Things to do in Tanzania, AFRICA
When you think of Africa, it’s sometimes difficult to think past the media coverage of poverty, corruption and disease
But as soon as you get over this negativity, everything changes and this is certainly the case when it comes to Tanzania, the pearl of East Africa. Top things to do here include the vast Serengeti, the majestic Kilimanjaro and, of course, the paradise island of Zanzibar.
In fact, there are few places on earth where you will find so many contrasting attractions: you can summit the world's highest free-standing mountain one day, watch a pride of lions stalking antelope the next, and soak up the rays on powder white sands before you leave!
Here's our selection of Tanzania's top 5 attractions.
1. Serengeti National Park
Located towards the northern end of Tanzania, the Serengeti National Park occupies almost 15,000 square kilometres of grassland, savannah and woodlands.
The Park was awarded World Heritage Status in 1951 and attracts around 350,000 visitors a year.
It is best known for wildebeest (who migrate through the park each year—see below), c. 3,000 Maasai lions, c. 1,000 African leopards, African bush elephants, black rhinos and African buffalo.
The Great Migration
Surely you’ve heard of this? No? Well here goes ... it all starts when Blue Wildebeest have their calving season in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in eastern Tanzania each March/April. The concentration of wildebeest (about 1.7 million in total), together with about 260,000 zebra, means that the grass on the plains is soon eaten and the animals need to move in search of fresh pastures.
This is when the wildebeest (and zebra) begin following the rains through the Serengeti National Park ad they continue doing so until they cross the notoriously dangerous Sand River which takes them to the Maasai Mara National park in Kenya.
It is called the Great Migration, and ends in about late July/August each year, by which time the animals that have survived (about 250,000 wildebeest die en route) will have travelled around 800 kilometres. The phenomenon it is visible from space and is the largest simultaneous movement of animals anywhere in the world.
If you can, time your trip to coincide with this migration: it was, after all, rated as one of the Natural World’s Seven Wonders by USA Today in November 2006.
2. Mount Kilimanjaro
At 5,895 metres, Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and the highest freestanding mountain in the world.
Found in the Eastern Rift mountains, at the far north of Tanzania, Kilimanjaro is a volcano with three summits (or volcanic cones): Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. Uhuru peak on Kibo is the mountain's highest point.
Kibo is dormant and so could erupt again (the other two cones are extinct). But don’t worry: its last eruption was about 150,000 to 200,000 years ago!
Kilimanjaro (or ‘Kili’) is very popular with hikers (it is one of the easiest of the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent). It is estimated that about 30,000 attempt the peak each year, with around two-thirds making the summit. Early symptoms of altitude sickness account for most failed attempts – meaning that it is imperative that you take time to acclimatise.
The mountain
Kilimanjaro’s vegetation changes according to the altitude. Its foothills are used for agriculture, including the growing of maize, beans, sunflowers and coffee. Between about 2,000-3,000 metres above sea level are found forests, and above 3,000 metres the terrain changes again to bush and heathlands.
The Furtwangler glacier is still found at the summit, but its size is rapidly diminishing. Between 1912 and 20111, about 85% of the mountain’s ice cover was lost. It is estimated that no ice will remain by about 2050, slightly later than the prediction made by Al Gore’s 2006 documentary film An Inconvenient Truth.
The average daytime temperature at the summit is - 4 degrees Celsius, falling to - 9 degrees at night.
In terms of fauna, you may encounter elephants and cape buffalo at low altitudes and animals such as blue and Colobus monkeys, mongooses, malachite sunbirds, white-necked ravens, warthogs, zebras, hyenas and the Kilimanjaro shrew as you ascend.
First ascent
The first recorded climb of Kilimanjaro took place in 1889 by Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller. Technically speaking, it is not a difficult mountain to climb. In fact, there is no actual climbing involved; this is really a long trek.
But Kilimanjaro should not be underestimated on account of its altitude. Trekkers will start to notice the altitude after reaching 3,000 metres and must take appropriate precautions thereafter (the best advice is to ascend slowly, climbing high and sleeping low; to drink lots of water; and to turn back if you experience the symptoms of altitude sickness). Of the 25 deaths on the mountain between 1996 and 2003, 14 were altitude related.
Climbing Kilimanjaro
It may come with a hefty price tag of c. $1,500, but there is no shortage of tourists wanting to scale Africa's highest peak.
Lemosho, Marangu, Machame and Rongai are the most popular routes to the summit, each of them with a varying degree of difficulty and scenery:
- The Lemosho route, approaching the mountain from west, gets fairly busy. It can be completed in minimum of six days, but it is sensible to allow more time to acclimatise. The scenery is excellent.
- The Marangu route approaches the mountain from the east and is the most popular way up the mountain (also known as the Coca-Cola route). It can be completed in a minimum of five days (hence its popularity), but it is sensible to allow more time properly to acclimatise. The scenery is less attractive than on the other routes.
- The Machame route, which attacks the mountain from the south, is steep and busy; but is considered the most scenic path to the top of the mountain. You should allow more than the minimum of six days to climb.
- The Rongai route, from the north of the mountain, is an easy and quiet route; but is generally thought to be the least scenic. Again, allow more than the minimum of six days to climb.
Most people climb in the summer months to avoid the rainy season and the coldest weather. September is the most popular month of all.
If you are thinking about the climb, be sure to (a) select a reputable trekking company, (b) be in good physical condition, (c) take appropriate mountaineering kit and (d) (most importantly) ascend slowly.
