Arusha National Park

 

The closest national park to Arusha town – northern Tanzania’s safari capital –

Arusha National Park is a multi-faceted jewel, often overlooked by safarigoers, despite offering the opportunity to explore a beguiling diversity of habitats within a few hours.

.About Arusha National Park
Size: 552 sq km 212 sq miles).
Location: Northern Tanzania, northeast of Arusha town..

Getting there
An easy 40-minute drive from Arusha. Approximately 60 km (35 miles) from Kilimanjaro International Airport. The lakes, forest and Ngurdoto Crater can all be visited in the course of a half-day outing at the beginning or end of an extended northern safari.
NOTE: Mountain Climbing Permits duration time is 12 HOURS.

What to do
Forest walks, numerous picnic sites;
three- or four-day Mt Meru climb - good acclimatisation for Kilimanjaro.

When to go
To climb Mt Meru, June-February although it may rain in November.
Best views of Kilimanjaro December-February.

Accommodation
Two lodges, two rest houses, camp sites, two mountain huts inside the park; more lodges at Usa River outside the park and many hotels and hostels in Arusha town.

Kisangara - Kilimanjaro Region TCTP / Cultural tourism

Visit the Kisangara Cultural tourism site 62 km southeast of Moshi in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro and the Pare Mountains. High on the mountains, protected by natural forests, this is inhabited by the people of Pare.

The following activities are on offer:
- A visit to workshops involved in carpentry, brick-making and brewing local beer
- A visit to a sisal factory
- Spice tour, cooking traditional dishes, weaving household items and dancing with local women’s groups
- Hiking tour up Mount Kindoroko, with forestry activities
- A visit to the Lembeni Herbal Hospital
- Finish expeditions at Nyumba ya Mungu dam
- A visit to a farming project where you can learn and participate in the various farming technologies Half and full day tours can be organised to suit your passion:

Half day tours
1. Carpentry, bricks and bear tour the tour takes you first to the carpentry workshop where you can participate in the making or various items. From there, visit a brick factory to witness the entire process of brick- making. Finish with a visit the local beer-brewing unit where the drink is prepared from sugarcane.

2. Lembeni Herbal Hospital tour Talk to doctors and patients and learn about the various herbal medicines used to treat different diseases.

Full day tours
1. Kindoroko Mountain tour this hike starts from the Centre and takes you through the lush forest. Ascend to the top for panoramic view of Mount Kilimanjaro. Mount Meru, Lake Jipe and Nyumba ya Mungu dam. Tree planting and a visit to a tree nursery can be included on request.

2. Spice tour Go to the spice and herbal gardens. Once back at the Centre, participate in the preparation of a traditional meal flavoured with spices. The meal is followed by a cultural interaction with the villagers and local dances.

3. Nyumba ya Mungu drive to the Nyumba ya Mungu (House of God) dam, the electricity power station. Go on a finishing expedition in a local canoe or just walk along the shores to admire the rich birdlife.

Getting there: Kisangara is easily accessible by public transport from Arusha, Moshi and Dar es Salaam. Get off at Kisangara Chini, 12 km south of Mwanga. From here, ask for the people of the Hasha Project. (Income from tourist visits will be used to make primary school desks and thereby improve the quality of education of the local children.)

For further information contact:
Tel: + 255 27 2757789 / 754 487193 / 784 347746
E-mail: gracemsafiri@yahoo.com

source: www.tanzaniaculturaltourism.com

Bagamoyo as a Historical town

Visit to learn this About Bagamoyo

Bagamoyo was the most important trading entrepot of the east central coast of Africa in the late 19th century. Bagamoyo's history has been influenced by Indian and Arab traders, by the German colonial government and by Christian missionaries.

About 5 km south of Bagamoyo, the Kaole Ruins with remnants of two mosques and a couple of tombs can be dated back to the 13th century, showing the importance of Islam in those early Bagamoyo times.

Kaole Ruins in Bagamoyo, Tanzania

Until the middle of the 18th century, Bagamoyo was a small and insignificant trading center where most of the population were fishermen and farmers. The main trading goods were fish, salt, and gum, among other things.

In the late 18th century Muslim families settled in Bagamoyo, all of which were relatives of Shamvi la Magimba in Oman. They made their living by enforcing taxes on the native population and by trading in salt, gathered from the Nunge coast north of Bagamoyo. In the first half of the 19th century, Bagamoyo became a trading port for ivory and the slave trade, with traders coming from the African interior, from places as far as Morogoro, Lake Tanganyika and Usambara on their way to Zanzibar. This explains the meaning of the word Bagamoyo ("Bwaga-Moyo") which means "Lay down your Heart" in Swahili. It is disputed whether this refers to the slave trade which passed through the town (i.e. "give up all hope") or to the porters who rested in Bagamoyo after carrying 35 lb cargos on their shoulders from the Great Lakes region (i.e. "take the load off and rest"). Since there is little evidence to support that Bagamoyo was a major slave port (Kilwa, much further south, has earned this status), and that tens of thousands of porters arrived at Bagamoyo annually in the latter half of the 19th century, it is more likely that the name of the town derives from the latter interpretation.

The slave trade in East Africa was officially prohibited in the year 1873, but continued surreptitiously well to the end of the 19th century

Visit Mafia Island in Tanzania by any means

Mafia Island is the right place for you.

Together with Pemba and Unguja, Mafia Island forms the Tanzanian Spice Islands. It lies in Rufiji River’s mouth in South Tanzania. Mafia is actually an archipelago. Its capital town is Kilindoni. Like the rest of Tanzania, the region experiences tropical climates. Temperature throughout the year ranges from 65 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

The archipelago has a lengthy stretch of coastline. These are beautiful white sand beaches. One can enjoy sun bathing and water sports in the warm waters of Indian Ocean. The rich coral reefs and the number of fish species are the main attraction of the area. These attract snorkelers, game fishermen and scuba divers. One can also enjoy a refreshing nap while on the boat. There are several land activities too, like cycling and road excursions. People can also hire warm and friendly guides for hikes and bird watching.

The first national marine park of Tanzania is the Mafia Island Marine Park. This consists of the coral reefs, beaches and lagoons in the archipelago. It also includes the animal and plant species exclusive to the region. Thousands of visitors every year come to appreciate nature in this island. There are no crowded infrastructures in the place, towering skyscrapers and pollution. It is truly a natural experience.

At the day’s end, people can choose from top-rated hotels. They are the Mafia Island Lodge, Chole Mjini Lodge and Kinasi Lodge. They also offer mouth watering Tanzanian food and world dishes.

Katavi National Park

About Katavi National Park
Size: 4,471 sq km (1,727 sq miles).
Location; Southwest Tanzania, east of Lake Tanganyika.
The headquarters at Sitalike lie 40km (25 miles) south of Mpanda town.

Getting there
Charter flights from Dar or Arusha.
A tough but spectacular day's drive from Mbeya (550 km/340 miles), or in the dry season only from Kigoma (390 km/240 miles).
It is possible to reach Mpanda by rail from Dar via Tabora, then to catch public transport to Sitalike, where game drives can be arranged. If travelling overland, allow plenty of time to get there and back.

What to do
Walking, driving and camping safaris.
Near Lake Katavi, visit the tamarind tree inhabited by the spirit of the legendary hunter Katabi (for whom the park is named) - offerings are still left here by locals seeking the spirit’s blessing.

When to go
The dry season (May-October).
Roads within the park are often flooded during the rainy season but may be passable from mid-December to February.

Accommodation
Two seasonal luxury tented camps overlooking Lake Chada. A resthouse at Sitalike and campsites inside the park. Basic but clean hotels at Mpanda.

Tarangire National Park

River Tarangire which flows against the North direction

If you want to see this it is all about Tarangire National Park

About Tarangire National Park
Size: 2850 sq km (1,096 sq miles).
Location: 118 km (75 miles) southwest of Arusha.

Getting there
Easy drive from Arusha or Lake Manyara following a surfaced road to within 7km (four miles) of the main entrance gate; can continue on to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.
Charter flights from Arusha and the Serengeti.

What to do
Guided walking safaris.
Day trips to Maasai and Barabaig villages, as well as to the hundreds of ancient rock paintings in the vicinity of Kolo on the Dodoma Road.

When to go
Year round but dry season (June - September) for sheer numbers of animals.

Accommodation
Two lodges, one tented lodge, two luxury tented camps inside the park, another half-dozen exclusive lodges and tented camps immediately outside its borders.
Several camp sites in and around the park.

Mikumi National Park

Visit Mikumi National Park in Tanzania to see this varieties and a lot of them including the Lion


About Mikumi National Park
Size: 3,230 sq km (1,250 sq miles), the fourth-largest park in Tanzania, and part of a much larger ecosystem centred on the uniquely vast Selous Game Reserve.
Location: 283 km (175 miles) west of Dar es Salaam, north of Selous, and en route to Ruaha, Udzungwa and (for the intrepid) Katavi. .

How to get there
A good surfaced road connects Mikumi to Dar es Salaam via Morogoro, a roughly 4 hour drive.
Also road connections to Udzungwa, Ruaha and (dry season only) Selous.
Charter flight from Dar es Salaam, Arusha or Selous. Local buses run from Dar to park HQ where game drives can be arranged.

What to do
Game drives and guided walks. Visit nearby Udzungwa or travel on to Selous or Ruaha.

When to go
Accessible year round.

Accommodation
Two lodges, three luxury tented camps, three campsites.
Guest houses in Mikumi town on the park border. One lodge is proposed at Mahondo and one permanent tented camp at Lumaaga