Tanzania is far more than just a spot to climb the world’s tallest freestanding mountain.
The East African country’s stunning wildlife, expansive volcanic crater and intriguing islands all set it apart as a unique destination. Massive Mount Kilimanjaro just adds to its allure.
The East African country’s stunning wildlife, expansive volcanic crater and intriguing islands all set it apart as a unique destination. Massive Mount Kilimanjaro just adds to its allure.
The
Indian Ocean laps Tanzania’s eastern edge between Kenya and Mozambique,
and the “spice island” of Zanzibar is 22 miles off the mainland.
Tanzania’s sprawling plains are sparsely populated, by people, at least.
About half the world’s dwindling lion population lives in East Africa,
estimates indicate.
But they wear tutus in cartoons! ‘Even the toilet has a nice view’ Zanzibar street food’s ‘insane variety’
Here are five ways to experience Tanzania’s splendor.
Roam the Ngorongoro Crater
Sometimes
called “Africa’s Garden of Eden,” some 25,000 large animals live in the
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which stretches across 3,200 square miles
of the southeastern Serengeti Plains adjacent to Serengeti National
Park. The 12-mile-wide Ngorongoro Crater is the area’s crown jewel. The
largest unbroken caldera in the world, it is thought to have formed
after an active volcano collapsed about 2.5 million years ago.
Well
over a million wildebeest pass through the area during the annual Great
Migration, one of the planet’s most remarkable natural spectacles. From
December to March each year, wildebeest, zebras and other animals
gather near Lake Ndutu on the edge of the conservation area. From there
they move north, eventually ending up in the Northern Serengeti and
Kenya’s Maasai Mara in the fall.
Beyond
the huge wildebeest herds, black rhinos, leopards, gazelles and birds
thrive here — as does that most powerful crowd-pleaser, the lion.
Get to know the lions
You’re
bound to be on the lookout for lions in the Serengeti and their
conservation deserves a special mention. The tawny lion prides
dominating the Ndutu area of the southeastern Serengeti are not your
“Lion King” variety of big fuzzy kittens. These giant creatures are
respected among locals because of their history of asserting dominance
when challenged by aggressive hunters.
In
an attempt to discourage the trend of stalking and killing lions in the
Amboseli Ecosystem, conservation organization Lion Guardians recruits
young Maasai warriors to instead protect the regal creatures. By naming
the lions and developing relationships by tracking them, members of the
guardian program recognize that animals like local lioness Selenkay can
live in peace with their human neighbors.
Safaris
throughout the vast Serengeti give visitors the rare opportunity to see
these majestic cats in their native territory. The Ndutu Safari Lodge
features 34 cottages with porches facing Lake Ndutu.
Learn about Maasai culture
For
the Maasai, one of the last warrior tribes in the world, cattle are
integral to day-to-day life. Besides providing sustenance in the form of
milk, and sometimes meat and blood, cows are also currency in the
region.
The
tribes move with their livestock across northern Tanzania and southern
Kenya, constructing villages as they go. The settlements generally
consist of a ring fence that encloses a group of families, their herds
and a collection of mud and dung houses.
Where
livestock gathers, so do big cats hunting for meals. Relations between
the Maasai and the lions that lure tourists by the truckload are tense
but evolving.
The Maasai are formidable opponents strengthened by a nearly 100% protein diet. A staple is amasi, a lumpy, yogurt-like drink made from fermented milk.
Sample the Spice Islands
The
semi-autonomous islands off the coast of Tanzania exhibit the rich and
varied influences that arrived on their shores. On the island of
Zanzibar, African, Arab, Indian and European flavors emerge in the
cuisine, the homes, the people and the famous carved doors. Today, 99%
of the population is Muslim, compared with about a third of the mainland
population.
Tourism has replaced the spice and slave trades that shaped the island’s history, and delicious street food is part of the local island experience.
Every
night in Stone Town’s Forodhani Gardens, vendors set up stalls selling
seafood snacks and the famous Zanzibar pizza. Zanzibar pizza is revered
as one of the most delicious foods in the region. With toppings ranging
from fresh meats to juicy mango, the crepe-like pizza carries its
flavorful toppings on the inside almost akin to a burrito. Unlike
traditional pizza crust, Zanzibar’s variety has the texture of a
pancake. And who doesn’t love pancakes?
The
various carts are piled with fresh seafood skewers, African doughnuts
called “mandazi” and fried breads. To wash down all the yumminess, try
some honey beer or a mixture of sugar cane water, ginger and lime juice.
Nearby
Pemba Island, also part of the Zanzibar Archipelago, offers a quieter,
unspoiled experience. Known as “the Green Island” for its lush
vegetation, the delicately sweet fragrance of cloves permeates the air,
underlining the “spice island” moniker. The rolling hills also produce
other fragrant crops like mangoes and coconuts.
Pemba’s
coast is home to some of East Africa’s best diving. Go snorkeling or
diving in the translucent waters to admire graceful manta rays, stunning
live coral and schools of jewel-toned fish.
Conquer Kilimanjaro
Conquer Kilimanjaro
The
tallest freestanding mountain in the world, northeastern Tanzania’s
Mount Kilimanjaro draws tourists because of its relatively accessible
trails. While other towering summits require Spiderman-like agility and
climbing skills, conquering Kilimanjaro primarily demands training,
determination and a sturdy walking stick.
Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak at 19,340 feet. Allot a minimum of five or six days of climbing to reach the top.
As
climbers ascend the mountain, they experience each of Africa’s
climates, from the tropical heat at the bottom to the clear iciness at
the top of Africa.
The view at the summit, Uhuru Point, presents a breathtaking picture of the sprawling country below.
BY CNN