Tanzania

Once the slave trading center for East Africa is now developing its vastly undersold tourist industy. Due to its big variation in altitude its climate goes from the humid, muggy tropical heat of the coast to the cool of the highlands, it has two rainy seasons, the long rains from April to May and the short rains from November to December. The National Parks are amongst the best stocked in the whole of Africa, Its Serengeti Plains being world famous for the Wildebeast Migration. Tanzanias Parks are the cheapest in East Africa both for accomodation and admittance fees, I would recommend setting aside as much time as possible to expore them. One thing the Tanzanians are non too keen on is South African stamps on your passport, if you think you may have a problem with this contact a Tanzanian Embassy before reaching the border. Thieving seems to be the national pastime here, no matter where you go be aware of thieves and pickpockets they are very good at what they do. Even locked cars are not safe, I read about a couple who went into a police station for directions and when they came out their locked car had been broken into, if the outside of a police station is not safe where is??? There is a flourishing black market here you can easily get 2 - 3 time more for your money than you would at a bank, you will get a better rate with the larger denomination notes. Of all the countries this is the one where you really need your own 4x4 vehicle to get around, try to get a few fellow travelers to club together.

Hostels

Places To See

Dar es Salaam, the capital has a good beachwalk with lots of food sellers. The best ice cream in Africa can be got at The Snow Queen, try it Kariakoo Market is not a very safe place to go alone but is interesting. There is a nice German church on the front, the singing is superb. The YMCA is a dirty hovel you are much better going to the YWCA (they allow couples so find a kind lady) this is very clean and does good food. The main meeting place for travelers to have a beer and chat is The New Africa Hotel. If you use the local bus services be aware thieves are prevalent.

Ngorongoro Crater. This is the one nobody should miss, if you can only afford to visit one place make this it. This is a vast plain in the crater of an extinct volcano, aprox 20km across and 700 meters deep (the 2nd largest in the world). It contains vast herds of almost every animal you will find in East Africa. I would recommend you hire a 4x4 vehicle (only 4x4's are allowed) and do your own thing.

Lake Manyara National Park, this is a small but beautiful park with herds of elephant, it also is home to a vast amount of birdlife including storks and pelicans. Again your own vehicle is highly recommended.

Serengeti National Park, lies adjacent to the Masai Mara in Kenya and offers some of the most fantastic sights and scenery in East Africa. It teems with vast herds of wildebeast, zebra, buffalo and the various gazelles. There are also numerous lions, cheetah, elephants and of course a large variety of birdlife. Again your own 4x4 vehicle is a big advantage. The best time to visit here is from December to May when the enormous herds gather in the south of the Serengeti and begin their migration to the north and the Masai Mara.

Arusha National Park, Mount Meru is the main point of interest, it is a smaller version of Mount Kilimanjaro and is often used as a trail run (it takes 3 - 4 days) is often used to get acclimatised before the big one. Get your wood carvings here they are far cheaper here than anywhere else including Kenya.

Zanzibar, this is the island most travelers dream of, most of the major explorers set out from here, Livingstone, Burton and Speke to name just a few. In the distant past Zanzibar was also home to The Sumerians, Assyrians, Pheonicians, Indians, Arabs, Chinese, Malays, Egyptians, and Portugese, it is no wonder it evokes the thoughts it does. It is best to go here by boat, if you fly you will be compelled to change aprox $30.00 US per day of your stay, there is no such reqirement for visitors by boat.

Pemba Island, unlike Zanzibar, Pemba does not get so many visitors so the locals are much more pleasant to those that do visit. You can take a trip by dhow to Mombassa or Lamu from here.

Mikumi National Park, is a small park with large herds of lion, elephant, giraffe and buffalo. It seems the local airstrip is the best place to view them as it is their favorite haunt.

Mount Kilimanjaro. This was one of my main ambitions in life, (visiting Tibet was my other) to climb Kilimanjaro. I succeeded on December 24th 1989. Kilimanjaro can be climbed at any time of the year outside of the rainy seasons, January-February and September-October are the best months. This is a trip (5 or 6 days, 6 is better for acclimatising) I would say everybody should do at least once in their life. You pass through all types of landscape, lush jungle, rainforest and alpine plain. I was warned NOT to take the Kenyan side route as there were bandits there. Check with the local YMCA for the latest news on this. Read my acount of this trip found elsewhere. Do NOT attempt this without, a water bottle, waterproof clothing, good walking shoes (boots preferably) good sleeping bag, cold weather clothing, I emphasise, you go through the cloud layer and it is EXTREMELY cold at the top. This trip can be booked at Moshi YMCA (the best hostel I ever stayed at) cheaper than anywhere else, if you can get a small group together it will save a lot of money. For more information read about High Altitude below.

IMPORTANT High Altitude Information
There is no better way of acclimatising to altitude than by going slowly, (pole-pole in Swahilli), this will make you much less susceptible to AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). Headaches,Nausea, Dizziness, Loss of appetite or a Dry raspy cough, all of these are symptoms of AMS, you only need ONE of these to tell you to stop, take a drink, keep your head out of the sun and relax for a while. If the symptoms persist, stay overnight at that level or lower,(even a small loss of elevation can make a vast difference). Under NO consideration even contemplate going higher!! Take at least one days rest. If the symptoms still persist after breakfast, seriously consider going down and calling it a day, If the symptoms get worse, IMMEDIATELY start an as fast as possible descent and do not do this on your own as the symptoms may get worse before getting better. I am sure your life and wellbeing is worth more than a piece of paper saying you climbed Mt. Kilimajaro.