Tanzania - An Amalgam of Cultures & Ethnic Tribes

By Shri Nagesh

The earliest human habitation in Tanzania can be dated back to 1.8 million years ago. The fossils have been discovered in Olduvai Gorge.

Present day Tanzanian culture is an amalgam of nearly 120 cultures.

Some of the cultures are listed below.

Masaai: The maasai are probably most popular ethnic group in East Africa. They are renowned for their warrior & pastoral lifestyles and cattle rearing. The number of cattle determine their social status. They inhabit northern Tanzania near the great rift valley and northern national parks. They wear bright red & blue garments and bead jewellery.

Chagga: The Chagga live on the slopes of Kilimanjaro in the North of the Masaai steppe. They farm the mountain side. Through cooperative farming they have achieved a fair standard of living.

Makonde: The Makondes are internationally famous for their intricate wood (ebony) carvings. They live along the coast on the Makonde plateau.

Sukuma: Sukuma are the largest group, live in the north-western part of the country, south of Lake Victoria. Their cotton farming and cattle rearing lifestyle resulted in their prosperity.

The Hadzapi: They are nomadic tribe who survive by their hunting skills and gathering food. Only a few hundred Hadzapi remain, scattered in groups across the african continent. These bushmen have no permanent settlements and few possessions. They move about following the good opportunities for hunting, water, and other necessities. Their language is unusual in that it makes use of clicking noises

The Gogo (or Wagogo): They are a Bantu ethnic and linguistic group based in the Dodoma Region of central Tanzania. They have developed slowly due to lack of water. They have a mixed economy of agriculture and herding, but most heavily depended on grain from agriculture. Gogo music has achieved an international reputation

Hehe: The formerly warlike Hehe live in Iringa District's highland grasses. They are Bantu-speaking people and can be considered typical of the military chiefdoms brought to East Africa by the Ngoni groups, who live primarily in Iringa Region.

Iraqw are a Cushitic people of the Arusha and Manyara Regions of north-central Tanzania, near the Rift Valley wall and south of Ngorongoro Crater . They are known for their statuesque, immobile posture and sharply delineated features. They grow their own food and tend cattle.

The Nyamwezi, (mean "People of the Moon") The Nyamwezi, now cultivators, were once great traders. The 19th century European explorers regarded them the most powerful group in the interior.

The Haya: They are located along the shores of Lake Victoria, to the north-west of the Nyamwezi, grew and traded coffee long before the arrival of the Europeans and today have established tea and coffee processing plants. Haya women produce excellent handicrafts.

Points to be noted:

1) None of the 120 cultures form more than 10% of the population.

2) Present day culture in urban areas is influenced by colonialism, Arab & Indian cultures.

3) Despite the cultural diversity in Tanzania, utmost peace & tranquility prevails through out the nation. This is the result of the efforts of the former president "J.K. Nyerere". His common language philosophy has helped to bind various cultures. 99% of Tanzanians speaks 'Swahili', the national language.

Shri Nagesh is a travel author, consultant & blogger backed by an IATA diploma in Air Ticketing & Master's degree in Tourism Management. She author's Tanzania Travel blog at http://apexsafaris.com to provide information, resources, tips & unbiased reviews about Tanzania Travel Services.

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Visas, Money and Travel in Tanzania

The Tanzanian currency is the Shilling it cannot be imported into the country and so it is necessary to bring foreign currency with you on safari. US$ Dollars are the best currency to take to Tanzania with the Euro or GB Pounds coming in second and third. US$ Dollars are bar far the safest option with larger notes US$50 and US$100 offering a better rate of exchange. The lower denominations are not popular with the US$1 being difficult to get rid of except as a tip. If you intend to pay for a safari with cash then pay in large dominations to avoid a possible penalty.

Travelers checks are accepted by banks and bureaus, they attract a lower rate of exchange and can be a bit of a hassle; it is better to keep them to a minimum or to avoid them totally. Credit cards [Master and Visa] are more widely accepted now than they were in five years ago. However, if you wish to draw cash against a credit card then try to do this from the banks as many hotels with change heavy commission for the privilege. More importantly let your bank know where and when you travel otherwise you may hit problems once you start using your card in Tanzania.

Visas are available in advance from Tanzanian Embassies or they can be obtained on arrival at border posts or airports. There is a departure tax for Tanzania if you leave by air but this should be included in the price of your ticket.

It can be expensive to fly into Kilimanjaro airport especially in high season. It is usually a cheaper option to fly into Nairobi airport and transfer countries via the bus-shuttles that travel to Arusha via the Namanga border post. At Nairobi airport purchase a transit visa this costs US$20 and will last between five and seven days. All visas obtained on arrival in Kenya and Tanzania must be paid in US Dollars and in cash. Have the correct amount ready. The Tanzania holiday visa costs vary according to nationality.

The shuttles are 25 seat coaster buses that travel from Central Nairobi to Arusha town and then off to Moshi Town which is nestled against Kilimanjaro.

The shuttle bus companies are Riverside, Davanu, Bobbies and Impala. The price should be about US$ 25 per person and an extra US$10 to Moshi. They will all pick up and drop off passengers at city centre hotels in Nairobi or Arusha – by special arrangement. They all set off from Parkside hotel in Nairobi and end at Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha.

The shuttle from Nairobi can be taken either from the city centre or from the airport. If you have a late arrival then an overnight in Nairobi will be necessary. It is best to overnight at the Parkside Hotel in Nairobi as it is clean and inexpensive – no more that US$20 per person. All the shuttles for Tanzania leave from outside this hotel.

The journey should take about five hours including Immigration and Customs at the border post town of Namanga. The driver will show you where to go to get the necessary stamps for your passport. The shuttle will give out immigration cards for you to fill in whilst you travel. To do this in advance will save time at the border post – remember to travel with a pen to save on unnecessary stress.

If you travel in the midst of high season – mid July to October I would advise you to make all your bookings for accommodation and safaris in advance. All other months and especially low season [March through to the end of June] it is possible to arrive in Tanzania and Zanzibar and shop around for cheap accommodation and bargain safaris.

Arusha Tourist Board Office is on Boma Road and they can advise where to start your search for a safari. The office has a small notice board on the left hand-side wall with special offers displayed by reputable tour operators. The tourist Board offers a safer bet to start a search for a bargain safari. Be warned that as you enter and leave the Tourist Board the Safari Street hawkers will hassle you and try to sell a safari. Remember all that glitters is not gold so beware making deals on the street, however good the sales pitch. Be good natured but firm and do not be tempted by offers that sound to good to be true, because that what they are…

Travelling from Arusha to Zanzibar the cheap way is by bus to Dar es Salaam and then high speed ferry from Dar to Stone Town. Scandinavia, Royal or Dar Express have luxury coaches [about US$18 to US$25 per person] these three companies offer the best and safest road transport to Dar es Salaam. To travel from Arusha to Stone Town in one day means an early departure 6.30 to 7h30 getting to Dar by 14h30.

There are many cheaper alternatives to travel to Dar es Salaam - US$6 to US$10. The two best companies being Amazon or Fresh Coaches as they travel at a slower speed and have fewer seats squashed inside. The fast coaches are not safe and should be avoided at all costs.

The last ferry to Zanzibar departs about 16h30. There is an overnight ferry but this is from Zanzibar into Dar only - it is slow but cheap.

For more information on travel to Tanzania http://wwwbetheladventure.co.uk and for a non-tourist information and Tanzania tourism links see http://www.tanzaia-info.co.uk support responsible tourism and change lives

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Honeymoons in Tanzania and Zanzibar

By Ian Williamson

The ideal location for a honeymoon must be Tanzania, the game safari followed by an idyllic retreat to one of the islands on the Zanzibar archipelago. These richly spiced islands surrounded by the warm, crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean make Tanzania an ideal honeymoon destination.

Zanzibar offers many elegant lodges that provide private intimate accommodation necessary for the perfect honeymoon. I would say Tanzania is probably the easiest country in Africa in which to combine a quality safari with time on an island in the Indian Ocean.

Many couples get married between July and October and the Zanzibar Archipelago offers hot, dry weather with little or no humidity. Zanzibar offers a wide range of accommodation and prices and is very good value for money.

Some of the favorite lodges for honeymooners are Mnembe Island, Breezes, Ras Nungwi and of course the remote and luxurious Fundu Lagoon on Pemba Island. Prices vary from around US$2,000 per person up to US$6,000 per person depending on the amount of luxury you opt for on safari in Tanzania and relaxing on Zanzibar.

Bellow is a short description of some of the lodges named above.

Mnemba lies two kilometers north-east of the island of Zanzibar. A protection zone surrounds the island, conserving magnificent coral reefs where giant turtles, ghost crabs and tropical fish drift through the lagoons. Mnemba Island features banda cottages, bordered on three sides by tropical beach forest and overlooking the beach and coral reef.

Breezes Beach hotel is beautifully decorated in relaxed elegance with a wonderful mix of hand carved furniture, Zanzibar antiques and beautiful fabrics. This beautiful resort is located along a pristine, untouched beach stretching as far as the eye can see and is situated on the south east coast of the Island of Zanzibar. This hotel has a curtained restaurant for two set right on the edge of the Indian Ocean.

On the northernmost tip of Zanzibar Island, Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel overlooks a sparkling expanse of Indian Ocean, a cluster of whitewashed and palm thatched cottages set in tropical gardens. The lush gardens drop down onto unspoilt beaches which have the benefit of a wide coral reef.

Fundu is on Pemba Island, the sister island to Zanzibar lying across the Pemba Channel to the north. The hotel is situated on a remote and beautiful beach on the south western side of the island and is only accessible by boat. There are sixteen bungalows, consisting of spacious tents, set under thatch roofs on wooden decks and each with a view over the ocean. Each room is ensuite with fresh hot water shower, toilet and basin. The rooms are connected to the main buildings by sand walkways. Some rooms are situated along the beachfront with the remaining on an elevated position overlooking the ocean. Two of our fourteen accommodations are suites with their own private chill out decks and plunge pools.

Zanzibar also has places of interest to hire a motorcycle and tour the island can be a great adventure. A few places to visit are: the Historic town and port of Stone Town Tour, at Kizimkazi there is a chance to dive with the dolphins, no trip would be complete with out a Spice Tour. Jozani Forest is a great day out to see the rare Red Colobus monkey and follow the nature trail through this beautiful forest; it is an area of incredible natural beauty.

For more information on any of these subjects visit http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk and also for tourism and cultural issues see http://www.betheladventure.co.uk – Using tourism to change lives.

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