THINGS TO DO:
NATIONAL PARKS:
For those wanting to look at the animals there are loads of National Parks. For around $100 US you can gain entry and benefit from a tour (and perhaps a nights accommodation). The better parks, though packed with tourists, are found in the north of the country, while Ruaha National Park is the best in the south (locals actually say this is the best park, especially if you want to see wild animals as opposed to semi-tame ones in the northern parks). Don't just be sucked into the tourist circuit in the north, the south offers great parks and towns (base yourself out of Iringa) and you will feel less of a tourist, more of a guest if you travel this way.
- Mount Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest peak and the world's highest free standing mountain. You can climb it with the help of a guide.
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area - includes the Ngorongoro Crater and Olduvai Gorge
- Arusha National Park
- Gombe National Park
- Ruaha National Park
- Rubondo National Park
- Serengeti National Park
- Kilimanjaro National Park
- Lake Manyara National Park
- Mikumi National Park
- Tarangire National Park
- Saadani National Park
Scuba diving in and around Pemba and Zanzibar is also a good experience.
You can also visit numerous historical Slave Trade sites which make for an interesting, if a little depressing, excursion.
Beaches - Did you know that Tanzania has some of the best, most unspoiled beaches in the world? They are stunning with their white sand, palm trees and the cool Indian Ocean water.
Tanzania has two of the best stone age sites in the world, Isimilia gorge near Iringa and the earliest known examples of human art among the rock paintings near Kolo north of Dodoma.
SHOPPING:
There are many markets in tourist cities that sell standard "African" goods. Beaded jewelry, carved soapstone and Masai blankets make interesting gifts. Be aware that most "ebony" wood is fake (shoe polish) - the exception being in the far south-east where the Makonde tribe of Tanzania and Northern Mozambique create masks and other carvings from ebony and mpingo wood. Be prepared to bargain hard for everything. Masks are not typical of most East African groups, and the ones you will find in the markets are either imported from West Africa, or are strange things made just for tourists (exception again being the Makonde masks).
Tinga Tinga paintings, named after the painter who originated that style, are for sale everywhere. Their distinctive style and colors make for attractive souvenirs. A standard size painting can be had for TS 5,000 - 10,000. There is a Tinga Tinga school in Dar es Salaam where you can purchase paintings from the artists themselves.
EATING OUT:
Produce is often of very high quality. Meat and milk can be difficult for Western systems, so be sure that all meat is cooked through. At hotels, you will not have any trouble, but if you venture into small villages, make sure that all water is filtered or boiled before drinking, and all fruits and vegetables are peeled before eating.
Local dishes include Mtori, cooked beef and bananas, and Mchicha, a vegetable stew which can also contain meat or fish.
If anything can be called Tanzania's national dish Ugali would most likely win out. A polenta-style dish made with corn flour, it accompanies a variety of stews, cooked meat and is eaten with your hands. Recipes vary from village to village and everyone has their own way of making it. Many foreigners find it bland and unappealing but it's worth a try, and some upscale establishments serve it.
Chai Maziwa (chai with milk) is a local favorite and well worth trying if you can handle the large amounts of sugar they add to this drink.
Street food is also cheap and plentiful: barbecued maize on the cob is very nice, as are the chipped potatoes (fries) that that are cooked over a roaring fire.
Mandazi is a sweet doughnut styled food that is mostly made fresh each morning. Great with coffee in the morning and makes an ideal snack.
Tanzania's large South Asian community ensures a great variety of restaurants offering cuisine from all parts of that region. All the eateries near Hindu temples (particularly in Dar) are a good bet. Just watch where the local Indians go to eat, and you won't be disappointed. Most of the food is cooked in large amounts of Ghee, clarified butter, and can be hard for some people to digest.
Chips Mayai (chips cooked in an omelet) are served at nearly every African food stand in Tanzania and are considered a Tanzanian specialty. They're quite good with pili pili (hot sauce).
Northern Tanzania boast a number of great coffee plantations. Although coffee does not have the popularity in Tanzania as it has in Ethiopia, with a bit of searching you can find a decent cup of java, not just the instant "Africa" coffee served in most restaurants. Large hotels in Dar all make good coffee. If you want to brew your own cup, Msumbi Coffee Shop, +255 22 260 0380 , Sea Cliff Village, sells Tanzanian coffee beans ground or whole, which they roast on the premises.
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