By visiting Tanzania, East Africa’s largest country, over 943000 sq km, you have given yourself and your fellow travellers an amazing opportunity to see the land of wonders.
The land of wildlife, Serengeti, the Ngorongoro crater and the world’s highest freestanding mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro (5.895 m high) are only a few in a row of unique sites to see!
You will meet heart-warming people, proud to be Tanzanians after their colonial times, smiling and helpful. They will willingly tell you their stories from the past, about “Baba wa Taifa” – Father of the nation, Julius K. Nyerere who led the way to the independence from British colonial rule the 9th of December 1961.
Nyerere, who affectionately were known as “Mwalimu” – Teacher, gathered his people in harmony, united the people as proud Tanzanians and lead them towards the safe and peaceful country you are going to experience.
Your journey here will maybe take you to the wonderful islands of Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba), or to the more exotic, less known Mafia Island? Or will you pass Olduvai George, where for about 3.6 million years ago two or three travellers left their footprints in a blanket of volcanic ash, well kept until archaeologists uncovered them in 1978.
You might be one of the adventurous travellers who choose to visit the more un-visited places like Lake Tanganyika, the world’s second largest lake. But for sure, wherever you travel in this country you will meet and experience a nature, wildlife, culture and diversity few other destinations can offer!
“Karibu sana” – Swahili for very welcome!
If you have been travelling in Africa before coming to Tanzania, you’ll meet a somehow different culture and lifestyle here. You will meet a country without tribalism and rivalry like in the neighboring countries.
Tanzania is full of history and culture; you might choose to visit the Stone Age findings in Isimila, Iringa, or the Kolo paintings, ancient rock paintings south of Tarangire National Park.
The people you meet, from one of the 120 tribes in the country, or from the small but economical significant numbers of Asians and Arabs, will all do they best to teach you the importance of greetings and respect, which for all Tanzanians are highly occupied with for all everyday life.
After only few days of your visit here or even hours, you’ll probably have some new “brothers” or “sisters” here – Tanzanians have a very extended, including and sharing family perspectives. You’ll find that although many are poor, few are starving, and the little they have, they will gladly share with you.
Handshakes are a part of greeting, and you’ll get a strange feeling in the beginning when your new brother keeps holding your hand throughout a good portion of your conversation.
