Tanzania tourist information with details about
travel to and around the country. Where to stay and what to see is made easier with
insider tips and hand-selected Tanzania links, by dedicated editors and visitors to
TravelNotes.org - The Online Guide to Travel.
Countries neighbouring Tanzania are: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda,
Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Mali and Mozambique.
Weather in Tanzania
View a graphical weather forecast for the week ahead in places around
Tanzania.
Arusha Weather, Dar
es Salaam Weather, Dodoma
Weather, Kigoma
Weather, Kilimanjaro Weather,
Mtwara
Weather, Mwanza Weather, Zanzibar
Weather.
The United Republic of Tanzania also includes the islands of Zanzibar
and Pemba, and other offshore islands in the Indian Ocean.
Tanzania was formed by the federation of Tanganyika and Zanzibar,
in 1964. The histories of the two areas are quite different.
When dividing the area up among themselves, in the late 1800s, the
Germans and the British ignored the claims to parts of Tanganyika by the sultan of
Zanzibar.
The start of World War I disrupted the great plans Germany had for its part of East Africa, and the British
eventually took control of the area.
Tanganyika gained independence in 1961, and after an abortive coup in
January 1964, the Tanganyikan president, Julius Nyerere, held discussions with Prime
Minister Karume of Zanzibar; in an attempt to strengthen his government against
revolutionary violence.
The talks led to the formation of Tanzania, in April 1964. Despite
the change in name, the two areas remained fundamentally different.
Tanzania experimented with socialism, supported other African
liberation movements. Although it maintained good relations with the West, Tanzania moved
closer in philosophy and practice to the Communist-bloc countries; China helping out with
aid.
Economic reform programmes and a move towards a multiparty system
began in the early nineties.
Tanzania Tourism:
Top tourist destinations in Tanzania are: Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park,
Zanzibar and Pemba islands, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Mount
Kilimanjaro, Selous Game Reserve, Ruaha National Park, Mafia Island, and Mount Meru.
The official languages of Tanzania are Swahili and English,
although many Tanzanians continue to speak the language of their ethnic group.
There is a strong tradition of education through storytelling in
Tanzania, and many people listen to regular soap operas on the radio.
An especially gripping story is the one about Mashaka, a lorry driver
who has a girlfriend in every town. Some 6 million people a week tune in to listen to
Mashaka's plight. His health is failing; a message about promiscuity and the risk of
contracting the Aids virus.
Book Tanzania hotels online to save yourself time and money.
Accommodation in Tanzania
Hotels
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Tanzania
Hotels and Lodges:
Book or enquire on hotels in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Arusha and Serengeti, Lake Manyara
and Ngorongoro lodges. Most of the options are available with up to 40% off standard
rates.
Africa's highest mountain (5,895 m or 19,340 ft) is in
north-eastern Tanzania, near the border with Kenya.
Tanzania's popular national park, in the north of the country, is
one of the last places in Africa where large animal migrations still occur.
During the wet season, the herds populate the south-eastern plains of
the park; migrating westwards in the dry season into the woodland savannah of the
Serengeti, and northwards to the grassland areas of neighbouring Kenya.
Safari
in Northern Tanzania:
The magnificent collection of game sanctuaries to the north of the country, near the
border with Kenya, is referred to as The Northern Circuit. This is the most popular and
accessible wildlife safari route in Tanzania and one of the finest game viewing areas
anywhere in the world.
Sernegeti: (National Park
Official Site)
The Serengeti region encompasses the Serengeti National Park itself, the Ngorongoro
Conservation Area, Maswa Game Reserve, the Loliondo, Grumeti and Ikorongo Controlled Areas
and the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Over 90,000 tourists visit the Park each
year.
Zanzibar and other islands, off the east coast of Africa, were
initially controlled by Arab traders, the Portuguese, and then Omani sultans.
Most people visiting Zanzibar stay in a number of locations in order
to get a real feel for the place. A few nights in Stone Town is an essential element of a
good trip though.
Encounter Zanzibar:
A useful guide to travel in Zanzibar and Pemba with general tourist information about the
islands; including what to do and where to stay.
Paje By Night:
Guest house situated on the picturesque east coast of Zanzibar Island. All rooms are
equipped with large mosquito nets, fans and bathrooms.
Zanzibar Island:
Zanzibar is the largest coral island off the coast of Africa. Learn more about this island
paradise in the Indian Ocean; some 20 miles off the coast of Tanzania.
Mafia Island
Mafia is a wonderful little island at the centre of the largest marine
park in East Africa. It is a real sleepy backwater, a remnant of the old Swahili coast and
the place to visit for a reminder of how Zanzibar was thirty years ago.
Pemba Island
The island of Pemba is a remote, untouched paradise of clove
plantations, traditional villages, broad sandy beaches and superb marine life. This is the
place to come if you are into hiking, sailing, fishing and especially diving.
Stone Town
The transport hub and general centre of activity on the islands, Stone
Town is a fascinating historic city and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Zanzibar Web:
Comprehensive information about getting to and around Zanzibar and of course the
attractions on the island.
The largest town on Zanzibar Island, the port of Zanzibar is
situated on the south-western coast.
Vasco da Gama visited the island in 1499, when it was already an
important trading centre between Africa, the Middle East,
and India.
Arabs from Oman ousted the
Portuguese in 1698, but didn't begin to develop the island until the mid-19th century. It
was made a British protectorate in 1890, and merged with Tanganyika to form Tanzania in
1964.
Menai Bay Beach
Bungalows:
New bungalow hotel in the protected Menai Bay, on the West Coast of Zanzibar. Consisting
of only five bungalows, set in a shady palm grove direct on the beach, this hotel offers a
peaceful and quiet atmosphere in a fascinating environment.
20% discount to Travel Notes members.
Dar es-Salaam is the country's largest city, and principal
seaport. The name in Arabic means haven of peace; founded as a summer residence of the
sultan of Zanzibar, in the 1860s.
German colonialists developed Dar es-Salaam in the late 19th century
and made it their capital of German East Africa.
The British took over control in 1916, and it became the capital of a
newly independent Tanganyika in 1961, and continued as the seat of administration when
Tanganyika and Zanzibar were merged to form Tanzania in 1964.
The Railway extends inland from Dar es-Salaam to Arusha in the north,
to Lake Tanganyika, to Mwanza on Lake Victoria, and to Zambia. A
railway also runs to the Indian Ocean ports of Tanga in Tanzania, and Mombassa in Kenya.
Tanga is an important port on the Indian Ocean, near the border
with Kenya.
You can relax on beaches around the bay, or visit Persian ruins from
the 14th century, on an island in the harbour.
Nearby are the Amboni Caves (off the road to Lunga Lunga) and Sulphur
Springs.
Tanganyika was where some of the earth's ancestors of human beings
once lived. Their remains have been found in the Olduvai Gorge area, near Arusha.
Some 20km south of Tanga (on the road to Pangani) are the Tongoni
Ruins; about 40 tombs believed to date from the 10th century.
Getting to Tanga
Buses run south from Mombasa via Lunga Lunga.
There are also shared taxis and matatus from Lunga Lunga (about an hour), if you miss the
direct connection and need to travel in stages. From Mombasa there are frequent buses to
the border as well as matatus and shared taxis - which take about 1½ hours. There's quite
a walk between the two border posts but you should be able to hitch a ride if there aren't
any pick-ups around.
Tanga is also the ideal place to get a dhow to Pemba Island, north of
Zanzibar.
Arusha, in north-east Tanzania, is a tourist gateway to Olduvai
Gorge and the scenic national parks of northern Tanzania.
National
Parks and Reserves in Tanzania:
Tanzania has more land devoted to national parks and game reserves than any other wildlife
destination in the world. Everything from pristine coral reefs to the Crater Highlands,
remote game reserves and the famous national parks are protected by government law and
placed in trust for future generations to marvel at in wonder and awe.
This once small community in central Tanzania was enlarged in the
1980s to eventually replace Dar es-Salaam as the official capital.
Dodoma is connected with the main east-west railway, and a north-south
trunk road.
Airlines and Airports:
The national airline is Air Tanzania. Airports serving Dar es-Salaam, Zanzibar city, and
elsewhere provide domestic services and international connections.
Great Lakes
Three of Africa's great lakes are situated on the borders of Tanzania
and partially within it: Lake Tanganyika in the western border, Lake Victoria in the
north-west, and Lake Nyasa (Malawi) on the south-west.
ReliefWeb:
Online documents pertaining to the Great Lakes: Burundi; Democratic Republic of Congo; Kenya; Rwanda; Tanzania; Uganda.
Tanzania Tourist Board:
The official website for tourism in Tanzania, with everything you need to know about the
beautiful country in one easy location.
African Safaris:
The Travel Notes section for tour operators who offer wildlife safaris to Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Malaika Tours:
Malaika is the Swahili word for angel and the aim of this company is to provide clients
with some heavenly experiences through the nature, wildlife and culture of Tanzania. Also
offers package tours/safaris to Kenya, Uganda,
Ghana, Zambia/Victoria Falls, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia.
Books
on Tanzania Travel:
Browse Amazon's best-selling list of books on travel in Tanzania.
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