Cultural Tourism

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 ovm 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.

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:

EYASI

Eyasi is home to some of the last hunter-gatherers in Africa, the Hadzabe. This cultural group has made the area around Lake Eyasi their long-time hunting grounds. A day-trip or longer safari with the Hadzabe gives visitors a chance to experience a way of life which used to common to all human societies on the planet, but is now rarely practiced anywhere. Morning hunts with the Hadzabe warriors, armed with bows and arrows, offer a fascinating glimpse into the hunter-gatherer 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.

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. Around 12 distinct groups of Maasai remain in the world, the largest of which now lives in Tanzania. 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 Lengai.

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.

MERU (ARUSHA)

Only minutes from bustling Arusha, and centred around Africa’s fifth highest peek 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 womens’ businesses.

MERELANI (ARUSHA)

Only 70 kms from Arusha, TanzaniteOne Mining is the largest and most sophisticated mine of the precious blue – violet gemstone, tanzanite, who, in association with The Tanzanite Experience, offer mine tours through their visitors centre, situated in Merelani. Discover the intriguing universe of tanzanite from mine to market, through a geological/ mining presentation and, for the more adventurous, a tour into the mine’s first ever JW Shaft. Proceeds of funds generated from mine tour entrance fees and tanzanite sales will be used to support further community upliftment projects within the area.

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, and then proceed to Malameni Rock, the scene of human sacrifices to appease evil spirits up until the 1930s. Profits from these tours are used to subsidise much needed energy saving stoves and educational scholarships.

USAMBARAS

Africa’s Switzerland and a hiker’s paradise, with dozens of varied treks from half a day to a week. This stunning mountainous range is accessible from Lushoto in the west, home to one of Tanzania’s great historical kingdoms, or alternatively Amani in the east. Today, much of the mountains are used in the production of coffee, sisal, tea, and cinchona, with rice grown in the swampy foothills.

ZANZIBAR

A tour of the heartland of Swahili culture is a great way for visitors to immerse themselves in the local culture and to see how many Zanzibari’s live on a day to day basis. Learn about the many elements of the cultural fusion and cosmopolitan life that is Zanzibar society – music and dance, visual arts, traditional games, cuisine, and dhow culture to name a few. A cultural tour is the ideal excursion for those who want a real insight intothe people and life on the Island, and is a great way to support sustainable tourism and the people of Zanzibar