12-03-2018
03:09 AM
- last edited on
04-20-2022
01:42 PM
by
grazittiApiTest
I was really excited i was going to Tanzania, I quickly googled the weather (wasn't going to be caught with the wrong clothes this time), people and places of interest and i got captivated by pictures of Zanibar and Kilimanjaro. I was going to have an opportunity to visit the tallest mountain in Africa and swim in the pristine waters of Zanzibar. All the excitement got drained out when I got my travel details, I will be spending 4 days in Dar es Salaam and 10 days in Mtwara, schedule was sooooo packed.
I tried to make the best with the little time I and made some friends, spending my evenings holed up in my hotel room was out of the question. Tanzanians are really great people and fun to be with. Most people speak Swahili, English is the second language, don't be shocked if you meet someone that doesn't understand English. Octopuses are a serious delicacy, even sold at street corners, I had to try the octopus soup (pweza) they say its good for guys, I couldn't verify that claim though. The staple food is ugali, made from maize similar to the Nigerian Semo. The sight of grilled plantain called ndizi-nyama (known as bole in Nigeria) gave me joy, it was served with grilled meat not fish as it was done back home. Chapati is also common, I believe because of the influence of the huge Indian and Lebanese population most of who now call Tanzania their home country.
Places of interest
I wasn't able to visit Zanzibar or Kilimanjaro, but there are other places. I would recommend Slipway bar for anyone visiting Dar es Salaam, the atmosphere is lively with great ambiance, one of the best live bands I've listened to performs there, entertaining guests in the evenings. Located on a pier, its a great place to watch the sun set. Coco beach is the other hot spot I was able to visit, had my first taste of crushed sugarcane juice there.
Old Boma is a must visit in Mtwara, it is a well maintained historical site in Mikindani area. The story of Old Boma is from the dark era of slave trade, it is currently used an hotel. Few feet from Old Boma is Dr. Livingstone's house built in 1866.
Tips
12-01-2018
01:56 PM
- last edited on
04-20-2022
01:41 PM
by
grazittiApiTest
I was really excited i was going to Tanzania, I quickly googled the weather (wasn't going to be caught with the wrong clothes this time), people and places of interest and i got captivated by pictures of Zanibar and Kilimanjaro. I was going to have an opportunity to visit the tallest mountain in Africa and swim in the pristine waters of Zanzibar. All the excitement got drained out when I got my travel details, I will be spending 4 days in Dar es Salaam and 10 days in Mtwara, schedule was sooooo packed.
I tried to make the best with the little time I and made some friends, spending my evenings holed up in my hotel room was out of the question. Tanzanians are really great people and fun to be with. Most people speak Swahili, English is the second language, don't be shocked if you meet someone that doesn't understand English. Octopuses are a serious delicacy, even sold at street corners, I had to try the octopus soup (pweza) they say it boost male libido, I couldn't verify that claim though. The staple food is ugali, made from maize similar to the Nigerian Semo. The sight of grilled plantain called ndizi-nyama (known as bole in Nigeria) gave me joy, it was served with grilled meat not fish as it was done back home. Chapati is also common, I believe because of the influence of the huge Indian and Lebanese population most of who now call Tanzania their home country.
Places of interest
I wasn't able to visit Zanzibar or Kilimanjaro, but there are other places. I would recommend Slipway bar for anyone visiting Dar es Salaam, the atmosphere is lively with great ambiance, one of the best live bands I've listened to performs there, entertaining guests in the evenings. Located on a pier, its a great place to watch the sun set. Coco beach is the other hot spot I was able to visit, had my first taste of crushed sugarcane juice there. Old Boma is a must visit in Mtwara, it is a well maintained historical site in Mikindani area. The story of Old Boma is from the dark era of slave trade, it is currently used an hotel. Few feet from Old Boma is Dr. Livingstone's house built in 1866.
Tips
12-03-2018 03:15 AM
Hi @Tosan,
Your trip looks like it was a lot of fun! It is easy to navigate in Tanzania? What could you recommend for first time visitors? What was your favorite thing about this trip?
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12-03-2018 03:25 AM
@DanniS yes it was lots of fun, google maps was very helpful, I walked from my hotel in City Center to the ferry using google maps, Dar es Salaam is easy to navigate. I cant say the same for Mtwara though. For first time visitors I would advise them to be careful where you change your money, use a proper bureau de change, my colleague dollars was swapped with fakes, so i would advise to use the hotel safe.
12-03-2018 03:53 AM
Thanks for the tips @Tosan. One needs to always be careful no matter the place, but it's good to be prepared beforehand. How was the food? It seems very delicious and not too different. I'm keen to try new things, but a bit worried with my sensitive stomach.
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12-03-2018 04:03 AM
@DanniS the food is good, just be sure the environment is healthy. I have a strong stomach so I'm more adventurous.
12-03-2018 04:09 AM
Thanks @Tosan! I'll be sure to prepare myself. Thanks a lot for your tips, they are much appreciated!
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12-03-2018 05:14 AM
Great post @Tosan
I planned embarking on a tour on East African countries notably known for their wildlife /Nature parks and Game reserves like Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda later next year. Your help will really come in handy.
Trust your had fun.
12-03-2018 05:23 AM
@Idemudia its fun to visit, a friend did a road trip from Zambia to Tanzania and their bus was held up for about an hour by a pride of lions that fell asleep on the road, they had to wait till woke and walked away.
12-03-2018 05:25 AM - edited 12-03-2018 07:17 AM
Hi @Tosan,
Amazing, thanks for sharing this with us! Glad to hear you made the best of your trip. I will be adding Dar es Salaam to my list, for sure. The food looks awesome! I tried ugali (or pap) on my last trip and I actually grew up with it. I love it, but it's not great for the waistline, though!😊
My favorite place to visit in Tanzania is:
The Maasai people of Olpopongi Cultural Village - a beautifully authentic experience that I would recommend to everyone looking to visit.
@Idemudia, be sure to add this to your list for Tanzania.