Things to do in Tanzania
Things to do in TANZANIA: Land of the Endless Plains
Vast in both scope and diversity, Tanzania lies between the shores of Lake Victoria and the shimmering silver-blue strand of the Indian Ocean. World-renowned for her abundance of wildlife, greatest wildlife shows on earth and uniquely unspoiled landscape, she is home to the exotic spice isle of Zanzibar and the magnificent snow-capped dome of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Explore Ngorongoro Crater. The world’s largest intact volcanic crater, the 20km wide Ngorongoro crater, is a UNESCO world heritage site. Frequently referred to as the eighth wonder of the world, this centerpiece is home to native Masai people. This natural Amphitheatre surrounded by steep walls rising over 600 meters is one of the greatest natural sanctuaries with over 30000 animals including the ‘big five’- buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhino. It is also home to cheetah, hartebeest, hippo, hyena, jackal, reedbuck, serval, waterbuck, zebra, and wildebeest.
The ‘Big Five’ and Biodiversity on a Grand Scale
This global wildlife stronghold is home to unrivaled diversity of wildlife including some 430 species of mammals, 1060 species of birds, and a stunning 1,370 species of butterflies.
Climb mt Kilimanjaro – the rooftop of Africa
Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro at 5,896 meters above sea level, 40 miles in diameter at its base, the majestic snow-capped Mt. Kilimanjaro is not only the highest mountain in Africa but also the highest free-standing peak in the world. Crowned by a fifth of the ice in Africa, the ‘shining mountain’ is the dream of every amateur climber in the world and is easily conquered by nearly 70,000 people every year.
Go on safari to The Endless Plains of the Serengeti:
The Serengeti is one of the world’s most magnificent natural arenas. Known to the local people as ‘Siringet’ which means the ‘place of the endless plains’, it is also the venue for the ‘greatest wildlife show on earth' – the annual migrations of over one million wildebeest and their attendant cast of herbivores and predators. The famous Serengeti meanwhile boasts the greatest concentration of large animals on planet earth.
Visit the Spectacular Selous National Park
A World Heritage Site, the largest expanse of game reserve in Africa and home to the largest concentration of elephants in the world, the stunning 55,000 sq km Selous Game reserve is four times the size of Serengeti and larger than Switzerland. Yet, despite its abundant array of hippos, buffalo, crocodiles, lions, and rhinos, this magnificent ecosystem remains virtually untouched by man.
Relaxation in Zanzibar and its Pristine Beaches:
Off the coast of Tanzania floats the fabulous archipelago of the Spice Islands of Zanzibar and Pemba. Here, where the ancient Swahili culture flourishes almost unchanged and the dhows sail as they have for thousands of years, there are silver beaches and a clear blue sea. There are spice gardens and sultan’s palaces, and the chance to wonder through the ancient lanes of Stone town with its antique emporiums, ‘House of Wanders’, Dr. Livingstone’s house, old slave market, and Arab Fort.
Visit Ol Duvai Gorge - the cradle of Humankind:
Tanzania is home to some of the oldest human settlements on earth. Explore Ol Duvai Gorge a site, where in 1959, Dr leaky and his wife Mary discovered the remains of what was regarded as man’s first step on the ladder of human evolution. Fossils were found in and around Ol Duvai Gorge in Northern Tanzania. Include Paranthropus bones thought to be over 2 million years old and the Laetoli footprints, which are the oldest known footprints of our ancestors and estimated to be about 3.6 million years old.
Captivating Culture, Welcoming People:
From the Swahili people of Zanzibar to the Chagga who inhabit the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, the people of Tanzania are as diverse as the land itself. Vibrant and welcoming, they offer a heritage rich in song, dance, music, theatre, Makonde sculpture and art, and cuisine ranging from the delicate coconut-spiced dishes of Zanzibar to the cosmopolitan choices of Dar-es-Salaam and Arusha.
Shopping in Tanzania:
Head out for Tanzania take-homes including semi-precious Tanzanite jewelry, Makonde wood carvings, musical instruments, soapstone sculpture, Maasai beadwork, basket ware, sisal mats, brightly colored sarongs (known as kangas) for women, and kikois (for men), spices, curios, and paintings.