There are few places in the world that are as well known for their scenery and wildlife as Tanzania (except for maybe Kenya but they've got their hands full as of late...). Tanzania is home to the world famous Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater. But beyond those two parks there are numerous other wildlife parks each with it's own unique charm. You will see elephants, zebra, giraffe, hippos, countless varieties of gazelle and antelope. There are also leopards, rhinos, lions, cheetahs, hyena and more bird varieties than you can shake a stick at. There are all levels of accommodation and experiences from ultra fancy to bare bones.
2. Zanzibar
Zanzibar is 20 miles off of the mainland but a world away. Culturally it is a blend of Middle Eastern and African with a little Indian thrown in for good measure. Stone Town is a maze of narrow winding streets with restaurants, hotels, and shops. It is home to two large annual festivals--the Zanzibar International Film Festival (held in June/July) and the Sauti za Busara, a huge music festival in February. Outside of town you can go on a fruit and spice tour, visit the Jozani rainforest, or stay at the beaches. The beaches, in particular, are fantastic. I'm sure there have been many a heated argument about the best beaches in the world--but surely Zanzibar ranks up on the list. The sand is like powdered sugar and the snorkeling and diving are phenomenal.
3. Mount Kilimanjaro
I'll be honest--I have no desire to climb Kilimanjaro. Hiking up and down steep slopes for days at a time just isn't my thing. You're much more likely to find me snorkeling or diving than climbing. However, for those of you that like hiking then no visit to Tanzania would be complete without seeing the peak of the tallest mountain in Africa. I'm told it's not a very difficult climb; if you're looking for more of a challenge you could try Mount Meru which is lower but more technical.
4. Cultural Exchange
Tanzania has a more formalized "cultural tourism" program which takes visitors off the beaten path and to places where you can have more interaction with people. But just visiting here (particularly if it is your first trip to Africa) is an enlightening experience. The people are friendly; the roads are terrible but it's always a good thing to broaden your horizons. Try ugali and mchicha--a local dish similar to grits and spinach. Go shopping for fresh produce in the local market or see traditional music and dance.
5. Free place to stay in Dar es Salaam
It's not a palace and our kids generally get up at 6 AM (forewarned is forearmed) but we've got a guest room, a nice back yard, and all the comforts of home. Plus you can probably sucker us into showing you around town. Dar has a village museum, beaches nearby, plenty of great restaurants, an interesting fish market and lots of places to buy beautiful fabric. The other nice thing about coming to Dar is that you won't feel like a tourist here.
6. Get away from the campaign ads
But if you can't bear the thought of being out of touch with the world you can watch our AFN satellite which has all the major news programs and networks plus the ever popular "Pentagon Channel".
7. See the Tipton family!
Build Legos with Josh, climb trees with Ben, jump on the trampoline with Josie! We love having visitors and Bob makes a mean martini. So mean in fact that I prefer a gin and tonic. We'll take you to the yacht club on Fridays where you can watch the sunset over the ocean and eat fresh grilled calamari.
8. Beat the heat in summer or escape the cold in winter
By American standards, it's hot all the time. But in June and July it cools off some so it is around 80-85 degrees which is nice if you're coming from Atlanta. If you really like hot weather then come in February; you won't be disappointed. If you hate being hot then we'll direct you to the highlands which, at 6000 feet above sea level, are much more temperate.
9. Good shopping for local handicrafts and souvenirs
There's lots of cool stuff to get here as gifts or to remember your trip. If you are feeling extravagant you could get a hand-carved Zanzibari style piece of furniture such as a trunk or bed. If you insist on being practical and getting something that can fit in your bag then you can get beautiful fabric, hand carved wooden bowls and sculptures, paintings, or of course, tanzanite.
Airlines that fly to Dar es Salaam
- KLM
- British Air
- Swiss Air
- Emirates (generally the cheapest and very good)
- Qatar Airlines
