The East African country of Tanzania has a stunning wildlife, expansive volcanic crater and intriguing islands which all set it apart as a unique destination. It’s just a bonus that Mount Kilimanjaro is available to climb as the world’s tallest freestanding mountain.
The Indian Ocean laps Tanzania’s eastern edge between Kenya and Mozambique, and the “spice island” of Zanzibar is 22 miles off the mainland. Tanzania’s wide plains are sparsely populated, by people, at least. About half the world’s dwindling lion population lives in East Africa, estimates indicate.
Here are five ways to experience Tanzania’s splendor:
Roam the Ngorongoro Crater
Sometimes called “Africa’s Garden of Eden,” some 25,000 large animals live in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which stretches across 3,200 square miles of the southeastern Serengeti Plains adjacent to Serengeti National Park.
Between December to March, wildebeest, zebras and other animals gather near Lake Ndutu on the edge of the conservation area each year. From there they move north, eventually ending up in the Northern Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara in the fall.
Beyond the huge wildebeest herds, black rhinos, leopards, gazelles and birds thrive here -as does the most powerful crowd-pleaser, the lion.
Get to Know The Lions
The tawny lion prides dominating the Ndutu area of the southeastern Serengeti are not your “Lion King” variety of big fuzzy kittens. These giant creatures are respected among locals because of their history of asserting dominance when challenged by aggressive hunters.
In an attempt to discourage the trend of stalking and killing lions in the Amboseli Ecosystem, conservation organization Lion Guardians recruits young Maasai warriors to instead protect the regal creatures.
Learn about The Maasai Community
For the Maasai, one of the last warrior tribes in the world, cattle are integral to day-to-day life. Besides providing sustenance in the form of milk, and sometimes meat and blood, cows are also currency in the region.
The tribes move with their livestock across northern Tanzania and southern Kenya, constructing villages as they go.
Sample the Spice Islands
The semi-autonomous islands off the coast of Tanzania exhibit the rich and varied influences that arrived on their shores.
On the island of Zanzibar, African, Arab, Indian and European flavors emerge in the cuisine, the homes, the people and the famous carved doors. Today, 99% of the population is Muslim, compared with about a third of the mainland population.
Tourism has replaced the spice and slave trades that shaped the island’s history, and delicious street food is part of the local island experience.
Climb and Conquer Kilimanjaro
Finally, the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, northeastern Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro draws tourists because of its relatively accessible trails.
Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak at 19,340 feet. Allot a minimum of five or six days of climbing to reach the top.
