TopThingsToDo

Top Things To Do : ? Walk to the very top of Africa. It is a bit of a trek, but it is possible to climb Africa's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro (5895m/19,341ft), in three days or so. It is essential to have the right equipment (such as warm clothing, boots, gloves and a hat) and some experience. Be aware that guides and porters are essential even for the lower peaks. Organised climbs with food and staff can be arranged at some cost through selected hotels. It is advisable to book well in advance. Alternatively, climbers can bring their own supplies and hire staff and equipment (arctic sleeping bags and extra trousers) at the park gate. Although Kilimanjaro may be attempted by any strong mountain walker, visitors should be aware of the dangers of high altitude sickness which, in extreme cases, can be fatal.

? Tanzania has 804km (503 miles) of coastline with superb beaches. Enjoying one of them is definitely among the most relaxing and pleasant activities the country has to offer. Many beautiful beaches are within easy reach of Dar es Salaam, such as those at Kunduchi, Mbwa Maji and Mjimwena.

? Go scuba diving and snorkelling around the islands of Mafia and Zanzibar, which have recently gained a high reputation amongst divers. Mafia's Chloe Bay is part of a protected marine park, with an unbroken reef running the length of the island. There are also many secluded beaches. Offshore from Zanzibar are several islands ringed with coral reefs.

? Try big-game fishing from the island of Mafia. Some 40 minutes' flight south of Dar es Salaam, the island is renowned for the big catches made in its waters. Power boats and tackle are available for hire. Zanzibar also offers good fishing. The main fishing season is from September to March.

? For those who fancy watching the creatures of the sea rather than catching them, Dolphin safaris are on offer from Zanzibar. Dhow trips are also popular.

? Discover Zanzibar's spice and fruit plantations. Organised tours are available all over the 'Spice Island' (as Zanzibar is also known). Along the way, visitors will be invited to taste and buy spices, herbs and fruit. Sadly, because of a decline in world prices, the spice industry and, particularly, its mainstay product - cloves - is now near collapse.

? Visit the Sukuma (or Bujora) Museum, 15km (9 miles) east of Mwanza. It stages weekly performances of the traditional dances of the Wasukuma tribe, including the Bugobobobo (Sukuma Snake Dance).

? Watch traditional bull-fighting on the island of Pemba. The sport ? which does not involve killing the bulls - is a hangover from the days of Portuguese rule in the 16th and 17th centuries.

? Join a boat trip on Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa. It has some spectacular varieties of freshwater tropical fish, many of which are exported to aquariums all over the world. Its shores are peaceful and pristine and offer a quiet alternative to the constant movement and bustle of a safari itinerary.

? Go on safari and explore Tanzania's national parks and game reserves. Tanzania's national parks extend over some 33,660 sq km (13,000 sq miles). In addition, there is the unique Ngorongoro Conservation Area, in which wildlife is protected and where the Masai tribespeople also live and herd their cattle. There are also some 10 game reserves where government-approved hunting safaris operate under licence and about 40 controlled areas where the hunting of game is controlled by a quota system. Numerous tour operators can organise tailor-made safaris, either by vehicle, on foot, on horseback or by balloon.

National Parks
? Serengeti National Park: The endless plains of the Serengeti National Park is where one of the world's great natural spectacles, the annual migration of some two million wildebeests followed by their predators, can be observed. This is a plain-dwellers' stronghold of 14,763 sq km (5678 sq miles) reaching up to the Kenyan border and claimed to be the finest in Africa. Here are 35 species of animals, including wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, cheetah and lion and also an extensive selection of birdlife. Probably the best time to see the migrating herds is from November to May.

? Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Rising high above the plains of the Serengeti, this vast protected area stretches from Lake Natron in the northeast (the breeding ground for east Africa's flamingos) to Lake Enaysi in the south and Lake Manyara in the east. The area includes the still active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai (Mountain of God), which last erupted in 1983. The park's centrepiece is the Ngorongoro Crater, a collapsed volcano forming a crater that is 610m (2000 ft) deep, 20km (12.5 miles) in diameter, covering an area of 311 sq km (122 sq miles). The crater accounts for just one-tenth of the conservation area, which is home to almost every species of African plains mammal (except for the impala, topi and giraffe) and particularly well known for the endangered black rhino. It also has the densest population of predators in Africa. The rich birdlife includes flamingos which are attracted by the soda content in Lake Magadi on the crater floor.

? Lake Manyara National Park: Famous for its elephants and tree-climbing lions. The wall of the Great Rift Valley forms a backdrop to the park, before which lies forest, open grassland, swamp and the soda lake. Wildlife includes lions, herds of buffaloes, baboons, elephants, rhinos, impalas, giraffes, leopards, zebras, bushbucks, reedbucks, waterbucks and blue and vervet monkeys. Manyara is also noted for its birdlife, particularly the flamingos.

? Arusha National Park: This park lies within the Ngurdoto Crater, a volcano that has probably been extinct for a quarter of a million years. Visitors are able to see buffalos, rhinos, elephants, giraffes and warthogs.

? Mikumi National Park: This park, 1300 sq km (500 sq miles) in area, offers a chance to see lions, zebras, hippos, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, impalas, wildebeests and warthogs. A popular spot for visitors is the Kikaboga Hippo Pool. Although December to March is the ideal time for viewing at Mikumi, there are animals throughout the year.

? Tarangire National Park: Only 130km (80 miles) from Arusha and 8km (5 miles) off the Great Cape to Cairo road, it is nonetheless an area which compares favourably with the Serengeti in terms of wildlife density.

? Ruaha National Park: Tanzania's second-largest and wildest park and the world's largest elephant sanctuary, Ruaha is located 118km (73 miles) from Iringa in the Southern Highlands along an all-weather road. The park affords views of unparalleled scenery along the Ruaha Gorge, with many sightings of antelopes. Iringa is also connected with Dar es Salaam and other centres by air and bus service. The best time to visit is from July to November.

? Selous Game Reserve: The Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania covers an area larger than Switzerland (about one-sixth of Tanzania's land surface), making it one of the biggest in the world, with a massive elephant population. There is also a high concentration of stalking lions and other game. UNESCO declared the game reserve a World Heritage Site in 1982. The Selous Game Reserve is inaccessible during the rainy season (from March to May) owing to floods.

? Gombe National Park: This park is near Kigoma on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and is home to about 200 chimpanzees, more easily seen here in their natural habitat than anywhere else in the world. This is the place where Jane Goodall devoted her life to recording chimpanzee ethology in a 37-year study.

? Other national parks: These include Katavi, Mahale Mountains, Rubondo and Udzungura Mountains. There are also marine parks at Kilwa Reserve, Latham Island Reserve, Rufigi Delta and Tanga Coral Gardens.
Further information can be obtained from Tanzania National Parks, PO Box 3134, Arusha (tel: (27) 250 1930 or 250 3471).

Tourist Information : Tanzania Tourist Board
PO Box 2485, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel: (22) 211 1244/5.
Website: www.tanzaniatouristboard.com 

    

      

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