Tanzania News from Africa-Travel-Magazine

Tanzania Travel can be an incredibly interesting and rewarding experience. Some more interesting facts about the country include:

• At over four times the size of Great Britain, Tanzania is the largest country in Eastern Africa.

• The word Tanzania is derived from the two nations of Tanganyika and Zanzibar which before 1964 were seperate. Tanganyika in Kiswahili, the local dialect (Swahili) is translated to mean "sail in the wilderness" and Zanzibar is derived from the Arabic words "Zayn Z'al Barr" which mean "fair is this land".

• The remains of the earliest humans, including the legendary 2 million year old Homo habilis were found in the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania.

• At 264 square kilometres, the extinct Ngogongoro Crater is the largest complete crater in the world.

• It was in the town of Ujiji near Lake Tanganyika that Stanley first spoke the words 'Dr. Livingstone I presume?' A plaque in the town indicates the exact place where Stanley first caught up with Livingstone all those many years ago.

• Lake Manyara National Park is home to the unique tree- climbing lions. These lions climb to the uppermost portions of the enormous Acacia trees in the area, and spend their days languishing on the branches which are some seven or eight meters above the ground.

• Serengeti translates from Masai as 'endless plains' or 'an extended area', quite an apt description when one considers the size of the world famous Serengeti National Park.

• Tanzania is famous for its African blackwood or mbingo carvings which are sold at a number of craft and street stalls.

• The Amani Nature Reserve in eastern Tanzania is said to be the only location on earth where African Violets in fact grow wild.

• The Coconut Crab which inhabits the waters off Zanzibar's Chumbe Island is the largest crab in the world.

• The short Rainy Season in Tanzania is called Vuli, while the long rainy season is called Masika by the local population.

• Tanzania is approximately 3 hours ahead of GMT which means that the time in Dar es Salem is 7 hours ahead of New York and 2 hours ahead of London.. Source: Tanzania Tourist Board

Tanzania National Parks featured in Africa Travel Magazine. More->
Best of Africa Edition also includes Air Highways Report: Amant Macha, Marketing Director, TTB said Tanzania's transatlantic access will receive a big boost this summer with Qatar Airways launching its new transatlantic service. Qatar will offer daily connections to Dar es Salaam via Doha from Washington DC Dulles International airport, and four flights a week from Newark International Airport. The existing new flights options are added to the International Airport via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; KLM Northwest's daily service from all its US gateways into Dar es salaam and Kilimanjaro Airports ; Emirates flights from New York. via Dubai; and British Airways flights from US gateways via London to Dar es Salaam. Download Pages from this issue.

Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA)

February 13

SERENGETI AND KILIMANJARO WINS NATURAL WONDERS AWARDS

Serengeti and Kilimanjaro National Parks has won the prestigious 2012 Natural Wonders Contest Awards by the Seven Natural Wonders, based in the United States.

TANAPA�s entries in the competition namely the Serengeti National Parks famed for its annual wildebeests migration and the Top Roof of Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro were announced as among the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa which has added to the portfolio of The Seven Natural Wonders, Other attraction from Tanzania named to be included in the list of Seven Natural Wonders of Africa is the Ngorongoro Crater while from outside Tanzania are Red sea reef of Egypt which is home to over 1,100 species of fish of which approximately 1 in 10 are exclusive in the area, Sahara Desert which is the largest hot desert and home to many natural features that could be deemed as Wonders themselves. Others were Nile River in Uganda and Okavango Delta in Botswana which is the longest delta in the world.
The declaration of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa was made in Arusha by the President of The Seven Natural Wonders Dr. Philip Imler at a colorful ceremony held at Mt. Meru Hotel which was attended by Ministers, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, and other many dignitaries from various countries in Africa, as well as international and local Media, officiated by the Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania Honorable Mizengo Pinda
�We are delighted to be named one of the winners of this prestigious natural wonder award,� said Mr. Pinda, The Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania. �With a strong background of the tradition of respect for nature makes Tanzania a home to unsurpassed natural resources, as Tanzania has set aside nearly 28% of its entire land as protected land comprised of forests, wetlands and wildlife areas. We are proud in playing a leading role in driving deliberate efforts at national level to ensure that tourism development is undertaken carefully and responsibly, without damaging the abundant natural resources, all in a well-designed package.�
The voting for the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa which involved twelve (12) tourist attraction sites on the African continent ended on December 31, 2012 and Tanzania was the only blessed country with most entries in the list: these were Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park.
Seven Natural Wonders, based in the United States, has been conducting a campaign since 2008 to determine the 7 Natural Wonders of Africa and received millions of votes from all over the world. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and other experts from around the world cast their votes based on statistical and traditional significance along with uniqueness and splendor. The final votes had been casted by the close of 2012.

Tanzania ranked highly as tourist destination

Monday, 09 January 2012 08:35

Dar es Salaam. A world renowned newspaper has selected Tanzania among 45 places for tourists to visit in 2012, saying: �Tanzania is coming into its own as an upscale safari destination�.

The New York Times said in its January 6 edition that Tanzania emerged number seven out of the 45 selected places to go in 2012.

Reacting to the revelation, the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) managing director, Dr Aloyce Nzuki, said yesterday that the selection of Tanzania among the 45 favourable destinations was a positive thing.

�We have strategies in place aimed at making Tanzania among the most favourable places to visit,� said Dr Nzuki, promising to give more details today. In its article, The New York Times quoted East African travel specialists, including Hippo Creek Safaris and Abercrombie & Kent, as saying that for the last several years, the number of tourists going to Tanzania has been edging up.

�But it wasn�t until several violent attacks on visitors to neighbouring Kenya that the numbers really took off, as Tanzania started to absorb skittish Kenya-bound safari seekers,� said the newspaper.

It said not that Tanzania is coasting along solely on Kenya�s troubles; it always had Mount Kilimanjaro, after all.
�And now other attractions are being discovered, too � places like Gibb�s Farm, a small lodge from which guests can hike to the Ngorongoro Crater area, a prime destination for big game viewing,� said the paper.

In addition, said The New York Times, the opening of exclusive safari reserves like the Singita Grumeti along the Serengeti plains and the upscale camps managed by Nomad Tanzania and Chem Chem are evidence that the country�s tourist infrastructure is becoming more sophisticated, perhaps even catching up to Kenya�s.

ABOUT TANZANIA

Tanzania, the largest country in East Africa, is focused on wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism, with approximately 28 % of the land protected by the Government. It boasts 15 National Parks and 31 game reserves. It is the home of the tallest mountain in Africa, the legendary Mt. Kilimanjaro; The Serengeti, home to the "Great Animal Migration" that was named the New 7th Wonder of the World by USA Today and ABC TV's Good Morning America; the world acclaimed Ngorongoro Crater, often called the 8th Wonder of the World; Olduvai Gorge, the cradle of mankind: the Selous, the world�s largest game reserve; Ruaha, now the second largest National Park in Africa; the spice islands of Zanzibar; and seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Most important for visitors, the Tanzanian people are warm and friendly, speak English, which together with Kiswahili, are the two official languages; and the country is an oasis of peace and stability with a democratically elected and stable government.

THE BIG SIX: TANZANIAN SAFARI LODGES

Singita Mara River, Serengeti

This new camp opened in the northernmost tip of the Serengeti in December. Situated in an area known as the Lamai Triangle, it offers just six luxury tents, a decked outdoor pool and unfettered views of the Mara River. The area is famed for its year-round wildlife viewing, but the period between August and October is best for close-up views of the Great Migration, when thousands of wildebeest, antelope and zebra make the perilous journey north to the plains of the Maasai Mara, dodging predators as they go.

Saadani Lodge, Saadani

Saadani National Park is the country�s only wildlife sanctuary bordered by the sea, meaning you can spend mornings on a game drive then paddle in Indian Ocean waves come afternoon. Saadani Lodge offers the best of both, with an idyllic beachfront location and a long list of activities. Choose to explore the area on land (to spot buffalo, lions and leopards), by sea (for dolphins and green turtles), or along the Wami River (home to kingfishers, eagles, crocodiles and hippos).

Hatari Lodge, Arusha

This luxury bush hotel, made up of three buildings and nine bedrooms, is set within the confines of Arusha National Park, near Mount Kilimanjaro. A wooden walkway leads down from the camp to a fire pit and viewing platform, from where buffalos, warthogs and giraffes can be spotted by day, and sundowners can be sunk come nightfall. A short drive leads to the Momella lakes, which are a series of shallow mineral pools where flocks of flamingo and Egyptian geese fly in to feed.

Sand Rivers, Selous

Selous is one of the largest game reserves in Africa, harbouring endangered animals such as the black rhino within its far-reaching boundaries. Here, on a remote bend of the Rufiji River amid snaking waterways and oxbow lakes, stands Sand Rivers, with eight open-fronted cottages crafted from simple thatch and stone. They are distinctly upmarket and modern inside, with power showers, canopied beds, decks outside and plunge pools. Safari options include walking, boat and 4x4 excursions.

Crater Lodge, Ngorongoro

The world�s largest caldera nudges the Serengeti in the north and whispers at the Great Rift Valley to the east. Crater Lodge stands on the southern rim of this Unesco-listed wonder, with 32 stilted suites styled to resemble traditional Maasai mud huts (albeit with butler service, glass fronts and broad balconies for surveying the scenery). Daily game drives take guests to the heart of the action, with expert guides and an al fresco �bush lunch� on the crater floor.

Jongomero Camp, Ruaha

In 2008, the Ruaha area was combined with the Usangu wetlands, creating Tanzania�s biggest national park. It lies along the ancient arm of the Great Rift Valley, miles from the main cities and airports, making it a tricky spot to reach. But Jongomero Camp rewards those who go the extra distance, with eight luxury tents in an utterly isolated location. Each has draw-back canvas fronts for taking in the sights and sounds of the African bush, sturdy beds and tribal furnishings

DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA'S VIBRANT COMMERCIAL CAPITAL, RICH IN CULTURE AND HISTORY, NAMED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES ONE OF "52 PLACES TO GO IN 2014

(January 15, 2014, New York, New York) Dar es Salaam, Tanzania�s vibrant commercial capital and Indian Ocean Port, was named one of �52 Places to Go in 2014� by The New York Times in its Sunday Travel Section, January 12, 2014. Dar es Salaam, one of Africa�s fastest growing cities, is being recognized for its rich culture and colorful lifestyle.

An excerpt from The New York Times describes Dar es Salaam as, �An eclectic mix of music echoes through the beach clubs, open-air bars and nightclubs of this Indian Ocean coastal city. Old-school dance music competes with Swahili hip-hop and traditional drumming, all drawing from the city�s African, Indian and Arab influences. Add in the street food, the beaches and the fact that the year-old African low-cost carrier Fastjet uses Dar as its hub, and it�s easy to see that this commercial capital is more than a stopover on the way to Tanzania�s natural splendor.�

Dr. Aloyce K. Nzuki, Managing Director, Tanzania Tourist Board said, �We are pleased that Dar es Salaam, in addition to being the gateway for the southern safari circuit, is increasingly being recognized as a major East African port, rich in history and bustling with a diversity of activities and attractions. In fact, this was one of the major factors we took into consideration in selecting Dar es Salaam as the location for the first annual Swahili International Tourism Expo (S!TE � www.site.co.tz), set to launch October 1-4, 2014.�

Dar es Salaam, as the gateway for all major airlines flying into Tanzania including KLM/DELTA, South African Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines, is the country�s most accessible city. It has also experienced rapid growth in its hotel capacity including three well known American hospitality brands, Hyatt Regency, Doubletree by Hilton and Holiday Inn. Four more hotel properties that are currently on the drawing board and are expected to be managed by international hotel chains.

This is the third time in four years that Tanzania has made the annual The New York Times �Places to Go� list. In 2011, it was Zanzibar and in 2012, it was Tanzania (the destination).

Topics in Best of Africa World Edition featuring Tanzania and Zanzibar

Perfectly Pemba.Your Swahili Shangri-la
African Diaspora Heritage Trail, Tanzania, Oct. 25-30, 2009
Tourism Stars in Tanzania Economy . Go
Karibu Fair East Africa Leader . Go
Cradle of Mankind at Ngorongoro . Go
Adventures in Travel Expos Go
ATA 33rd Annual Congress, Arusha . Go
Women in Tourism in Tanzania Go
Travelers Philanthropy Conf. Go
ATA Congress Photos Go.
Tanzania's Travel Agent University Go
Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and Serengeti. Go
Great Cities of Africa: Dar es Salaam . Go
I am Arusha: Africa's Safari Capital Go
Zanzibar's Chumbe Island Coral Park. Go
World's Safari Capital Art and Fashion. Go
Zanzibar's Busara Musical Festival . Go
Big Changes at Dar es Salaam . Go
Chumbe Island Marine Park: Hidden jewel of Tanzania's Swahili Coast . Go