Tanzania

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Entry posted by korver · August 13, 2020

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true earth

Tanzania is a country of 56 million known for its vast wilderness areas. They include landscapes populated by the “big five” game and Kilimanjaro National Park, home to the continent's highest mountain. Offshore lie the tropical islands of Zanzibar, with Arabic influences, and Mafia, with a marine park home to whale sharks and coral reefs. In addition, the country is home to sprawling modern cities like Dar es Salaam that offer plenty of attractions and diversions for tourists and locals alike. Today, let's explore one of the world's most diverse and beautiful countries.

Our look at Tanzania begins with a quick stay in the country's largest city and former capital - Dar es Salaam. Over the last century, Dar es Salaam has grown from a sleepy Zaramo fishing village into a thriving tropical metropolis of over four million people. Straddling some of the most important sea routes in the world, it is the region's second-busiest port and Tanzania’s commercial hub. Despite this, and its notorious traffic jams, the city has managed to maintain a low-key, down-to-earth feel.

Tanzania is best known for its incredibly diverse flora and fauna, and one of the most popular ways to experience it safely is from high above in a hot air balloon. The Great Migration is the largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world and it's especially spectacular from above.

Next up, we take a brief stay in the country's official capital city since 1996, Dodoma. Originally a small market town known as Idodomya, it's grown over the centuries under the shadow of the Lion Rock - and unlike other planned capitals around the world like Abuja, Brasilia, Washington, and Canberra, it was grown organically and rejected the grid iron. The city's true potential hasn't been reached quite yet however as many monumental government buildings and landmarks have yet to be built and many of the country's government offices still reside in the former capital, Dar es Salaam - but the future still looks bright as the city continues to grow.

We travel north from Dodoma along Highway 104, taking in the beautiful sights along our way - until we've reached one of the continent's most iconic sights, majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. Rising 19,341 feet above the landscape below, it's the world's highest freestanding mountain - truly a breathtaking natural wonder.

After exploring the areas around Kilimanjaro - we explore another one of Tanzania's most iconic natural wonders, the enormous Ngorongoro Crater. The "Cradle of Life" is the world's largest unflooded and unbroken caldera, and is home to some of the richest biodiversity on planet earth.

We travel to Tanzania's coastline once more for the final leg of the journey, stopping at one of the country's most iconic destinations - Zanzibar. This beautiful ocean archipelago is located some 15-30 miles off the country's shoreline and offers some stunning resorts and beaches - like the ones on Prison Island.

Our look at Tanzania finishes up on the country's shoreline, with a trip to Kilwa Kisiwani. Historically, it was the center of the Kilwa Sultanate, a medieval sultanate whose authority at its height in the 13th-15th centuries stretched the entire length of the Swahili Coast. Today, the entire complex has been reduced to ruin - but the beautiful backdrop and rich history makes it a popular destination for both tourists and locals.