TOURISM OPPORTUNITY IN TANZANIA

Tourism in Tanzania

Tanzania is among of country located in East Africa along Indian Ocean. Tanzania is country so wealthy that it would practically take years to document all the resources. Not only is the country proud to bear witness to the highest and largest free standing mountain in the world but also to the rich and diverse wildlife concentrations, mineral and other resources available. 

If Africa’s tourism opportunities were to be summarized by one single country that country would be Tanzania. The evocative mix of people and cultures in Tanzania creates a tapestry of memories for the visitor. 

Elephant in Tanzania

Tanzania has a tropical climate but has regional variations due to topography. In the highlands, temperatures range between 10 and 20 °C (50 and 68 °F) during cold and hot seasons respectively.

Geography

Tanzania has a varied geography, including deep and large freshwater and salt lakes, many national parks, and Africa's highest point, Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m or 19,341 ft). 

Northeast Tanzania is mountainous and includes Mount Meru, an active volcano, Mount Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano, and the Usambara and Pare mountain ranges. Kilimanjaro attracts thousands of tourists.

West of those mountains is the Gregory Rift, which is the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley. On the floor of the rift are a number of large salt lakes, including Natron in the north, Manyara in the south, and Eyasi in the southwest.

The rift also encompasses the Crater Highlands, which includes the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Ngorongoro Crater. Just to the south of Lake Natron is Ol Doinyo Lengai (3,188 m or 10,459 ft), the world’s only active volcano to produce natrocarbonatite lava. To the west of the Crater Highlands lies Serengeti National Park,
which is famous for its lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceroses, and buffalo plus the annual migration of millions of white bearded wildebeest.

 Just to the southeast of the park is Olduvai Gorge, where many of the oldest hominid fossils and artifacts have been found.

Language and Currency: The official languages are Kiswahili & English; the currency is Tanzania Shillings; however, you advised to carry American Dollars. 

Money changers do accept major convertible currencies including the EURO and the Japanese Yen. Travellers Cheques may be acceptable in some places, but not in the remote countryside, Major Credit Cards may also be acceptable in some large Hotels, however it is advisable to carry Cash US Dollars, which you will change on arrival.

Tanzania is a safe country to travel in heart and generous people and are eager to help visitors get the most out of their stay. Hotels are safe and have watchmen. 

Tanzania is a politically stable, multi-democratic country.However, as in all countries, a little common sense goes a long way and reasonable precautions should  betaken, such as locking valuables in the hotel safe and not walking alone at night.

Wildlife of Tanzania

The wildlife of Tanzania refers to the fauna of Tanzania. Tanzania contains some 20 percent of the species of Africa’s large mammal population, found across its reserves, conservation areas, marine parks, and 17 national parks, spread over an area of more than 42,000 square kilometres (16,000 sq mi) and forming approximately 38 percent of the country's territory.

Wildlife resources of Tanzania are described as “without parallel in Africa” and “the prime game viewing country”.

 Serengeti National Park, the country’s second largest national park area at 14,763 square kilometres (5,700 sq mi), is located in northern Tanzania and is famous for its extensive migratory herds of wildebeests and zebra while also having the reputation as one of the great natural wonders of the world. 

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, established in 1959, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and inhabited by the Maasai people. Its Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact caldera in the world.

The national parks are also part of the wetlands of Tanzania. The wild animals tend to be closer to the wetlands, particularly the water loving species such as the hippopotamus, waterbuck, common warthog, elephant, crocodile, sitatunga as well as water birds such as flamingoes and ducks.

Best Time to Visit Tanzania

Wild Life Animal in Tanzania

The best wildlife viewing months in Tanzania are during the dry season from late June to October. The best chance of seeing the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti is during June and July and the time to see the wildebeest calving is late January to February. 

The Southern and Western Circuit Parks are best visited during the dry-season (June to October), unlike the more popular Northern Circuit Parks that can be visited year-round. Tarangire is the only exception, since its wildlife viewing is considerably better in the dry-season as well.

Health

Tanzania has a tropical climate and different bacteria, flora and fauna than most visitors are accustomed to , so it is advisable to take a few health precautions when travelling to make sure your trip goes as comfortably and smooth as possible. 

Malaria is usually top on the list of visitors' worries, and prevention goes a long way towards keeping you protected. Make sure to visit your doctor to get a prescription for the anti-malarial drug the best suit you.

The yellow-fever vaccination is no longer official required when entering Tanzania; however this is still a requirement if you wish to visit Zanzibar. Other vaccination should be considered. 

Vaccines commonly recommended for travellers to Africa include those against Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Yellow fever, Rabies and Meningitis

Park Fees

You required to pay park fees before entry and get the 24 hrs permit. Fees Once Paid Shall Not Be Refunded. The fees are reviewed from time to time, but currently we use Park Fees for Year 2019/2020.

Tanzania Entry Requirement

Foreigners seeking to enter the United Republic of Tanzania should be in the possession of valid passports or any other travel document. The passport or any other travel document is to be presented to the Immigration Control Officer at any entry point, such as Border station, Airport or Harbour. 

The travel document must be presented along with one of the following:

•            A valid visa or

•            A residence permit or

•            A pass

N.B: A visitor must also present an onward or return ticket together with proof that he/she has sufficient funds to support himself or herself while in Tanzania.

For Online Visa Application you are required to fill the form, make payment, and submit your application online. Your form will be internally reviewed and processed.

There are frequent direct and indirect flights to Tanzania by numerous international airlines. International airlines that fly to Dar es Salaam include KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, Emirates,Qatar Airways, Oman Air,Turkish Airlines,

South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Egypt Airways, Kenya Airways, Air Uganda, LAM Mozambique Airlines and Rwanda Air. 

The international departure tax is included in the price of an airline ticket.

Accomodation in Tanzania

Tanzania has a vast spread of accommodation options, ranging from luxurious game lodges in game-filled national parks, heritage buildings in the winding alleys of Stone Town, sprawling resorts and rustic beach huts lining Zanzibar’s beaches, and extending down-budget all the way to a plethora of middling mid-range hotels and the cheap, rough-around-the-edges guest houses.

Apartments, for large families or the more budget conscious traveller, self-catering accommodation like apartments may be the way to go while travelling around Tanzania cities and towns.

Backpackers and hostels offer low-cost accommodation and are popular with young travellers from around the world. 

There is usually a central kitchen and bathroom, and a mixture of shared rooms (dormitories) as well as single and double rooms.

Bed & Breakfast, Typically shortened to B&B but also spelled BnB, is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and inclusive breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals, provided in guest houses and small hotels. 

Referred to locally as ‘board and lodgings’, these are often offshoots of local bars and provide very cheap accommodation.

Campsites; There are public campsites in many of the national parks. Some have standard facilities, including taps, toilets and firewood; others are more basic with just a cleared space to park a vehicle and pitch a tent. 

Permits for camping in the parks must be paid for along with entry to each park. It is advisable to check the prices and site procedure before arrival. A list of public and private campsites is available from the Tanzania National Parks.

Guest Houses; A guest house (also guesthouse) is a kind of lodging, these are largely located in most part of Tanzania towns and villages providing bed and breakfast, guest houses are a type of inexpensive hotel-like lodging.

Homestays; is a form of tourism and/or study abroad that allows visitors to rent rooms local families. It is sometimes used by people who wish to improve their language skills and become familiar with the local lifestyle.

Hostels; is offer low-cost accommodation and are popular with young travellers from around the world. There is usually a central kitchen and bathroom, and a mixture of shared rooms (dormitories) as well as single and double rooms.

Hotels; There is a variety of hotels available in Tanzania ranging from the luxurious hotels to the mid-range lodges plus beach resorts that offer double rooms having air conditioning plus private bathrooms for about US$250 to 150.

Basic plus small town facilities mainly used by local businessmen go for about US$50 to 100 for each room, and standard board plus hotels commonly used by local travelers goes for less than US$10 per day.

Lodges; There are safari lodges in all national parks and game reserves. Some of these have hundreds of rooms and are aimed at families and tour groups, so while they have decent standards can feel a little impersonal. 

Others are top-end luxury lodges or tented camps with just a few decadent rooms, boasting impeccable service in stunning locations. Expect to pay exorbitant prices for even the most ‘budget’ lodge, with bookings essential for popular lodges in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro National Parks. 

Reservations can be made through specialist tour operators as part of a safari trip, or by contacting the lodges directly.

Resorts; There are dozens of beach resorts on Zanzibar and at a few places on the mainland coast that are aimed at holiday-makers looking for the typical sun, sea and sand experience. Most have been built sensitively, with rooms in low blocks of buildings covered in makuti thatch. 

These offer B&B, half-board, full-board or ‘all-inclusive’ rates (extras like watersports and children’s activities may be included). Bookings can be made directly through the resort or through the local operators. 

Room rates at beach resorts tend to be seasonal – the high season runs from the beginning of June to mid-October and again from Christmas to mid-February; at these times reservations should be made well in advance.

Tented Camps; Tented Camps can be Budget Camping involves travelling with all your camp equipment, your guide and possibly a cook in your vehicle with you. Fly Camping involves setting up small, temporary camps for a night under the stars, more often than not in a remote part of the bush. 

Luxury Camping Imagine feather pillows, soft towels, gin and tonic on the rocks and four course gourmet meals in a candlelit dining tent as far from civilisation as you can get. 

Lightweight Luxury Camping tents will have metal or wood-frame beds, standing headroom, a veranda and small en-suite toilets and hot showers. Most tented camping settings offering you a colonial style safari experience with luxurious tented lodgings - taking you back in time to an era long forgotten. 

Stay in elegantly appointed luxury en-suite safari tents.

Villas; Discover the benefits of renting a private villa over a hotel: personalized, Villas are luxurious, private residences that are made available to vacation travelers.

What to do in Tanzania

Tanzania national parks (TANAPA) through its diverse unique parks offers visitors a number of tourism products that gives them an opportunity to experience nature in many fascinating ways. 

These products are wilderness walks, cycling, Mountain climbing, Boat excursion, Chimpanzee trucking/viewing, Chimpanzee habituation experience, Canoeing/ Kayaking, Night game drive, day game drive, Canopy walks, Sports fishing, Paragliding, Mawenzi technical climbing, Mt Kilimanjaro crater camping, Balloon safaris and Horseback riding to mention a few.

Places to go in Tanzania

Conservation Areas like Ngorongoro the World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO

Game Reserves; There are 17 Game Reserves in the country including the Selous, Moyowosi, Kigosi, Mkomazi, Usangu, Lukwila-Lumesule, Msangesi and Ugalla.

Gorges, Historical Sites Caves & Rocks; Archaeological or Paleontological sites as well as Natural Features and Structures.

 Three sites among the sixteen (16) which are Kondoa Rock Art site, the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara, and Olduvai Gorge are inscribed on the World Heritage list.

Zebra in Tanzania

Islands and Beaches; Tanzania has a number of Tanzania than just Zanzibar at in the India Ocean. Throughout the archipelago, deserted islands and sandbars beckon and abound. 

Some have slave caves and colonial graves, others have the ruins of sultan’s palaces and stately plantations. 

In Pemba, villages steeped in culture and traditions which preserve the Swahili way of life, almost oblivious to the world around them. The Mafia island, old trading towns line the walkway to abandoned ports and the gentle sea. 

Also there are other famous Island in Victoria Lake like Saa Nane "The Park" which is located 2km Southwest of Mwanza city centre, which lies in the Gulf of Lake Victoria (Latitude 2.5 S and Longitude 32 E).

 Robondo Island, an important breeding ground for both migratory birds and fish species (especially Tilapia and Nile perch) as for a long time it stood to be the only area in the waters of Lake Victoria which was well protected and preserved. There are also Ukerewe and Ukara Island.

Lakes and Rivers; the lakes of Tanzania are varied in what they offer to the potential visitors. On soda lakes like Lake Manyara and Lake Natron, wildlife gather on the desolate salt flats and shimmering views reminds of one of a lunar landscape which at sunset descends into shades of various pastels.

The soda lakes are alkaline and brackish, home to large populations of pink flamingos, storks and herons. 

Bird-watching and game viewings are popular activities, but must be done from a distance as the soda flats along the lake shore are difficult to walk or drive in. Still, a visit to the soda lakes of Tanzania is an unforgettable experience.

Marine Parks and Reserves; Not only is Tanzania the number one destination for safaris, its endless coral reefs in the crystalline waters of the Indian Ocean offer some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world. 

The archipelago of islands off the coast of Tanzania and Zanzibar are surrounded by coral reefs and are home to an amazing array of wildlife and unique ecosystems, as well as providing shelter, sustenance and employment for local people.

Mountain and Highlands; Tanzania’s numerous parks and reserves offer many climbing options for an avid explorer. The most frequent expeditions are obviously to Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru.

Although Mt. Kilimanjaro tops the list as Africa’s most famous and highest  mountain, Tanzania boasts many other mountain ranges and attractive peaks. 

Most of the country’s mountains and volcanoes are located in the north and east of the country. They vary from the dramatic crater of Mt. Meru and the active volcano of Ol Donyo Lengai to tamer options like the Usambara Mountains and comparatively gentle slopes of the Crater Highlands.

National Parks; The 17 national parks including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake manyara, Kilimanjaro and Ruaha, many of which form the core of a much larger protected ecosystem, have been set aside to preserve the country’s rich natural heritage, and to provide secure breeding grounds where its fauna and flora can thrive, safe from the conflicting interests of a growing human population.

Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti National park is African Paradise and one of the seven natural wonders of The Africa and World. World heritage site, Man and Biosphere Reserve. 

Visiting the park will reward you and breathtaking for its unique biodiversity and physical features from plains to rolling hills, valleys and mountains. Serengeti offers several tourism products such as Game viewing, walking safaris, 

Bird watching, Balloon Safaris, Bush Meals, Cultural and historical sites visits as well as Filming and Photographic Safaris.

Tarangire National Park

It is in this Park that visitors will be able to see threatened as well as endangered species ofsuch as ebony trees, Python, cheetah, elephants, African wild dogs, lesser and greater Kudu, Beisa Oryx, Gerenuk and others. Birdlife in Tarangire is just Amazing ! About 550 species of birds have been recorded in the park, which is larger number of bird species than the famous Serengeti.