ABOUT TANZANIA
A safari in Tanzania will definitely blow you away! Tanzania just like Kenya, offers you an amazing game viewing experience as well as a wonderful beach gateway. This beautiful country offers you diverse game parks and you can choose to plan a visit to either the Northern Part, the Southern Region or the Western Part. The Northern Part of Tanzania hosts the untouched Tarangire National Park, the Spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, the Scenic Lake Manyara National park and the stunning Serengeti. The Southern Part of Tanzania is home to Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park.
You can also enjoy Chimp Trekking in the Western Part of Tanzania by visiting the remote but beautiful Mahale Mountains National Park and enjoy game viewing at Katavi National Park which is a great park for watching Lion and Buffalo interactions, Spotted Hyenas, Zebra, topi and impala, Hartebeest, giraffe, Waterbuck and if you are luck, you may spot a Leopard and a pack of wild dogs.
After your safari, you can end your trip in the Zanzibar where you can enjoy a swim in the warm Indian Ocean water, relax by the powdery sandy beaches, take a snorkeling or scuba diving trip or simply take a dhow trip out on the Turquoise waters.
Places to Visit
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park has breathtaking landcapes with magnificent Boabab trees and is home to huge herds of Elephants, Giraffes, Bufallos, Lions, Rhinos, Leopards, Cheetah, Zebra, Wilderbest among many other animals. During the dry season (June to October) there is an annual animal “migration” into the park, as wildlife travels from other areas into the park to quench their thirst in the waters of the Tarangire River.
Lake Manyara National Park
Located beneath the cliffs of the Manyara Escarpment, on the edge of the Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park offers varied ecosystems, incredible bird life, and breathtaking views.
The Park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, flamingos, a good herd of elephants, baboons and breathtaking scenery.
Stretching for 50km along the base of the rusty-gold 600-metre high Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara is a scenic gem, with a setting extolled by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”.
Selous Game Reserve
Selous Game reserve is one of the largest game reserve in Africa. It’s noted to be four times bigger than the Serengeti! Guests can enjoy boat Safari’s and Walking Safaris in addition to Game viewing on a jeep!
Ngorongoro Crater
The spectacular Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and a UNESCO world Heritage Site. The Crater is home to the highest density of big game in Africa, including all the big five and plenty of predators. The conservation area is also home to the Masai people and their cattle, who co-exist with the abundant wildlife in a unique ecosystem. A visit to the Ngorongoro Crater combines well with a visit to Lake Manyara National Park as these two game parks border each other.
Serengeti National Park
Ruaha National Park
Quick Facts About Tanzania
Best time to Visit Tanzania
Tanzania, just like Kenya is an all year round travel destination. The best time to visit mainly depends on your travel interests. That said, the peak travel season falls between July to October, January and February. The weather is good during this time with little rainfall. May and November is another good time to visit. The rates are lower during this time as it is the wet season and most camps and lodges close during this time. If you are looking to enjoy your safari for less, I would recommend travelling during this time. Though in May and November you will experience the short rains, the rains will not have an adverse effect your game viewing.
Tip: do carry warm clothes while going on game drives to keep yourself warm. The lodges will provide you with rain coats and a hot water bottle to keep you warm during your game drives.
Cuisine:
Pilau and Biriani : A rice dish flavored with spices and prepared in stock whereby poultry, beef, mutton or fish or hard-boiled eggs may be added.
Kachumbari: Salad dish made up of chopped tomatoes, chilli peppers and onions.
Coconut Bean Soup: Red or yellow beans cooked in Coconut Milk. This stew is usually served with rice, Chapatti or Ugali.
Chapatti: Delicious flat bread made with white flour, salt and oil. Commonly reffered to as Chapo, Kenyans eat Chapati for breakfast with a cup of tea, or for lunch and dinner. For lunch and Dinner, Chapati is accompanied with a tasty stew and kachumbari. A truly delicious meal!
Ugali: a thick maize porridge dough that’s often accompanied by meat, chicken or stews, and sukumu wiki ( Kale, Collard greens) chopped with spinach and cooked in onions and tomatoes. Eat your ugali by pinching off a piece of dough , fashioning it into a spoon, then dipping it into the greens and meat sauce.
Ndizi Kaanga: Fried Bananas or Plantains, usually prepared unsweetened in the country, this meal can be added a light sprinkling of sugar in order to bring out the sweetness in it
Wali wa Nazi: Rice in Coconut Milk. Mostly eaten with chicken, meat, curry or Fish as accompaniment.
Samosa: a triangular-shape savory pastry fried in oil, containing spiced vegetables, ground beef/lamb, ground chicken or fish with onions, garlic, and spices.
Mahamri: traditional Swahili doughnuts. Puffy and golden brown, these triangular doughnuts are made with coconut milk and spiced with cardamom.
Mishkaki: made from beef, goat, chicken, or fish, that's marinated, skewered and grilled over charcoal. The meat is roasted, giving it a lovely fiery flavor.
Nyama Choma: Grilled meat, chicken or fish.
Language:
Swahili is the National Language of Tanzania and English is the official language.
Population:
Tanzania currently has a population of about 55 million people as of the 2016 population survey.
Currency:
Tanzanian shillings and cents. You can exchange your money at a forex exchange shop upon arrival at the airport or in any Tanzania Bank. Credit Cards are also widely accepted and you can use your credit card to pay for meals or to buy goods and services. Most Camps and Lodges also accept payments in US dollars. When bringing US dollars please make sure to bring dollars manufactured after the year 2000 or they will not be accepted.
