mount rungwe safaris wish youuuuu

Tourists get closer to heaven from “God’s Garden” in Tanzania

TANZANIA (eTN) - When tourism executives across the world are set to meet in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi in November this year to discuss strategies to market African tourism in the United States and other world markets, there are best tourist attractions in Africa not much known and needing exposure before the global tourist market.

Executives from the Africa Travel Association (ATA) from New York in the United States are expected to join other travel trade leaders from Africa, Europe, and Asia during the 40th Annual World Congress to be held in Nairobi, come November of this year.

Rich with natural tourist attractions, the African continent receives about 5 percent of global tourists, despite its unique and attractive tourist hot spots consisting mostly of wildlife and nature.

Taking a sample of Africa’s unbeatable attractions, there is a tourist park on this continent where tourists might feel closer to heaven, as it is both alive and relaxing under the sun, at a higher altitude with cold weather almost year round, similar to Mediterranean conditions.

This new park, the Kitulo National Park in the southern highlands of Tanzania, stands among beautiful and thrilling tourist sites worth a visit by its natural flowers which botanists compare to those in the Biblical Garden of Eden.

Not only blossoming flowers, which have attracted a good number of Japanese tourists to visit this Tanzanian park, but the altitude of 3,000 meters above sea level ranks among Africa’s leading sky parks.

Having its unique flower species which has remained wild since creation, tourists could also enjoy watching birds singing and migrating to the highland forests which make the park.

Kitulo Plateau National Park is the latest and a newcomer to Tanzania’s tourist attractive sites under trusteeship and management of the Tanzania National Parks. It is the site of one of the world’s great floral spectacles.

Tourists visiting this park have named it “God’s Garden” by virtue of its higher altitude and its natural setup as the only park of its kind in Africa where wild flowers, birds, and harmonious grass-eating mammals dominate.

Botanists have dubbed it the “Serengeti of Flowers” as it bears witness to one of the great floral spectacles of the world. This park is known for its flora and is home to 350 species of vascular plants, including 45 varieties of terrestrial orchids, many of which are endemic to Africa’s highlands.

Although sparse in big game, this natural botanical garden is highly alluring to bird watchers who thrill to sightings of the rare Denham’s bustard, the endangered blue swallow, mountain marsh widow, Njombe cisticola, and Kipengere seedeater.

Endemic species of butterfly, chameleon, lizard, and frog further enhance the biological wealth of “God’s Garden.” Kitulo National Park stands alone, boasting of being the only tourist attractive site in the African continent offering floristic visits with traditional wildlife photographic holidays, which most tourists to Tanzania are used to experiencing.

Tourists from all corners of the world are now exposed to this park, ecologists from Tanzania National Parks say. It is perched between the rugged peaks of the Kipengere, Livingstone, and Poroto Mountains in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania.

The eminently hikeable park is carpeted in wildflowers for 6 months of the year, from November to April. There is a documented 350 species of wild flowers including lilies and fields of daisies.

The park covers 413 kilometers of forest land, dominated with plants and few wild animals which together form a natural habitat that is tourist attractive by itself.

Added to its natural attractions and uniqueness, Kitulo Plateau is the natural resting site for intercontinental migrating birds during periods of the year on their way to Europe.

It is only in this park where migrating storks rest while flying from Cape Town in South Africa to Northern Europe.

European white storks and other species of storks from Scandinavian countries via West Africa migrate to brood inside Kitulo Plateau on their way, flying across the European and African continents every year. These big attractive birds stop in this park for some months and later continue with their long journey across the continent.

Kitulo National Park is the only natural habitat area in Africa perched on the East African massif, much influenced by the Eastern Rim of the Great Rift Valley which stretches from the Red Sea in Middle East across north and East Africa to Mozambique in Southern Africa.

To reach this park, visitors pass and climb the scenic plateau through 57 pin-corners from the Tanzania to Zambia highway. Open walking safaris through the grasslands watching birds and wild flowers, hill hiking on the neighboring ranges during the day, gives a visitor fantastic views of Lake Nyasa at Tanzania and Malawi border.

Wild flowers blossom between December and April, and the summer months from September to November, are best times to visit the park. From June to August the entire park is foggy with no visibility during the daytime, and it is hardly possible to view its beauties.

the land of Tanzania

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park

is among the best-known big game safari destinations in Africa and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tanzania. It is famous for its annual wildlife migration of wildebeest and zebra. One of the best times to visit the park is in May when the grass becomes dry and exhausted and the wildebeest and zebra start to mass in huge armies offering a spectacular wildlife show.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro is formed form a volcano erupting two to three million years ago which has collapsed and formed a crater. The steep sides of the crater have become a natural enclosure for a wide variety of wild animals. It is also presently one of the most likely areas in Africa to see the endangered Black Rhino. Local Maasai people are permitted to bring cattle to graze in the crater but are required to leave at the end of each day.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is an inactive volcano in north-eastern Tanzania, near the border with Kenya. At 5,892 meters (19,331 feet) above sea level, Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak and the world’s highest free-standing mountain. Although positioned close to the equator, Mount Kilimanjaro is famous for its snow-capped peak looming over the plains of the savannah. The mountain has become a major tourist attraction for mountaineers and trekkers from around the world.

Zanzibar

Zanzibar
The island of Unguja, part of Zanzibar, makes up the final Spice Island. Once part of the British Empire, today Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. The African island has been for centuries an important trading center, a melting pot of African, Indian and Arab influences. Zanzibar’s major tourist attraction is Stone Town, with its whitewashed coral rag houses. Another big draw are its beautiful white sandy beaches.

Lake Manyara

Lake Manyara
In the wet season Lake Manyara is home to almost 300 different species of migratory birds, including thousands of flamingos. In the dry season, alkaline mud-flats take the place of the waters. This is the best time to see large mammals such as hippos, elephants, wildebeest and giraffe. A number of safari lodges provide tourists with lodging and day and night safaris to see the wildlife.

Mafia Island

Mafia Island
Also part of the Spice Islands, but smaller than Pemba, Mafia Island has a population of around 40,000 people. Don’t expect organized crime: the name derives either from the Swahili “mahali pa afya,” meaning “a healthy dwelling-place,” or from the Arabic “morfiyeh,” meaning “archipelago”. The island attracts scuba divers, game fishermen, and people wanting to relax on one of the island white sandy beaches.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park
Smaller than Ruaha, this national park is a paradise for bird watchers as more than 550 different species frequent the park. Tarangire is also known for its huge number of elephants, baobab trees and tree climbing lions. Huge termite mounds can be found all around the park.

Pemba Island

Pemba Island

Known as the Green Island in Arabic, Pemba Island lies in the Indian Ocean and is part of the “Spice Islands”. As neighboring Zanzibar is becoming more and more popular with tourists, more adventurous travellers are seeking out the less-crowded Pemba. The island is especially popular with divers who come here for the untouched coral and very abundant marine life.

Selous Game Reserve

Selous Game Reserve
Savanna animals can be found in this reserve in greater numbers than in any other African game reserve, thanks to stringent regulation by the Wildlife Division of the Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. Most visitors arrive by aircraft, and walking tours or river trips are permitted, though no human habitation or permanent structures are allowed.

Tourist Attraction in Tanzania

Ruaha National Park

Located in the middle of Tanzania, the Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in the country. The park is named after the Hehe word “ruvaha,” meaning “river.” Filled with wild dogs, lions, leopards, elephants, cheetah, giraffes, zebras, impala, bat eared foxes and jackals, the park offers visitors an opportunity to get up close and personal with nature. Due to the parks somewhat rnemote location visitors can enjoy viewing the wildlife without competing with hordes of other tourists.

seafood

The Rock in Zanzibar, Tanzania, specialises in seafood dishes such as grilled lobster and squid (pictured)

Most Amazing Restaurants With Spectacular Views

Top 50 World’s Most Amazing Restaurants With Spectacular Views - Crater Lodge - Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania,The Rock - Zanzibar, Tanzania

National Museum of Tanzania

The National Museum of Tanzania is a consortium of five Tanzanian museums whose purpose is to preserve and show exhibits about the history and natural environment of Tanzania. The consortium developed from the National Museum of Dar es Salaam, established in 1934 by Tanganyika governor Harold MacMichael. Four more museums later joined the consortium, namely the Village Museum in Dar es Salaam, the National History Museum and the Arusha Declaration Museum in Arusha, and the Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere Memorial Museum in Butiama.

Dar es Salaam National Museum

The Dar es Salaam National Museum is located in Shabban Robert Street, next to the botanical gardens. Established in 1934 and open to the public since 1940, it was originally a memorial museum dedicated to King George V; one of the cars of the King is still on display. The museum was expanded in 1963, with the addition of a second building. It is now dedicated to the history of Tanzania. Its most famous exhibits include some bones of Paranthropus boisei that were among the findings of Louis Leakey at Olduvai. The museum also has a large section dedicated to the Shirazi city-state of Kilwa. More historical miscellaneous material is related to the German and British rule, and ancient Chinesepottery.^[1] The museum also has ethnographic collections on Tanzanian cultures.

Village Museum

National History MuseumThe Kijiji cha Makumbusho, or Village Museum, established in 1996, is an open-air ethnographical museum located in the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, on the road to Mwenge and Bagamoyo. It showcases traditional huts from 16 different Tanzanian ethnic groups. There are also examples of traditional cultivations, and traditional music and dance shows are held daily.

The National History Museum in Arusha, open since 1987, is located in Arusha, in Boma Road. It has two permanent exhibits, respectively on human evolution and entomology.

Arusha Declaration Museum

The Arusha Declaration Museum, open since 1977, is located in Arusha, in Kaloleni Road. It displays documents on the colonial history of Tanzania, the fight for independence, and the Arusha Declaration where the first Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere outlined his political vision

Nyerere Museum

The Mwalimu^[5] Julius K. Nyerere Memorial Museum, or Nyerere Museum for short, was established in 1999. It is located in Butiama, where Tanzania's first president Julius Nyerere was born and was buried. The museum display items related to Nyerere's personal and political life.

Last summer Sunderland AFC announced a ground-breaking football partnership in the country of Tanzania. The club was honoured to welcome a delegation from Tanzania to the club, headed by His Excellency Dk. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Paul Hinks, CEO of Symbion Power. The delegation met with senior club officials and city leaders, including SAFC Chairman Ellis Short and CEO Margaret Byrne. Sunderland’s partnership in Tanzania continues to develop with Commercial Director Gary Hutchinson’s recent visit to the East African country further strengthening the bond between this astoundingly beautiful country and Barclays Premier League members Sunderland. If you are the kind of person who becomes mesmerized by wildlife programmes on TV then the new seventh wonder of the world - The Serengeti – is the place for you. This is where the world’s largest and most spectacular animal migration takes place. Tanzania teems with such an abundance of wildlife. The Selous for example is the world’s largest Game Reserve while other national parks include: Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Arusha, Mahale, Gombe, Katavi, Rubondo, Katavi , Mkomazi, Mikumi and Ruaha which are all home to millions of magnificent and easily visible wildlife.

 Of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, three are from Tanzania! These are the Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti National Park and Mt. Kilimanjaro. The Ngorongoro Crater is the Cradle of Mankind, where it is said that the first man made his first steps. Any would be David Attenborough needs some recovery time after taking in the sights and sounds of Tanzania so it is just as well that this fabulous nation also has 804km of some of the finest unpolluted beaches in Africa. Its white sandy exotic beaches provide a serene atmosphere for relaxation and sunbathing. Situated off-shore are Zanzibar and Pemba, the exotic ‘twin spice islands’ that are famous for their history and beaches. The Mafia Island Marine Park, located south of Dar es Salaam is reputed to be one of the most exciting diving locations in the world. Further south, there is another marine park, the Mnazi Bay Park which is ideal for, diving and other aquatic sports. Tanzania is the only country in the world that has allocated nearly 28% of its total land area for wildlife conservation, which include the World Heritage Sites. It came as no surprise that the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report of The World Economic Forum placed Tanzania second worldwide (after Brazil), for its natural

environment, several World Heritage natural sites, rich fauna, and its large-protected land area. Tanzania boasts of seven World Heritage Sites: Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park, Selous Game Reserve, Stone Town, Zanzibar, the ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara as well as the Kondoa rock art site. Of course there is also the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro that we featured in issue 82 of Legion of Light when 1973 FA Cup winner Ritchie Pitt succeeded in trekking to the summit of the world’s highest free standing mountain in the world. Last but not least its people, with more than 120 tribes, The Tanzanians, boast of their rich history and diverse cultures, and are said to be considered as one of Africa’s most warm, charming and hospitable people who offer the richest of African culture for international visitors. Also known as ‘Africa’s Haven of Peace’, Tanzania is also said to be one of Africa’s most peaceful and politically stable countries both in terms of national security as well as street safety and considered to be home to a flourishing democracy and prospering economy.

Serengeti Cultural Festival is the very unique annual cultural celebration event which is held in every third week of July at Mugumu town in rural Mara region, western Tanzania. About 40 kilometers from the Ikoma Gate of Serengeti national park, July 21 to 23. It is an open-air event that brings together traditional dancers from the people of tribes between Lake Zone and Serengeti national park and will give visitors to Serengeti national park a chance to supplement their game-viewing safari with experience of African traditional dance and art. Traditionally most of the festivals, exhibitions and trade fairs are usually staged in urban areas. The event will run for three days between 10:00 am and 4 pm and the participants include people of the Kurya, Ikoma, Sukuma, Jita and Ngoreme tribes. For further information about the event, you can contact the organizer of the event by telephone, +255 784402113, +255 767402113  or Email: serengeticulturalc@gmail.com, info@serengeticulturalcentre.com

THE OBJECTIVES OF CULTURAL FESTIVAL:

• Promote cultural tourism, environmental conservation, cultural heritage and provide employment opportunity to the people and entertains Tourists.
• Empower local people economically as are encouraged to vend their handcraft and work of Art in the stadium.
• Give opportunity to Companies that sponsor or contribute towards achievements of the festival to make brandings of their products or the services they offer to the community. This enables them to expand the market and customers
• Sensitize people on certain issues that confront the community through traditional arts

Venue: mugumu town. Mara region.

Date: 21-23 July 2015.

Theme: “Tourism and Development in the Community”

tanzanite

Tanzania Adds More Tourism Niches

Arusha — Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) has announced nine new cultural tourism enterprises (CTEs) coordinated by its Cultural Tourism Program (CTP) based in Arusha which will expand its niche market.

With the additional CTEs, the total number of enterprises rises to 60, in which visitors take time to experience local cultures, the people, the environment and the traditions that are unique to each of the more than 120 tribes in Tanzania.

According to Elirehema Maturo, the CTP Coordinator the new listed CTEs include: Bujora Cultural Tourism Enterprise, Ukerewe Cultural Tourism Enterprise and Kisesa Cultural Tourism Enterprise, all from Mwanza region.

In Kilimanjaro region new approved CTEs are Kiliman Cultural Tourism Enterprise, Rau Eco and Cultural Tourism Enterprise and Lyamungo; while Arusha region has Meru Forest Eco-Tourism and Momela Cultural Tourism & Campsite. Ruvuma region have benefitted for one: Liuli-Pomonda Cultural Tourism Enterprise, Mbamba Bay.

CTEs offer visitors the opportunity to leave the safari vehicle behind and spend time in local villages interacting with the people. Besides, CTEs provide visitors with an authentic cultural experience and a unique insight into the daily lives of the local people. During such visits visitors are exposed as much as possible about the wealth of culture values, natural and historic tourist attractions located in their area.In addition visitors can partake in different activities which include: preparing local cuisine, making local wine, helping to process coffee beans, learning how to make local handcrafts, and learning traditional games and dances. The cultural enterprises also host a number of music and dance festivals that attract many visitors because of their authenticity. And for the visitors who want to meet fishermen, cultivators, local minors, wildlife scouts, rainmakers and story-tellers.In one of the newly registered cultural enterprises, Lyamungo Sinde, a village in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, tourists can enjoy the scenery of the highest mountain in Africa while staying with villagers to make handcrafts out of banana leaves or fish in the Weruweru River.In Kahawa Shambani, visitors are hosted by local families at coffee plantations and learn the entire coffee process from the coffee growers' co-operative, their history and fair trade, to picking, grinding, roasting and making their own fresh coffee."There's nothing worse than arriving in a new place and making a massive cultural faux pas on day one. As long as you don't do anything outrageous you should be fine, but a bit of information and guideline beforehand will only help to make your stay and experience memorable," Maturo said in an exclusive interview with East African Business Week.Cultural Tourism in Tanzania has been developing since 1996 when it was initiated by youth in local communities in northern Tanzania. The Maasai warriors (youth groups) used to dance alongside the mainstream northern safari road accessing Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti major tourist attractions in the area. During these volunteering dances, resulted for them been given a tip or recognition for doing an interesting entertainment.Cultural Tourism development took an approach of Sustainable Pro-poor Tourism. The aim was and is to develop and promote cultural excursions, organized by local people in their natural environment where they live today."This is a way of doing tourism so that it focuses specifically on unlocking opportunities for the poor to benefit more within tourism, rather than expanding the overall size of the sector. Sustainable Pro-poor Tourism goes well beyond ecotourism and community based tourism. It is an approach that attempts to maximize the potential of tourism for eradicating poverty by developing appropriate strategies in co-operation with all major groups/stakeholders central government, local governments, tourism operators, and local communities to have a fair distribution of benefits," Maturo said.Tanzania cultural tourism adopts a community-based tourism approach in which the people are directly involved in designing, organizing tours and showing tourists aspects of their lives in the area they live in.While economic benefit is derived from activities, some cross-cultural exchange between visitors and the local people is also developed. It is people tourism that enables tourists to experience the local people's way of life, offering insights into the values, beliefs and traditions in the host communities' own environments.The CTEs provide employment and income generating opportunities to local communities in rural areas of Tanzania hence decreasing rural to urban areas migration. Most of the cultural tourism enterprises have convenient transportation and easy access to restaurants, accommodation, entertainments, and other services.Tourism to the villages directly supports the local community with a sustainable source of income.Over 3,000 Tanzanian people benefited from a direct income in 2014 due to the success of the Cultural Tourism Program. A portion of the income from tourism for each enterprise is used for community development such as renovating schools, providing books for students, tree planting projects, and water tap project.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, the largest percentage of any country in the world.

Beautiful of Tanzania

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-10/tanzania-testing-drones-to-fight-elephant-poachers-in-game-park

Watch Sunsets

20 Best Places To Watch Sunsets number 6 The Serengeti, Tanzania

The beauty of Tanzania

That Africa is a special place, you will only find out if you have been there. That Tanzania is the gem of Africa, is unquestionable. Whether you are looking for spotting birds or watching the big five, climbing mount Kilimanjaro or relaxing on the beach of Zanzibar, dancing with

the Masaai or photographing the great migration. Tanzania is the place to be