40 Destinations


Tanzania boasts a great and varied geography, including large freshwater and salt lakes, sprawling national parks and Africa’s highest point, the famed Mount Kilimanjaro


TANZANIA Tanzania Tourist Board / AF6110


In Tanzania, it’s all about the country’s spec- tacular landscapes, and of course, the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. Standing at 5,895 metres, the peak marks Africa’s highest point and draws a constant influx of tourists into the East African country to see and scale the dormant volcano. Another of Tanzania’s world-famous attrac-


tions is the sprawling Serengeti National Park. The 14,700-square-kilometre site is home to an incredible selection of wildlife, with 1.5 million wildebeest, 500,000 gazelles, 250,000 zebras and a legion of other creatures, including lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, leopards, buffalo, monkeys and 500 species of birds. Believed to be one of the oldest continu-


ously inhabited places on earth, Tanzania has a fascinating history for visitors to explore. Scien- tists discovered footprints showing that humans walked upright in the Laetoli area of the country 3.6 million years ago. Rock paintings of Kondoa Irangi, found in the mountain village of Kolo in central Tanzania, date back more than 50,000


years and offer amazing insights into the past way of life here. As Africa’s fifth fastest-growing economy,


Tanzania has shown impressive development in building its infrastructure. So far this year, the nation has reaffirmed its links with China, by signing a contract to build a 207-kilome- tre railway between Dar es Salaam and Moro- goro. Tanzania has also confirmed a deal with the United Kingdom to invest in the sectors of science, technology and innovation. Work is underway at Julius Nyerere International Airport to add a third terminal, which will facilitate six million passengers each year and is set to be completed in late 2017. Visitor numbers rose by 10.4 percent in the


Tanzania has a fascinating history. Scientists discovered footprints showing that humans walked upright in the Laetoli area 3.6 million years ago


first 10 months of last year, and the Tanzania Tour- ist Board (TTB) has announced plans to attract three million people to the country in 2018, with a net predicted spend of US$4 billion (TZS8.9 trillion). TTB is stepping up efforts to market Destination Tanzania globally following the launch of its dedicated online tourism portal – tanzaniatourism.com – last year as well as the official Tanzania Tourism App. The vibrant African country is also looking


to add to its upcoming hotel developments in the coming years. Some of the most talked about projects include Melia Serengeti Lodge, Jabali Ridge in Ruaha National Park, Four Points by Sheraton Arusha and Four Points by Shera- ton Dar es Salaam.


Dar es Salaam Harbour


Zebras at Serengeti National Park


Zanzibar takes its name from the term ‘zang-bâr’ that means ‘black coast’. It’s believed that Iranian traders visited Zanzibar as early as the first century AD


ZANZIBAR Exotic Zanzibar / AF6110


Located off the coast of East Africa, Zanzibar is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean famed for its gorgeous beaches, diverse wildlife and exotic spice exports. The semi-autonomous region is part of


Tanzania, which gained its independence from Great Britain in 1963, and boasts several forest reserves which are teeming with interesting creatures. The Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is home to the rare red colobus monkey, while the Ngezi Forest Reserve and the Kiwengwa/ Pongwe Forest Reserve offers a rich array of flora and fauna. Meanwhile, the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre promotes sustainability for the hundreds of species which call the region home. The Menai Bay Conservation Area in the south


is a 470-square-kilometre site serving as a habi- tat for bottlenose and humpback dolphins, sea turtles and other species. Tourists can marvel at the marine beauty on snorkel excursions, and there are plenty of opportunities for scuba diving and kitesurfing around the country.


Another place of interest is the historical


Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Steeped in Swahili culture, the town contains land- marks such as the Old Fort, built during Omani rule in the 17th


century, and the House of Wonders


palace, built by Sultan Narghash bin Said in the late 19th


century. For foodies, Forodhani Gardens


at Stone Town is a must-visit, offering a wealth of local cuisine by the waterside. Visitors can also learn more about why Zanzi-


bar acquired the nickname ‘Spice Islands’ on tours which take in plantations that grow every- thing from cinnamon and nutmeg to cloves and pepper, with many of these aromatic spices often included in traditional Swahili dishes. Tourism is on the rise in Zanzibar, which


is also host to a series of annual events that attract visitors in large numbers. The summer- time Zanzibar International Film Festival, now in its 20th


Jambiani Harbour at Stone Town Native wildlife


year, welcomes an audience of more


than 100,000 cinema enthusiasts. Zanzibar is looking at tourism as a leading


The summertime Zanzibar International Film Festival, now in its 20th year, welcomes an audience of more than 100,000 cinema enthusiasts


economic sector and source of employment for the island’s workforce. Plans are in place to improve marine transportation and boost tour- ism infrastructure. This year has already seen the launch of the Essque Zalu Zanzibar, a five- star beachfront hotel on the north coast. Later in the year, the five-star Hotel Verde Zanzibar and Zuri Zanzibar Hotel & Resort are also set to open. Anantara Zanzibar Resort is then sched- uled to open on the island in 2020.


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