Tanzania Cultural Tours – Experience Real African Culture in Tanzania

Tanzania Cultural Tours

There are numerous safari adventures and thousands of things to learn about in this destination. Tanzania cultural tours are some of the exciting adventures that are carried out in the Tanzania and this is because country is known for its rich traditions, languages, and customs of the country’s many ethnic groups.

What Is a Tanzania cultural Tour?

When we speak about cultural tours in Tanzania, it means a travel experience which is focusing on engaging with the customs, traditions, art, history, and lifestyles of local communities. Tanzania cultural tours are mostly about interaction and participation.

Tanzania is a country with over 120 distinct tribes, these tribes can include the Maasai, Chaga, Hadzabe, and Sukuma all these tribes have a lot to offer to those who go for a cultural tour and get to understand deep about their ways of life,

What to expect on culture tours in Tanzania?

When you engage in a culture tour there is a lot to expect and all these will help you to deeper understanding of the Tanzanian cultures, some of the things to expect on a cultural tour include;

Share meals with local families

Participate in traditional dances and ceremonies

Learn craft-making or cooking techniques

Explore rural villages and local markets

Hear stories from village elders or spiritual leaders

Where to Go for Cultural Tours in Tanzania

Tanzania offers a wide variety of cultural experiences across its different regions and for all those that may desire to have an experience culture in Tanzania the destinations to visit are as below;

  1. Maasai Cultural Tours (Arusha & Ngorongoro)

Maasai cultural visit, you get to visit the maasai people and get to learn about their way of life, and this can be done by visiting the traditional homestead, joining adumu or to say jumping dance, Joining the Maasai warrior training, traditional healing, and cattle herding.

When it comes to the maasai they are known to be a well-recognized tribe in East Africa, and they are known for their colorful attire and nomadic lifestyle which is one of the greatest way to explore the culture.

  1. Hadzabe & Datoga Tribes (Lake Eyasi)

Get to also have a visit ate the hadzabe people who are famously known for hunting and also the Datoga who are known for being blacksmiths and pastoralists. When you visit these people you will have chance to join hunting activities, learn foraging techniques and survival skills, watch traditional blacksmithing

  1. Chaga Culture (Mount Kilimanjaro Region)

The chaga people are ranked for their industrious nature and complex irrigation systems on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Making them the greatest farming tribe in Tanzania, while you visit the chagga people, expect: Walks through traditional Chaga villages, Tours underground caves used during tribal wars, visits to banana and coffee farms, and try Chaga banana beer.

  1. Zanzibar Cultural Tours

It is not a cultural tour if you don’t visit the city of Zanzibar and to get to mixed ethnics which include; Swahili, Arab, Persian, Indian, and African influences. Here you expect to witness:

  • Explore Stone Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
  • Visit spice plantations and learn about Zanzibar’s trading history
  • Discover Swahili cuisine, music (Taarab), and Dhow sailing

  1. Sukuma Museum (Mwanza Region)

The Sukuma is the largest tribe in Tanzania, this tribe is tanzania’s most influential ethnic group and when you visit their Sukuma museum you expect to be thrilled by a lot of things such as; Visit the Bujora Cultural Centre, watch traditional Sukuma dance performances, Learn about Sukuma medicine, history, and village life

  1. Iraqw Cultural Tours (Karatu near Ngorongoro)

The iraqw are situated in karatu near Ngorongoro and they offer a great experience to all those that visit their homesteads, when you head out for a visit you expect to Learn about Iraqw farming methods, visit local homesteads and churches and to also Participate in traditional food preparation

When to Go for your Tanzania Cultural Tours 

Cultural tours in Tanzania can be enjoyed year-round, despite of the fact that there are some seasons of the year that award the best safari experiences. And for that reason the best times to visit are within the months of June to October and December to February these are Dry season, great weather for travel, safaris, and village visits.

How to Book for Tanzania Cultural Tours ?

There are various ways to book for a cultural tour, sightseers can go through well trained Tanzania safari operators who offer the best packages and do bookings or, opt for ethical, community-based tour operators that work directly with local tribes and ensure fair compensation. These can include;

  • Tanzania Tourist Board’s Cultural Tourism Program
  • Local NGOs and community cooperatives