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Tanzania is
situated in East Africa, just south of the equator, lies
between the area of the great lakes; Victoria, Tanganyika
and Malawi and borders with Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique,
Malawi, Zambia, Zaire, Burundi, and Rwanda. Tanzania is a
land of tropical forest, savannah, grasslands, mountains,
shimmering lakes, sandy beaches and coral reefs. It is one
of the world’s last great wildlife refuges. Tanzania also
has fascinating mix of people and cultures living on the
mainland and residing on the islands of Zanzibar including
Maasai.
Bagamoyo Town
Bagamoyo town, just 80 km drivefrom Dar es Salaam City.
Bagamoyo town was the centre of the 19thcentury slave trade.
The name Bagamoyo is derived from the Swahili bwaga moyo,
which means "where the heart lays down its burden". Many of
the European explorers passed through here, including
Burton, Speke, Grant, Stanley and Livingstone. There are
unlimited tourist attractions within easy reach of Dar es
Salaam, the arrival City. These include the Islands of
Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia located in the range of 50 – 100
km away; national parks, which include Mikumi, Selous,
Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Tarangire. The
permanently snow capped Mt. Kilimanjaro (the highest in
Africa) is also within reach from Arusha Town.
Getting in and around Dar es Salaam /Tanzania
By Air - Dar es Salaam is approachable
through International Airlines flying into Mwalimu Julius
Nyerere International Air Port which is thirty minutes drive
from the City Centre. These include British Airways, KLM,
Swiss Air, Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Kenya Airways,
Ethiopian Airlines, Air Malawi, Gulf Air, Emirates, Yemen
Air and South African Airlines among others. Connections can
also be made through Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA)
which is forty five minutes fly to the Dar es Salaam City
and thirty minutes drive from the Arusha City.
By Bus - Dar es Salaam, is about 900
kilometres (twelve hours drive) from Nairobi, Kenya.
Intercity buses abound, and you can reach almost any town,
big or small, by bus.
Car Hire – There are many car hire
companies in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and other major towns.
They can be hired with or without drivers. An International
Driver’s License is required, and the driving is on the left
hand side of the road.
Languages
Swahili and English is spoken in major towns and tourist
areas, a visitor should be able to get along quite well with
English only.
Activities
Sightseeing - Tanzania is indeed unsurpassed Africa in the
bounty of its wildlife and the beauty of the land: Mount
Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain; all of Africa’s
Great Lakes; the best game parks in the world; hiking and
nature trails such as the Usambara Mountains; the fabulous
island of Zanzibar.
Shopping - Locally made products are available at good
prices: batiks, Tingatinga paintings, carvings (especially
the Makonde artwork), basket ware, jewellers of all kinds,
textiles, and more.
Climate
The Tanzanian climate is tropical with temperatures
averaging 26.6°C. The central plateau is dry and arid with
hot days and cool nights, while the northwest highlands are
cool and temperate. June to September is the cooler season.
The “long rains’ are from-March to May and the “short rains”
are between October and December. The hottest months are
between October and February with temperatures averaging
32°C. .
Clothing
In Dar es Salaam the coast, summer wear would suffice. For
safaris in the north, during the day, light clothing. Sturdy
shoes are recommended. Canvas hats. For Kilimanjaro or other
treks, check with a mountain specialist before departure. To
bring: sunscreen, lotions, sunglasses, mosquito cream and
binoculars.
On safari, avoid brightly colored clothes, they may alarm
the animals, browns, beiges and khaki are preferred.
Short-sleeve shirts/blouses and shorts are ideal, but pack a
sweater, it can be chilly in the early morning and in the
evening.
Currency
The basic unit is the Tanzanian shilling. It advisable to
carry American dollars. Bureau dechange also accept the
major convertible currencies. Travelers’ cheques are
exchangeable in some places. Major credit cards are accepted
in the larger hotels.
Electricity 230 volts AC, 50 Hz
Zanzibar
Travelers may enter Zanzibar directly by air or by sea
(e.g., cruise ships). There are frequent air and ferry
services from Dar es Salaam, and some services from Tanga.
This island on Tanzania's north coast has lured travelers
for centuries, and it was the influence of the Shirazi
Persians and the Omani Arabs that has lingered mostly on the
island. Known as the spice Island and the largest producer
of cloves, Zanzibar's east coast beaches are superb you can
explore the spice and fruit plantations and visit Jozani
Forest.
Best of all
is the old stone town of Zanzibar. It's a cluster of winding
streets lined with whitewashed coral houses, bazaars,
mosques, fortresses, two former sultan's palaces, two huge
cathedrals and faded colonial mansions all vividly evoking
the islands long history. Zanzibar best known as the 'spice
island' was the centre for the slave trade in East Africa
and base for David Living stone's expeditions into the
unexplored African interior. Smell full of the aroma of
cloves and other spices, which still provide a livelihood
for many people of Zanzibar.
Zanzibar Prison island tour.
Also known as 'Prison Island', it's the most famous of the
offshore islands. This island was once owned by an Arab who
used it for rebellious slaves. Later it was sold to general
Mathews who converted it into a prison. However it has never
been used as such. The island is also home to giant
tortoises which are supposed to have been brought over from
Aldabra - an Atoll off the Seychelles. The small beach
disappears at high tide, but it is superb to swim in the
crystal clear water with splendid coral reefs. The island
itself is well-forested, nice for a walk, an ideal place for
a day trip. Jozani forest is a small National Park centrally
located on the island. It is the last remaining sanctuary
for the Red Colobus Monkey.
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