| | 
Tanzania,
which comprises the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, covers an area of 945
087 km², of which over 100 000 km² are devoted to reserves and national parks.
It is a country of wild open spaces and magnificent wildlife, of palm-fringed
islands set in turquoise seas, and of warm and hospitable people. Physically,
the country is made up of a vast central plateau, which slopes down towards
the Indian Ocean, the three great lakes (Victoria to the
north, Tanganyika to the west and Nyasa to the south),
the Great Rift Valley with its large volcanoes in the north, and a series of
coral islands in the Indian Ocean. The highland plateau,
crowned by the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, is the habitat
of many wildlife species. Huge populations of elephant, hippopotamus, buffalo,
giraffe, gazelle and impala roam the wildlife sanctuaries in the area. Predators
are plentiful, especially cheetah, leopard, and large prides of lion. More
than one million wildebeest migrate to the northern grassy plains of the Serengeti
at the start of the rainy season in December. After birthing in January and
February, they scatter over the plains. By May the grass is depleted and the
animals begin their trek to the permanent waters of the Serengeti's northern
woodlands. Reaching their destinations by July, they remain there until October,
at which time they begin their migration southward.
2000 years ago, African people coming from the Nile, Southern Africa and the West were the first to build villages and to
farm the land. Later sailors, merchants and explorers from Persia,
India, China and Portugal
landed on the coast, bringing a diverse mix of cultures to Tanzania. A centuries-old
Arab presence along the east coast and offshore islands provides these areas
with a distinctive culture. A land of centuries of migration and more than
120 ethnic groups, none of which represent more than 10% of the population of
over 30 million, Tanzania is a peaceful country with a proud history.
Colonised by the Portuguese, Germans and the British, Tanzanians finally took
control of their destiny with independence in 1961.
The climate is tropical on the coast, on the islands and in
Selous. It is temperate in the other national parks. October to mid-March
is the hottest period, while June to September is the coolest. However, the
range of temperatures is fairly limited and it is always hot (between 25° and
30°C on the coast and between 22° and 27°C in the north). The rainy season
is from mid-March to the end of May, and there is light rainfall in November.
The central plateau is dry and arid and has hot days and cool nights. The north-eastern
and southern highlands are normally cool and temperate, and the rainy season
in these regions is during November, and from February to May.
The population of Tanzania is around 34 million with a growth rate
of 2.8%. The official languages are Kiswahili and English. The major religions
are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and traditional African religions. The outgoing
international code is 000, and the country dialling code is 255. In rural areas,
international calls must go through the operators - 0100. There are several
public call boxes in post offices and the main towns. Many towns in Tanzania
now have direct dialling facilities. Cellular phone companies add to the telecommunications
system of the country. There are passenger trains on the Tanzania-Zambia Railway
line (TAZARA) from Dar
es Salaam to Kapiri-Mposhi, Zambia
and along the central line linking Dar
es Salaam with Kigoma, and another link with Mwanza on Lake Victoria. Lake Steamer connections operate from Kigoma
and Mwanza to Burundi, Congo,
Rwanda and Uganda. There are regular ferries from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar.
The tarmac road connecting Tanzania with Zambia is in good condition, as is the road north
to Moshi and Arusha. The Cape to Cairo
road is paved all the way from Tunduma on the Zambian border to Dodoma and Arusha. The roads into the national
parks are usually well-maintained surface roads. In most towns, licensed taxis
normally have fares that can be negotiated, while the buses and mini-buses,
"daladalas", operate on a flat rate basis. There are two international
airports - Dar es Salaam International Airport,
which is 15km south-west of the city, and Kilimanjaro
International Airport, between
Moshi and Arusha. The currency of the
country is the Tanzanian shilling. Notes are in denominations of Tshs 10 000,
5 000, 1 000, and 500. Credit cards have limited acceptance, however Visa card
holders have access to local currency through the wide network of Standard Chartered
Bank's ATMs. Traveller's cheques may be cashed with authorised dealers or bureaux
de change. Banking hours are 08h30 - 15h00 Monday to Friday, and 08h30 - 12h00
on Saturdays. Visas are required for most countries and can be obtained prior
to departure from the Tanzanian embassies or at all major entry points. Malaria
tablets are recommended for beach holidays. As regulations and requirements
may be subject to change at short notice, it is advisable to contact a travel
agent or local Tanzanian embassy to avoid inconveniences.
Southern Circuit
Most visitors to Tanzania
fly in to Dar
es Salaam, which means "Haven of Peace", reflecting the relaxed
atmosphere of the city. From here, fly-in safaris are conducted to the game
reserves in the south. The Selous Game Reserve, at 55 000 km², the largest
game reserve in Africa, is crossed by the Rufiji
River and its tributaries which form a network of lakes
ideal for boat safaris. The game-viewing is excellent and the reserve is home
to over 350 bird species. The reserve is a seven-hour drive, from Dar
es Salaam. The ideal time to visit is from June to February. Four-wheel-drive
and walking safaris are conducted by experienced, professional guides. Stiegler's
Gorge, where the Rufiji and Ruaha rivers meet, is well worth a visit, and the
fishing is excellent on Tagalala
Lake. Mikumi
National Park, dominated by hills and plains, covers
an area of 3 230 km². The park is divided into three zones, which allow the
visitor to view all the wildlife species, including certain rare species, such
as wild dog. The park offers spectacular mountain views and waterfalls. On
the road from Dar es Salaam there are numerous handicraft shops,
selling basketware, jewellery, games and other craft. Udzungwa National Park
covers 1 900 km² and protects the remote Udzungwa
Mountains and an extensive montane forest community.
The area is a major drawcard for hikers and nature-lovers. Ruaha National Park,
situated in the centre of the country, is the second largest national park and
covers an area of 12 950 km². From July to December herds of elephant, giraffe,
prides of lions and various antelope, including the Great Kudu, are concentrated
on the banks of the river and around the watering holes. Near Iringa, at prehistoric
Isimila, there are impressive natural red earth pillars, eroded by the centuries.
The Swahili Coast
and the Islands
This 800km stretch of coastline has been visited at various
times by navigators from the Indian Ocean and Persia. The blend of Arab and African traditions
is clearly evident on the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia. The 1000-year-old history can be read in the ruins
of the ancient cities of Kilwa and Kaole. In the ancient slave port of Bagamoyo, the memory of the slave,
gold and ivory trade can be found in the vestiges of the village. Dar es Salaam is a vibrant
city with many markets and a nightlife of bars and live music. North and south
of Dar es Salaam
there are numerous resort hotels, with facilities for all watersports, including
water-skiing, big-game fishing and scuba- diving. Mafia
Island is a paradise for divers, fishermen and watersport
lovers. The sea is crystal clear and the variety of coral attracts an unimaginable
variety of fish. The coconut-tree-lined beaches and the warm Indian
Ocean offer a perfect relaxing environment. Excursions can be made to Jibondo
Island to view the hand-made construction of the enormous
wooden boats (dhows). Pemba Island,
famous for its clove production, is situated north of Zanzibar.
The Pemba Channel, which separates the island from the continent, is ideal for
deep-sea fishing. Pemba also has pristine coral reefs,
and a wide variety of marine life, including the giant turtle. There are numerous
archeological sites along the east coast. A trip on a dhow or pirogue to the
creeks and small islands should not be missed. Zanzibar
Island, situated 40 km from the mainland, was the ancient
trading port of the sultans of Oman in the 19th century.
Carved wooden doors and balconies decorate the historic houses. The island
has kilometres of white beaches, while the inland is a Garden of Eden, filled
with diverse tropical species. Changuu Island
is home to 100-year-old tortoises, Chumbe
Island has many protected coral reefs and the Zanzibar
Channel is ideal for scuba-diving. The Spice Tour, in the heart of the island,
is a festival of scents and savours. Zanzibar is one and a half hours
by hydrofoil or a 20-minute flight from Dar es Salaam.
Northern Circuit
The Northern Circuit,
although the most developed of Tanzania's
tourism routes, remains unspoilt. Arusha is the main base for exploring the
national parks of the north, while Moshi is the base town for climbs up Mount
Kilimanjaro. Arusha National
Park, situated East of Arusha, consists
of three distinct areas: Ngurdoto crater, Momela lakes and Mount
Meru. The park has a wide variety of wildlife and
hundreds of species of birds. Mount Meru, at over 4,566 metres, is Africa's fourth
highest mountain with extremely diverse habitats from grassland through montane
forest to heath and alpine desert as well as both soda and fresh-water lakes.
Forest animals can be observed from well-placed hides and
over 400 species of birds have been recorded. Kilimanjaro
National Park covers an area of 8 288 km². Mount Kilimanjaro
consists of three summits; the Mawenzi
Peak in the east, the Shira plateau in the west, and
between the two, the snow-capped summit of Kibo at 5 895 metres. There are
several routes to the summit; the Marangu route to the west is the most popular,
while Machame, Umbwe and Mweka are more demanding. The routes are all trekking
routes, and no climbing skill is required. On the ascent, an extra day between
4 000 and 5 000 metres is a necessity and the porters will keep advising "polepole",
which means slowly, slowly, to avoid altitude sickness. The summit of the magical
mountain is covered by glaciers and is known as "The Roof of Africa".
Manyara National Park is located
between the cliff of the Great Rift Valley and Lake
Manyara. The park comprises several different types
of forests and has the highest density of elephants per square kilometre in
Africa. Tarangire National Park is situated on the
east bank of Lake Manyara.
The Tarangire River crosses the park from north
to south, and is filled with acacia trees and baobab forests.
Ngorongoro
Conservation Area is located in the Great Rift Valley,
a gigantic fracture of the earth's crust, filled with volcanoes, mountains,
plains, lakes, forests and archeological sites. This is the land of the Maasai
and their cattle and of huge herds of wildlife. The bottom of the crater, which
is dotted with watering holes, shelters almost 30 000 animals in an area naturally
enclosed by the slopes of the volcano. Walking safaris, accompanied by donkeys,
are conducted to Maasai country. The palaeontology museum at Olduvai
Gorge houses the skeleton of Australopithecus Boisei's, an ancient ancestor
of man. The area can be visited all year round, but April is the rainy season.
Serengeti National Park,
a combination of various vegetation types including extensive grassy plains,
savannah, wooded hills and mountains, contains an extraordinary concentration
of animals in its 14 760 km². This concentration reaches its peak during the
wildebeest migration from December to May in the south and from June to October
in the western corridor, when almost one and a half million wildebeest undertake
a circuit of 1 000 km, searching for new pastures and watering holes. The big
cat species are often visible on the huge granite outcrops and there are hundreds
of crocodiles in the Grumeti River. There are Masai paintings at Moru Kopjes.
Hot air balloon safaris are conducted over the reserve. Rubondo Island National
Park is a remote national park, which protects the 240 km² Rubondo Island.
The opening of an upmarket tourist lodge on the island, and the possible introduction
of scheduled flights, make the island an alluring destination. All game-viewing
is done on foot or by boat.
Western Area
Gombe Stream National Park is renowned for its chimpanzees
and the research done into their behaviour by Jane Goodall. The study of Gombe's
chimpanzees is now the longest-running study of an individual wild animal population
in the world. Mahale Mountains National Park protects a 1 613 km² knuckle of
land that juts into Lake Tanganyika. Part of the Rift Valley escarpment, the
range consists of at least eight peaks topping 2 000m in altitude. The park
protects Tanzania's largest chimpanzee population, as well as many other primate
species. The eastern slopes support lion, elephant, roan antelope, buffalo
and giraffe. Katavi Plains National Park may be Tanzania's most obscure national
park, but it offers excellent game-viewing and has a real wilderness atmosphere.
The dominant vegetation type is miombo woodland, broken by the grassy Katavi
floodplain and the palm-fringed Lake Chala in the south. Most large African
mammals are present, including elephant (over 4000), hippopotamus and buffalo,
predators such as lion, leopard and spotted hyena, and herbivores such as roan
antelope, zebra, giraffe, eland and waterbuck. Over 400 bird species have been
recorded.
For more information, please contact the Tanzania Tourist Board:
Dar es Salaam Phone: +255 22 211 1244/5. Fax: +255 22 211
6420. E-mail: safari@ud.co.tz/md@ttb.ud.or.tz Website: www.tanzaniatouristboard.com
Arusha Phone: +255 27 250 3842/3. Fax: +255 27 254 8628.
E-mail: ttb-info@habari.co.tz
|
