Lonely Planet: Tanzania
There are many outstanding destinations in Africa, but there is nothing like Tanzania. Get a taste of this magnificent country with this extract from Lonely Planet’s Tanzania guide.
Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar – Africa’s most alluring destinations, are packed into one country. Resonating with hints of the wild and exotic, these four alone are reason enough to justify packing your bag and heading off to Tanzania.
Within the space of several hours, it’s possible to go from lazing on idyllic beaches to exploring moss-covered ruins of ancient Swahili city-states; from climbing mist-covered slopes in the Southern Highlands to trekking through the barren landscapes around Ol Doinyo Lengai. Yet, despite its attractions, Tanzania has managed for the most part to remain unassuming and low-key.
Throughout, Tanzania offers travellers an array of options, set against the backdrop of a cultural mosaic in which over 100 ethnic groups amicably rub shoulders. While most visitors head straight for the famed northern wildlife-watching circuit, followed by time relaxing on Zanzibar’s beaches, Tanzania has much more to offer anyone with the time and inclination to head off the beaten path.
If you’re seeking creature comforts, stick to the northern safari circuit and Zanzibar, where there are sealed main roads and many hotels and restaurants. Elsewhere, and especially in the south and west, you’ll soon find yourself well off the beaten path, surrounded by a Tanzania that’s far removed from Western development.
Wherever you go, take advantage of opportunities to get to know Tanzanians. With their characteristic warmth and politeness, and the dignity and beauty of their cultures, it is they who will inevitably wind up being the highlight of any visit.
This is an edited extract from Tanzania 4th Edition, by Mary Fitzpatrick © Lonely Planet Publications, 2008. $37.95.
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