In Tanzania, a land of superb landscapes and spectacular wild life, 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 to be shared with visitors. From the Wachagga of the slopes of Kilimanjaro to the now world – famous Masaai, a cultural excursion or a longer stay among local people is likely to become one of the most rewarding experiences of any holiday in 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.
Cultural tourism programmes are beneficial to every one- the tourists get a unique unforgettable experience, the local people generate income and improve their standard of living, and both parties gain a valuable understanding of another culture which will last long after the visitors after the visitors have returned home. Most cultural tourism programmes are located near the main through fares of the principal tourism destination’ making a cultural a addition to a safari easy to arrange. Guides are local people born and raised up in the area, well trained in their jobs and proficient in English. Whether you spend the morning in a Masaai Boma or trek by camel up a local summit, stopping to learn about traditional plants and tribal stories, a cultural tour is a must do for any one wanting to see the rich life of Tanzanian 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 lake Eyasi their long time hunting grounds. Day trips or longer safaris with the Hadzabe bush men give visitors a chance to experience a way of life that has long since vanished else where on the planet. Morning hunting with the Hadzabe warriors, armed with bows and arrows, offer a fascinzting glimpse into an ancient way of life. Honey gathering, walks to find traditional healing plants and food, and traditional dances are all part of the Hadzabe cultural turism 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.
MASAAI LAND:
See how the Masaai, among the last of the world’s pastoral peoples, are adaptingto the 21st centuryin their own way and their own time. Around 12 distinct groups of Masaai remain in the world, the largest of which now lives in Tanzania. Visit Engaruka, the lost city in the shadow of the great rift valley wall, where Masaai mix irrigation, farming and traditional herding. In Mkuru near Arusha National Park, short camel treks with local Masaai gives visitors a glimpse into nomadic culture, as they climb nearby Ol Donyo Landaree.
MERU;
Only minutes from bustling Arusha, and centered around africa’s fifth peak are spots that look and feel as they did decades ago. But every where, too, is the transition where the WaArusha and WaMeru peoples adapt tradition to progress and science. Visitors can meet a traditional healer, learn about animal husbandry and agriculture and by carvings and food stuffs from local handicraft co-operatives or women’s businesses.
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 Pare people. Visit the Mghimbi caves, secret hiding place during the slave raids, then proceed to Malameni rock, the scene of human sacrifices to appease the evil spirits up until the 1930’s. walk through the Ikongwe village , believed by locals to be a gift from heaven, surrounded by mountain terraces and small waterfalls. Profits from these tours are used to subsidise much needed energy saving stoves and educational scholarships.
USAMBARAS:
Africa’s Switzerland, a hiker’s paradise, with dozens of varied treks from half day to a week. This stunning mountainous range is accessible from Lushoto in the west, home to one of Tanzania’s great historical kingdoms, or alternatively Amani in the East. Todty, much of the mountains are used in the production of coffee, sisal, tea and cinchona, with rice grown in the swampy foot hills.