Places to Go and Things to Do

Dar es Salaam

Very few African capitals12 are the best thing about their country and Dar is no exception. It probably had a certain charm at one point, with its mix of Arab and UK colonial architecture and its sheltered bay looking out to the Indian Ocean. Much of that has disapeared under urban sprawl as people leave the countryside to look for work. The two obvious places to stay would be around the Msangi peninsula or in the centre of town itself. Things to visit include the National Museum (a little dusty but worth a quick look) the Tsinga-Tsinga centre - the base for a distinctive local style of painting - and possibly the 'picturesque' fishing port. This latter destination is certainly lively, but take no valuables...

Zanzibar (Unguga and Pemba)

Magic name, magic place. You can't go to Tanzania without visiting Zanzibar, the original spice island. Not only does it have Stonetown, an architectural jewel, but there are some great beaches and a small section of indigenous forest. You could easily spend a few days just wandering around the narrow streets of Stonetown, soaking up the atmosphere and admiring the distinctive buildings. For food, the Forodhani Gardens is the place to go - you can get grilled meat or seafood with chips and salad to go for a few quid (GBP) - alternatively there are plenty of restaurants.

When you've explored Stonetown, head out east or north to the beaches, or go on a spice tour.

Zanzibar is listed in h2g2's Entry on great islands.

Arusha

The 'Geneva of Africa' according to Bill Clinton, due to it having hosted a number of negotiations with the aim of resolving regional conflicts. It's currently the home of the penal tribunal dealing with the Rwandan genocide. In possibly its only other similarity with Geneva, it certainly it doesn't lack for mountains.

Many many tourists pass through Arusha on their way to safari or mountain, and the locals have geared themselves up to meet this demand. Newspapers, Internet, tour touts and 'afro-tat' can all be found easily (indeed often they will come to you) and there is a good selection of places to stay. One of the nice things about Arusha is that a number of Cultural Tourism Programmes have been set up in the area around the city. These generally involve a visit to a number of local businesses, artists or points of interest as well as a traditional meal. Not only will you learn something about how the inhabitants live and work, a portion of the money you pay normally goes to a village project such as a new school.

Lake Victoria

One of the most populated areas of the country, the main town is Mwanza but there are settlements of Sukuma fishing villages all along the shore. The sunset over the lake is very beautiful and it's a birdwatcher's paradise. Just don't swim. If the bilharzia doesn't get you, the raw sewage will.

Diving

Unguja and Pemba contain some of the best diving spots in the world. Also good, if more difficult to get to, is Mafia island, further south down the coast. Just be careful they don't give you a concrete overcoat...

Safari

Hey mister, wanna see some animals? The vast majority of the visitors to Tanzania come to see lions hunt, elephants waggle their ears and gazelles jump. Most of those content themselves with a three day trip around Ngorongoro and Serengeti, which are both some of the most spectacular spots and also can be easily reached at an accessible price. However, their accessibility means that they are becoming a little crowded, at some cost to the ecosystem and to the viewing experience.

Opting for a less frequented area of the Serengeti is already a good start (the park authorities produce maps with this information) and if you have the time and your own transport, there are magnificent parks in the south and west of Tanzania.

Mountains and Hills

The mountain that most people want to climb when they visit Tanzania is Mount Kilimanjaro.

If Kilimanjaro seems a bit much (and it is a challenging summit, often not taken nearly as seriously as it should be), then there are several other options for walking in Tanzania. Just outside Arusha is Mount Meru, the same sort of shape as Kilimanjaro but a lot lower. You still have to have a guide, but the costs are a lot more reasonable.

Lower still, but extremely good walking country, are the Crater Highlands of northern Tanzania - the Oldunya Lengai is the sacred mountain of the Masai, and it's an active volcano. This researcher was lucky enough to witness plumes of cinders shooting up into the air, as well as sulphuric steam and the ash coating of the summit. Apparently its due for a really big eruption... Walking along the ridges of the rift valley is also possible, and one of the best ways to meet Masai as they take donkeys or cattle along these ancient trade routes.

Less volcanic are the green and peaceful Usembara mountains and the lesser known Pare mountains, both of them situated in north-eastern Tanzania.