all, not to be missed!
Bagamoyo, Tanga and Dar es Salaam in the east by the coast:
Once you reach the coastline, there is several possibilities in terms on coastline cities, how ever they are very different from each other.
Furthest to the north towards the Kenyan border, you will find Tanga, the 4th biggest city in Tanzania. Despite its largeness, the city itself is very agreeable and has beautiful architecture and a rich history as one of the biggest ports of Tanzania in earlier days. The city has a beautiful coastline and offers many good accommodations with beautiful views. Its location by the ocean enables activities like boat rides and fishing and snorkeling trips. It is also in a doable distance to the Mkomazi National Park, where you can do game drives and safari.
Beneath Tanga is Bagamoyo, a much smaller coastline city. The city was once a very important trading point for slaves, ivory and spices and the small unpaved streets take your mind back to previous centuries. Bagamoyo is therefore mainly know for its rustic feel and its many beautiful historical ruins and museums.
Dar es Salaam is with its grand size the largest city in Tanzania, therefore often mistaken as the capital of the country (which is in fact Dodoma, a smaller government city in the center of the country). If you are searching for a big city-feeling then Dar is the place for you. With its estimated 6 million inhabitants, the city is always busy and full of life – for better or for worse. It offers a variety of accommodations, bars and restaurants and with its large international airport, it is often a layover point for many travelers going either on safari or to Zanzibar. As for more cultural activities, Dar is the home of several museums, among others the Village Museum that showcases traditional dwellings from some of Tanzania’s 120 ethnic groups. Other great attractions includes day-trips to the smaller islands of shore, visiting local markets like the Kivukoni fish market and visiting Oyster Bay and Coco Beach.
Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean:
Last but not least, we cannot get around mentioning great cities and locations in Tanzania without mentioning Zanzibar, the beautiful sandy paradise. The island offers cultural and historic sites in the religious capital Stone town, wonderful beaches and turquoise waters in Kendwa and Nungwi to the north and amazing parties and relaxed vibes at Paje to the East. For more information about the paradise island, click here.
NATURE AND WILDLIFE EXPERIENCES
As mentioned in the header, no less than 30% of Tanzania is national parks, making this country the perfect location for amazing and extraordinary wildlife experiences. In fact, there are no less than 19 national parks spread over the country, each and everyone with their own unique appearance.
Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in the northern circuit:
These four parks make up the most popular national parks to visit in the northern part of Tanzania. Each of the parts has its own beautiful unique scenery and wildlife and within these 4 parks you can vary the length of your safari trip from 1 up to 10 days. All the parks offer both luxurious lodges as well as budget campsites and therefore allows the traveler to customize his or her trip after the wish of comfort level. For a more detailed description of the parks, click here.
Ruaha, Mikumi and Seleus in the south:
These three parks are the most common to visit in the south of Tanzania, all of them much larger than the parks in the northern circuit. Ruaha has recently been added in size and is now Tanzania’s largest national reserve. The park is mostly known for its predators, in particular its large pack of lions and its very wild feeling in the vegetation. Mikumi is also quite large in size and a great park to spot the “Big 5”, consisting of cheetah, buffalo, rhino, elephant and lion – this makes the park a great location for a weekend trip for travelers staying in Dar es Salaam. Last but not least, the Selous Game Reserve is also a popular destination in the south. This park also offers amazing wildlife experiences and beautiful scenery. These parks in the south are often less crowded than the parks in the northern circuit, making them a great choice for an undisturbed safari experience.
Mountain climbing – Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru
As the tallest peak on the African continent and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro is known to most travelers and the thrill and excitement of climbing it and reaching Uhuru peak, the highest peak of the mountain, is on many travelers bucket-lists. The top of the mountain can be reached through different routes varying of different length and difficulty and is manageable for most visitors. If you have time in your travel itinerary, we definitely recommend you to add this experience. For more information and a detailed description of the routes, click here.
Mount Meru is a less known peak, but is the second highest mountain in Tanzania. Although it is often overshadowed by Kilimanjaro, Mt. Meru offers a spectacular climb of both beautiful scenery and quite hard difficulty. The length of the climb is most often 3 or 4 days, making it a great alternative to Kilimanjaro for travelers with less time on their hands. For a more detailed description of the hike. click here.
Lake-life – Lake Victoria, Lake Natron, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Eyasi
Tanzania is home for many large, beautiful and unique lakes, the ones in the title of this section being only some of those worth mentioning. Some, like Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika, are known for their size (Lake Victoria being the largest lake in Africa), their depth (Lake Tanganyika being the second deepest fresh water lake in the world), whereas others are known for their appearance or their location and surroundings. Lake Natron is a salt or alkaline lake in northern Tanzania, that is known for its red color due to the salt-loving organisms and algae. The lake has a high pH-value, making it deadly for the animals who have not adapted to it. It is also home for a rich birdlife including hundreds of flamingos, that adds to the lake’s pink beauty. Lake Eyasi is another salt lake located just south of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. This lake is more known for its rich cultural surroundings, being the home of the Hadzabe tribe. This Tanzanian tribe is known for their amazing hunting skills, providing for themselves by hunting with arrow and bow. When visiting the lake and tribe, you will be invited on a hunt and get to know more about this amazing culture. For more information about tribes in Tanzania, click here.
As mentioned in the beginning, Tanzania has endless wonderful experiences to offer, and those mentioned here are only a small handful of what the country has to offer. If you are looking for more information, browse through some of our other blog posts for more detailed descriptions or reach out to us!
