Tanzania Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org

Travel Notes: Africa: Tanzania Travel Notes

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.

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Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Tanzania was formed by the federation of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, in 1964. The histories of the two areas are quite different.

Countries neighbouring Tanzania are: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Mali and Mozambique.

The United Republic of Tanzania also includes the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, and other offshore islands in the Indian Ocean.

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 Formation of Tanzania

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 Attractions:
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.

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.

Tanzanian Language and Culture

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.

Tanzania Accommodation

Book Tanzania hotels online to save yourself time and money.

Accommodation in Tanzania

Hotels in Tanzania:
Find hotels in Tanzania with special online rates.

Sort Tanzania Hotels by: Hotel Price, Hotel Rating, Hotel Name.

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.

Kilimanjaro

Africa's highest mountain (5,895 m or 19,340 ft) is in north-eastern Tanzania, near the border with Kenya.

Serengeti National Park

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

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.

Zanzibar City

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.

Zanzibar Accommodation

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

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

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

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.

Dodoma

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.

Around Tanzania

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.

Tanzania Tours

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.

Tanzania Travel Guides

Books on Tanzania Travel:
Browse Amazon's best-selling list of books on travel in Tanzania.