MZANZI TRAVEL - ISSUE 1

MAFIA ISLAND – EAST COAST ( INDIAN OCEAN)
With less than 1000 visitors per year, Mafia Island is an
undiscovered Tanzanian gem. It has a rich history, and a strong
Swahili culture unspoilt by tourism. Much of the island and its
beautiful beaches have been designated as a marine park. It
is one of the best places to deep-sea fish, dive and snorkel in
Africa. You can watch whale sharks, turtles and many other
interesting species of wildlife.
There are about half a dozen boutique hotels and intimate
resorts to stay at. They include the eco-friendly and intimate
Kinasi Lodge; Pole Pole; and Ras Mbisi Lodge. You can reach
Mafia Island by plane from Dar es Salaam.
KATAVI
Katavi has all the credentials of being a top wildlife destination
in Africa. It is teeming with animals, beautiful and unspoilt. The
reason Katavi sees so few visitors is because it is so remote.
This is a good reason to visit if you’re looking for a unique
safari experience since there are only two camps and it’s only
accessible by light aircraft. Check out Chada Katavi. Chada
Katavi is best during the dry season (June to November) where
the pools are literally filled to the brim with as many as 3000
hippos.
MAHALE MOUNTAINS
Mahale was the research base for a team of Japanese
anthropologists for several decades. Despite the gorgeous clear
waters of Lake Tanganyika and the obvious draw of the chimps
themselves, Mahale was not an established tourist destination
until about a decade ago. It’s still remote, but absolutely worth
the trip. Besides the 1000 chimps, there are other primates to
see too, including the red colobus and yellow baboons.
The best time to visit Mahale is during the dry season from May
to October. A visit to Mahale is often combined with at least a
few nights in Katavi. Mahale is linked by chartered aircraft to
Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Kigoma.
THE SELOUS
The Selous is Africa’s largest reserve, a world heritage site,
and not as crowded as the Serengeti. You can see elephants,
cheetahs, black rhinos, African hunting dogs, and plenty of
hippos and crocodiles. The Selous swamps, rivers and wetlands
allow tourists to take their safari by boat, which is a big
drawcard. Walking safaris are also popular here and you can
also enjoy night drives.
Accommodation in Selous and surrounding areas are somewhat
limited but all offer a very intimate and unique safari experience
ZANZIBAR
Zanzibar is one of Tanzania’s top destinations because of
its fascinating past and its incredible beaches. Zanzibar’s
location in the Indian Ocean has made it a natural trading
centre throughout its history. Famous for its spices, Zanzibar
also became an important slave trading post under its Arab
rulers. Stone Town, Zanzibar’s capital, is a World Heritage site
and boasts beautiful traditional houses, narrow alleyways, a
Sultan’s palace, and many mosques.
Zanzibar has many beautiful beaches, that can be enjoyed
on any budget. Some of the surrounding islands offer total
paradise for the luxury traveler, Mnemba island is absolutely
idyllic for a romantic vacation.
MOUNT KILIMANJARO
Africa is known as one of the best destinations for adventure
travel and what can be more adventurous than hiking up the
world’s tallest free-standing mountain? Africa’s highest peak,
Mount Kilimanjaro, stands at 19,340 feet (5896m) and will take
you 6 days to conquer. The exciting thing about this mountain
is that anyone who is fit and determined can make it up. No
special climbing equipment or expertise is needed.
Important information for your trip
Your Health Is Vital and before you travel to Tanzania, you
will have to take a few health precautions:
Malaria :
This is the most feared disease to most of the visitors. Make
sure that before you travel you visit your doctor to get antimalaria
tablets. You can also buy mosquito sprays. Most
accommodation places have mosquito nets fixed to the beds
and the rooms are sprayed with mosquito repellents too.
Vaccination:
The yellow-fever vaccination is no longer officially required
when entering Tanzania, because the disease is endemic
many doctors will recommend it as a precaution. Other
vaccinations that might be considered before you travel include
typhoid, hepatitis A and B, meningitis, and tetanus. For more
information, contact your doctor.
Food and Water:
While on a trip in Tanzania, make sure that you drink bottled
water. There are many brands available at every retail shop.
Make sure that if you eat food bought on the streets, the food
is hot and avoid eating salads and drinking juices from street
kiosks because it’s likely that they were not prepared in a
hygienic way. Most standard and high end restaurants prepare
their food at the required hygienic standards so you shouldn’t
worry about eating anything there. But be advised that if you
are not sure of what you ordered, don’t eat it.
Money:
Several banks which include Standard Chartered Banks and
Barclays Banks around the country have ATM machines
that allow you to withdraw cash from your VISA card and/
or MasterCard accounts. Credit cards are accepted only at
major lodges, hotels, and travel agents. While travelling in
Tanzania always make sure that your money is secured on your
money belt or bag and only have some few notes close by for
immediate use if need be.
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