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Activities & Sports - Cultural Tourism |
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Eyasi
In Tanzania, a land of superb landscapes and
spectacular wildlife, 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 ready to be shared with
visitors. From the WaChagga of the slopes of
Kilimanjaro to the now world-famous Maasai,
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 everyone – 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 have returned
home. Most cultural tourism programmes are
located near the main thoroughfares of the
principal tourist destinations, making a
cultural addition to a safari easy to
arrange. Guides are local people born and
raised in the area, well trained in their
jobs and proficient in English. Cultural
tours can be half-day events or incorporated
into a longer safari. Whether you spend the
morning in a Maasai 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 anyone
wanting to see the rich life of the
Tanzanian people. Some of Tanzania’s
best-known cultural tourism destinations
include.
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 bushmen give visitors a
chance to experience a way of life that has
long since vanished elsewhere on the planet.
Morning hunts with the Hadzabe warriors,
armed with bows and arrows, offer a
fascinating 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 tourism experience.
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Maasailand
See how the Maasai, among the last of the
world’s pastoral peoples, are adapting to
the 21st century in their own way and in
their own time. Visit Engaruka, the lost
city in the shadow of the Great Rift Wall,
where Maasai mix irrigation, farming and
traditional herding. In Mkuru, near Arusha
National Park, short camel treks with local
Maasai give visitors a glimpse into nomadic
culture, as they climb nearby Ol Donyo
Landaree.
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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 the 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 evil spirits up until the 1930s.
Walk through the Ikongwe Village, believed
by locals to be a gift from heaven and
surrounded by mountain terraces and small
waterfalls. Profits from these tours are
used to subsidise much needed energy saving
stoves and educational scholarships. |
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.
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Meru
Only minutes in any direction from bustling
Arusha are spots that look and feel as they
did decades ago. But everywhere, too, is
transition as the WaArusha and WaMeru
peoples adapt tradition to progress and
science. Visitors can meet a traditional
healer, learn about animal husbandry and
agriculture, and buy carvings and foodstuffs
from local handicraft co-operatives or
women’s’ businesses.
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Usambaras
Africa’s Switzerland, a hiker’s paradise,
with dozens of varied treks from half a day
to a week. The stunning mountainous district
of Lushoto was home to one of -Tanzania’s
great historical kingdoms. |
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