Tanzania is a country which encompasses an
extraordinary history and an abundance of
natural wonders; therefore it is no surprise
Tanzania has eight World Heritage Sites. These
chosen sites are a fundamental reminder why
interaction between people and nature must
achieve a balance of preservation and
conservation between the two.
"The Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s
oldest park, and one of the world’s last great
wildlife refuges, hence its World Heritage Site
status."
Kilimanjaro National Park
The Kilimanjaro National Park is located near
Moshi, Tanzania. It is centered on the iconic
and dramatic snow- clad slopes of Mount
Kilimanjaro, which covers an area of 753 km (291
square miles). In 1973 , the mountain above the
tree line was classified as a National Park and
was opened to public access in 1977 , but it
wasn’t until 1987 the park became listed as a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Stone Town, Zanzibar
Stone Town or Mji Mkongwe in Swahili meaning
“ancient town”, is the old part of Zanzibar
City. The old town is built on a triangular
peninsula of land on the western coast of the
island and was awarded World Heritage Site
status in 2000 . Justification for the
inscription, includes, its rich cultural fusion
and harmonization; its great symbolic importance
in the suppression of slavery; and the intense
seaborne trading activity between Asia and
Africa, which is illustrated today in the
exceptional architecture and urban structure of
the Stone Town.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) boasts
the finest blend of landscapes, wildlife, people
and archaeological sites in Africa and is
situated 180 km west of Arusha. The rich pasture
and permanent water of the Crater floor supports
a large resident population of wildlife of up to
25 ,000 - predominantly grazing animals. The
conservation area is administered by the
Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, and its
boundaries follow the boundary of the Ngorongoro
Division of Ngorongoro District. It covers an
area of 8,288 km (3,200 square miles).
Selous Game Reserve
The Selous Game Reserve covers a total area of
54,600 km (21 ,081 square miles) and is one of
the largest fauna reserves of the world, located
in the south of Tanzania. It was designated a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 due to the
diversity of its wildlife and undisturbed
nature. The reserve is home to typical savannah
animals such as elephants, hippopotami, the rare
African Wild Dog and crocodiles, which are all
found in larger numbers compared to any other
African park.
Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s oldest
park, and one of the world’s last great wildlife
refuges, hence its World Heritage Site status.
It is most famous for its annual migration of
over one million white bearded (or brindled)
wildebeest and 200 ,000 zebra. The park covers
14,763 km (5,700 square miles) of grassland
plains and savanna as well as riverine forest
and woodlands. The park lies in the north of the
country, bordered to the north by the national
Tanzania and Kenyan border, where it is
contiguous with the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Kondoa Rock Art Sites
The Kondoa rock art site is a series of caves
carved into the side of a hill looking out over
the steppe. The cave site is nine kilometres off
the main highway from Kondoa to Arusha, about 20
km north of Kondoa. The site has a spectacular
collection of images from over 150 shelters
depicting elongated people, animals, and hunting
scenes. Today many of the shelters are still
considered to have ritual associations with the
people who live nearby, reflecting their
beliefs, rituals and cosmological traditions.
Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo
Mnara
The remains of two great East African ports
admired by early European explorers are situated
on two small islands near the coast. From the 13
th to the 16 th century, the merchants of Kilwa
dealt in gold, silver, pearls, perfumes, Arabian
crockery, Persian earthenware and Chinese
porcelain; much of the trade in the Indian Ocean
thus passed through their hands. Serious
archeological investigation began in the 1950 s.
In 1981 it was declared a World Heritage Site,
and noted visitor sites are the Great Mosque,
the Mkutini Palace and some remarkable ruins.
However, the ruins are also on the List of World
Heritage in Danger. The list constitutes a call
to improve their safeguarding and is designed to
rally national and international efforts for
their preservation.
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