Tanzania has long been high on my bucket list, not least because I sponsor a child through Compassion there, but also because of the stark natural beauty and wildlife that is epically abundant throughout. The plains of the Serengeti and Mount Kilimanjaro are huge draw cards for me and many others, but like many countries, this is just the beginning. There are often attractions that lie outside of the well-trodden tourism area that are often just as appealing with a fraction of the foot traffic from visitors.
I have enlisted the help of a handful of bloggers who have explored Tanzania so you can plan some off the beaten track adventures for your trip.
Ukerewe Island on Lake Victoria
By Nina at Safari Junkie.
Surrounded by Lake Victoria is Ukerewe Island on Lake Victoria. It’s about a 4 hour ride to Ukerewe Island by ferry from Mwanza so you get a real genuine feel of local life.
Ukerewe Island is a cheap gateway for travellers who don’t mind forgoing some creature comforts in order to experience authentic Tanzania. Although fairly small in size, Ukerewe offers several interesting things to do. Hiking to the island hills offers some great views of Lake Victoria. Biking around the island will take you through villages where you can stop and chat with locals. There is the option to go fishing with local fishermen and you could even pay for a visit to a local shaman.
Ukerewe Island is covered in orange trees, which is a source of income for many locals. If you visit in December when the orange season is in full swing, the air on the island is soaked with orange essential oils. Accommodation is scarce but cheap but if you are looking for a rare find with almost no tourists, head to Ukerewe Island for few days.
Bagamoyo
Bagamoyo sits on the eastern coast of Tanzania, offering a different flavour, as it used to be the terminus of the main caravan trading route through Africa and onto to Zanzibar and beyond. It was one of our favourite stops on our overland Tanzania travels with our kids (aged 2 and 4) and the majority of tourists, of which there was only a handful, seemed to be expats.
Bagamoyo is still unmistakably African but with a definite element of India and Arabia thrown into the mix. The narrow streets are framed with crumbling, German colonial buildings, the fisherman sit around preparing their catch, whilst the call to prayer drifts from the mosque across to the Indian Ocean. You only really need a morning to explore, but it’s a fascinating stroll around the lazy laneways, browsing local artwork and down through the fish markets to the sea. We recommend staying at Firefly, which also has a camping area for overlanders.
Saadani National Park
Saadani National Park is a very small national park on the east coast of Tanzania, not far from Zanzibar. Formerly a rich hunting ground, Saadani National Park’s wildlife population is on the rise again. It serves as an alternative location to see the Big Five: lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinoceroses and as the only coastal wildlife region, you have the unique opportunity to see the Big Five interacting with the sea.
Safari tours are of course the big attraction to the area with some fairly rustic accommodation options – including camps – that will keep you close to the action.
Iringa
Melanie of Passports Amigo has had the good fortune of living in rural southern Tanzania for the past 2 years. If you do visit Africa, be sure to check out her travel wallets designed especially for travellers to Central & East Africa or Southern Africa.
The Southern Highlands of Tanzania can offer cool crisp mornings and a welcome break from the heat of the coast. If you’re travelling north from Malawi or Zambia, or south towards those countries chances are you’ll go past Iringa in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. To the untrained eye it might not be a place you’d consider spending time at but it’s a great place to take 24 hours out of a hectic schedule and relax and unwind from a long day’s drive.
There’s a large, covered fruit and vegetable market and it’s worth looking at the small dukas (shops) around the side of the market, as here you can find some fantastic locally woven baskets. They last ages and are fab for shopping.
Neema Crafts offers an opportunity to pick up some souvenirs and see the amazing goods created by an extremely talented team with a wide range of disabilities. You’ll find wonderfully woven fabric scarves, homewares (you’ll spend time considering how you can get a standard lamp on the flight home!) clothing and small accessories all in a contemporary style. There’s a great cafe upstairs too where you can sit on a cool verandah and lose hours people-watching whilst eating yummy cakes.
If you want to stay in town head to Iringa Sunset Lodge in a residential area later in the day and sip a cool beer whilst…yep, you’ve guessed it, watching the sun set.
If town feels a bit hectic, you can head out no more than a couple of miles and enjoy a pizza or homemade pasta at Mama Iringa’s. Run by a native Italian this oasis in a sea of noise, dust and bustle is a welcome relief. There’s accommodation there too. All housed in a tranquil compound with a beautiful garden that was formally housing for nuns.
Kisolanza Farm
If Iringa town seems too much for you and you want to feel even more remote, head south about 50 kilometres from Iringa and spend a night at The Old Farmhouse on Kisolanza farm. Incredible home-cooked style food, a working farm and lovely cottages and chalets are available with lots of hot running water. There’s a campsite there too if that’s your thing.
Sometimes it’s so easy to zoom past towns but more often than not you’ll find some lovely gems and the perfect place to unwind and relax if you give it a chance.
Lake Nyasa
On the border of Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique is Lake Malawi, also known locally as Lake Nyasa. The Livingstone Mountains on the Tanzania side create an impressive backdrop to the lake that is virtually untouched by other visitors. Matema is probably nicer for swimming but you can expect to see colourful fish swimming underneath, wherever the water is clear. It might be difficult to get to, but you’ll sure have the place to yourself.
Header image provided by Feans via Flickr.
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