Exciting Things To Do In Tanzania Besides A Wildlife Safari
Exciting Things To Do In Tanzania Besides A Wildlife Safari : Most likely, if you’re visiting Tanzania, you’ll go on a wildlife safari. There is still a lot to see and do in this 63 million-populated nation, so don’t let the wildlife overshadow it. If you can, try to schedule some time for the rest of the nation.
Tanzania’s safari tours are well-known around the world. These safaris typically place a greater emphasis on wildlife, particularly large mammals. The popularity of safaris in Tanzania may give the impression that there aren’t any other things to do there, but in reality, wildlife is just one of many of Tanzania’s attractions, including its diversity and beauty.
Wildlife safaris are without a doubt an amazing experience, but Tanzania offers its visitors much more than just game drives. To make your trip to Tanzania as exciting as possible, there are many wonderful sights to see and things to do. The best part is that you can visit them after game drives or in the afternoon or evening. You can also combine them with wildlife safari tours.
There are a ton of incredible things to do in Tanzania if you’re thinking about going on a safari but also want to do something else. These range from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to chimp trekking, dolphin watching, cultural interactions, beach tours, waterfall chasing, and visiting lakes and historical sites. Let’s now talk about the top 11 non-wildlife safari activities in Tanzania.
CLIMBING MT. KILIMANJARO
The highest free-standing mountain in the world and the tallest mountain on the African continent is Mount Kilimanjaro. The magnificent mountain, which is in north-east Tanzania, can also be seen from Kenya’s Amboseli National Park. The mountain has a vast ecological system that supports a variety of plant and animal species. Climbers and mountaineers travel in great numbers to Kilimanjaro. For many people around the world, it practically belongs on their bucket list. It is a well-liked challenge for climbers, and more than 30,000 climbers visit each year in an effort to reach Uhuru peak. The average time for climbers to reach the peak is six days. But there are numerous variables that affect success rates.
Many different types of people have scaled this mountain. In just nine days, 89-year-old non-professional climber Anne Lorimor scaled Kilimanjaro. Boyd Keats, a seven-year-old boy, is the mountain’s youngest ascents. This demonstrates that there are no impossibilities. Many mountain climbers have said that reaching the peak of the mountain changed their lives. The climber feels accomplished and makes memories that will last a lifetime.
EXPLORE THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY
One of nature’s Seven Wonders of the World is the Great Rift Valley. A 6,000 km-long geological trench that stretches from central Mozambique in East Africa to northern Syria in Southwest Asia. The Great Rift Valley is home to enormous escarpments, enormous lakes, and stunning vistas. A beautiful section of the Great Rift Valley can be found in Tanzania, and it is simply breathtaking. The valley splits into the Western Rift Valley and the Eastern Rift Valley in eastern Africa.
The Rift Valley lakes, which include some of the deepest lakes in the world(up to 1,470 meters deep at Lake Tanganyika), are located in the Western Rift, which is bordered by majestic mountains. Although it actually lies between the two branches, Lake Victoria, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world, is included in the Rift Valley system. All of the Great Lakes of Africa were created by the rift, and the majority of them are located there. The Eastern Rift is home to large mineral lakes like Lake Natron and is bounded by Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.
There are also some impressive Tanzanian volcanoes there, like the Ngorongoro crater. A great illustration of how various natural systems can interact is the East African Rift Valley. Any nature lover’s list of geologic wonders to visit should include this particular geological setting at the top.
EXPLORE THE NGORONGORO CRATER
A breathtaking natural wonder and one of the World Heritage Sites is the Ngorongoro Crater. Three million years ago, a massive volcano erupted and collapsed, leaving behind a deep volcanic crater. It is the world’s largest caldera that has never been flooded or broken. It measures approximately 20 km across, 600 meters deep, and 300 km2 in size. What is now known as the Ngorongoro crater could have been a towering volcanic mountain as high as Kilimanjaro if it had not grown into the sixth-largest unbroken caldera in the entire world. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area’s main tourist draw is the crater.
Open plains with short grass, lakes with fresh and salt water, marshes, swamps, and two patches of acacia woodland are present throughout the crater basin. The grass-covered plains to the west occasionally have Commiphora Africana and Umbrella Acacia trees. Zebrawood and Blackthorn Acacia rule in the drier areas next to Lake Eyasi. These vast grasslands and bushes are rich, largely uncultivated, and home to enormous animal populations. In addition to the main caldera, Ngorongoro has two additional volcanic craters: Olmoti and Empakai, the latter of which contains a deep lake and lush, green walls and is renowned for its stunning waterfalls. Ngorongoro served as the backdrop for a few scenes in the Oscar-winning Out of Africa and John Wayne’s Hatari.
SPEND TIME WITH THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF TANZANIA.
Tanzania is so diverse and will provide more than you could have imagined for those who want to have a rich cultural experience. You will visit traditional villages as part of cultural tours, where you will have the chance to interact with local Tanzania tribes and learn about their homes, customs, traditions, and cuisine.
Given that they reside close to Tanzania’s most visited national parks, the Maasai are typically the community you will encounter while on a typical safari there. However, Tanzania is home to a large number of indigenous tribes that can provide fascinating insights into its past and present.
For instance, the Hadzabe Tribe is an indigenous group that hunts and gathers along the Tanzanian shores of Lake Eyasi. You can observe the Hadzabe Tribe’s caves, traditional dances, and clothing by paying them a visit. The Datoga, Iraqi, Sukuma, and Chagga, to name a few, are additional fascinating indigenous tribes to visit in Tanzania.
WATCH WHALES AND DOLPHINS IN ZANZIBAR.
Dolphin watching tours should be something you cross off your bucket list if you’re looking for a fun and distinctive way to experience Tanzania. You will visit Zanzibar Island on this interesting journey, which is one of the best places in East Africa to see dolphins. In Tanzania, one of the best places to see dolphins in their natural habitat is Kizimkazi, a lovely bay on Zanzibar’s south coast. Bottlenose dolphins, humpback dolphins, and spinner dolphins are a few of the dolphin species that can be found here. Dolphin sighting hotspots include Fumba Peninsula and Mnemba Island Reef.
Mafia Island in Chole Bay is the place to be if you enjoy whale watching. It is the only place in Tanzania where you can see the yearly migration of whale sharks. October through February are the best months to see whales. In the peak months of November and December, sightings of whales on the shores are more likely. The most prevalent species of whale in these warm, tropical waters of the Indian Ocean is the humpback whale.
BEACH EXCURSIONS
There are numerous breathtaking beaches with white sand along Tanzania’s coastline. Visitors who want to spend some time taking in the cool ocean breeze or participating in water sports will find beach vacations to be ideal. Nungwi, Paje, Kendwa, Unguja, Pemba Island, Nakupenda Beach, Mnemba Island, Mafia Island, and Pongwe Beach are just a few of the idyllic beaches in Zanzibar.
Watersport enthusiasts can enjoy a wide range of leisure activities on the warm, well-kept beaches. They consist of swimming, boating, diving, and surfing. You will have the chance to view magnificent marine life, including flourishing coral reefs, turtles, dolphins, and various fish species.
While Zanzibar is particularly excellent for beach tours, the nation is home to many other breathtaking beaches. Therefore, don’t worry if you don’t have enough time to fly to Zanzibar. Numerous beaches, including Bagamoyo Beach, Pangani Beach, Sange Beach, Kipepeo Beach, Matema Beach, Saadani Beach, and Ushongo Beach, can be found on Tanzania’s northern coast.
DISCOVER THE MYSTERY OF EARLY MAN AT OLDUVAI GORGE
Prehistoric sites serve as a vital link in the investigation of early man and the course of human evolution. One of these gems is Tanzania’s Olduvai Gorge. Due to its proximity to important wildlife habitats in Tanzania, such as the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, it is not only one of the most well-known archeological sites in East Africa for researchers but is also well-liked by tourists, Exciting Things To Do In Tanzania Besides A Wildlife Safari
The Olduvai Gorge is home to some of the oldest artifacts, including fossilized remains that date back more than a million years, supporting the theory that early humans used tools during the Stone Age. As a result, go to Olduvai Gorge and find out more about the stone tools that were found there if you have a keen interest in early human history. Additionally, guests are welcome to visit the nearby Olduvai Gorge Museum. Other ancient sites in Tanzania, besides Olduvai Gorge, include Laetoli Footprints and Nasera Rocks.
VISIT TANZANIA’S MUSEUMS
Visits to museums are a perfect alternative if you’re looking for something else to do in Tanzania besides go on a wildlife safari. Tanzania is home to dozens of museums, so no matter what you are interested in learning about—arts, culture, or history—you can find a museum that will meet your needs. There are amazing and distinctive artifacts on display in every museum. You can find a variety of exhibits reflecting the history, arts, and culture of this lovely nation inside these museums.
The best way to learn about Tanzania’s cultural heritage and history is to visit some of the country’s top museums, including the National Museum of Tanzania and House of Culture, the Village Museum, the Arusha Declaration Museum, the Old Boma Museum, the Palace Museum, the Peace Memorial Museum, and The Tanzanite Experience.
MARVEL AT THE HISTORIC SITES AND MONUMENTS IN TANZANIA
Tanzania is home to a number of monuments. And they all stand for a significant period in the nation’s history. These famous monuments, which include the Askari Monuments, the Uhuru Torch, the Kondoa Irangi Rock Art Site, and the Arusha Declaration Monument, will provide visitors with a wealth of historical information.
Other places to learn about Tanzania’s past are historic sites. This tour will take you to some of Tanzania’s hidden gems, including historically significant structures and well-preserved ancient ruins. Some of the historical sites you can visit in Tanzania include the Kilwa Kisiwani Ruins, Fukuchani Ruins, Mtoni Palace Ruins, Kaole Ruins, Old Fort Zanzibar, Mangapwani Slave Chamber, and Engaruka.
EXPLORE TANZANIA’S AMAZING CITIES
City tours are your best option if you’re looking for something special to do in Tanzania. Cities and towns in Tanzania, such as Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Dodoma Arusha, Zanzibar, and Moshi, offer visitors a wide variety of breathtaking sights and activities. You will have the chance to explore various islands, regional markets, cultural institutions, art galleries, stunning architecture, botanical gardens, beaches, nightlife, street food, and mountains, depending on the city you are visiting.
EXPLORE THE STUNNING WATERFALLS.
One of the most thrilling non-wildlife safari activities you can do while on vacation in Tanzania is to visit waterfalls. Tanzania is home to numerous beautiful waterfalls that are spread out across the nation. Since they are among the least frequented attractions, they make excellent locations to enjoy nature away from crowds. You can interact with locals going about their daily lives by hiking to waterfalls in villages.
Kalambo Waterfalls, Cave Falls, Materuni Waterfalls, Engare-Sero Waterfall, Olmoti Crater Waterfalls, Sanje Waterfalls, Themi Waterfalls, and Marangu Waterfalls are a few of Tanzania’s most beautiful waterfalls. The waterfalls’ calming splash can be enjoyed or captured on camera.
CONCLUSION: EXCITING THINGS TO DO IN TANZANIA BESIDES A WILDLIFE SAFARI
You can do some interesting things in Tanzania besides going on a wildlife safaris, in addition to visiting the country’s well-known wildlife destinations, and Focus East Africa Tours can make that happen for you in the best way possible.
To give your vacation more depth and meaning, be sure to visit a few of these locations on your next trip to Tanzania. Tanzania is open for business, has successful elections under its belt, and is prepared to welcome you!
