Tanzania Cultural Tourism

CULTURAL

In Tanzania, a land of superb landscapes and spectacular wildlife, another attraction stands equally tall- the people. Tanzania’s people are among the most welcoming and approachable on earth, with a range of fascinating cultures ready to be shared with visitors. From the wachagga of the slopes of Kilimanjaro to the now world-famous Maasai, a cultural excursion or a longer stay among local people is likely to become one of the most rewarding experiences of any holiday I Tanzania.

In addition, many local areas run their own cultural programmes for visitors, bringing income directly to the community and giving the people the chance to show their lifestyle to the outside world on their own terms. Primary schools can be developed through a tour of the fascinating slopes of Mt Meru; a health clinic is improved through a guided tour of the luscious green Usambara Mountains, or a kindergarten funded by a stroll through the tropical vegetation of the Rift Valley.

everyone – the tourists get a unique, unforgettable experience, the local people generate income and improve their standard of living, and both parties gain valuable understanding of another culture which will last long after the visitors have returned home. Most cultural tourism programmes are located near the main through fares of the principal tourist destinations, making a cultural addition to a safari easy to arrange. Guides are local people born and raised in the area, well trained in their be half-day events or incorporated into a longer safari. Whether you spend the morning in a Maasai boma or trek by camel up a local summit, stopping to learn about traditional plants and tribal stories, a cultural tour is must-do for anyone wanting to see the rich life of the Tanzania people. Some of Tanzania’s best-known cultural tourism destinations include:

Eyasi

Home to some of the last hunter-gatherers in Africa, the Hadzabe bushmen have made the area around or longer safaris with the hadzabe bushmen give visitors a chance to experience a way of life that has long since vanished elsewhere on the planet. Morning hunts with the Hadzabe warriors, armed with bows and arrows, offer a fascinating glimpse into an traditional healing plants and food, and traditional dances are all part of the Hadzabe cultural tourism experience.

Kilimanjaro

Why not combine a hike up the world’s most impressive mountain with a visit to its people, the historically progressive WaChagga? See traditional and modern Chagga art, culture and homes.

Maasailand

See how the Maasai, among the last of the world’s pastoral peoples, are adapting to the 21st century in the lost city in the shadow of the Great Rift Wall, where Maasai mix irrigation, farming and traditional herding. In Mkuru, near Arusha National Park, short camel treks with local Maasai give visitors a glimpse Landaree.

Meru

Only minutes from bustling Arusha are spots that look and feel as they did decades ago. But everywhere, too, is transition as the WaArusha and WaMeru peoples adapt tradition to progress and science. Visitors can meet a traditional healer, learn about animal husbandry and agri-culture, and buy carvings and foodstuffs from local handicraft co-operatives or women’s business.

Southern Pare Mountains

Walk the most remote mountains of northern Tanzania with local farmers, through traditional Pare villages and dense tropical forests. From half day to three day guided hikes, this is an opportunity to step into the culture of the Pare people. Visit the Mghimbi Caves, secret hiding place during the slave raids, the proceed to Malameni Rock, the scene of human Walk through the Ikongwe Village, believe by locals to be a gift from heaven, surrounded by mountain are used to subsidise much needed energy saving stoves and educational scholarship.

UsambaraAfrica’s Switzerland, a hiker’s paradise, with dozens of varied treks from half a day to a week. The stunning mountainous district of Lushoto was home to one of Tanzania’s great historical kingdoms.