Travel Destinations And Food In Tanzania

Tanzania, in eastern Africa, has a lot to offer the adventurous traveller. Cool, comfortable nights follow the gorgeously sunny days in a perfect balance. Places of interest in this country include the Serengeti National Park, the islands of Zanzibar, and last but by no means least, Mount Kilimanjaro. These exciting destinations should get you started on your east African experience.

When planning your trip, it is a good idea to see what type of accommodation is available as there are a lot of different hotel rooms in Tanzania to choose from. For example, if you want to see Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, you might want to stay at the Protea Hotel Aishi Machame, which is situated at the foot of this impressive landmark. Here you can find a bar, swimming pool, gymnasium, gardens and restaurant. As well as Swahili, English is spoken here, which will no doubt be helpful for many.

Or perhaps you want to visit the Serengeti and go on a safari. If this sounds appealing, nowadays you will find camps that cater extremely well for tourists as well and hotels nearby. For example, Migration Camp is found in the Northern part of this National Park, overlooking the Grumeti River. It offers luxury tents with a dining area, bar and even a library.

Another popular destination is Zanzibar, an archipelago about 50 kilometers off the coast of mainland Tanzania. The main island, Unguja is very hilly and located in the southern half. You can catch a ferry to this gorgeous place, and truly experience the warm, sandy beaches and lovely scenery. There are various hotels to be found here, so you should be able to find somewhere from which to enjoy your holiday.

Another important part of your holiday will be food and drink. The indigenous cuisine of Tanzania includes meat, especially popular being lamb, chicken, goat and beef. Meat which has been barbecued, called mishikaki, is often to be found in restaurants and pubs, so is definitely worth a try. However, Tanzanians also eat a lot of starchy foods like millet, beans and cornmeal.

A type of food which is often said to be the national dish of this country is called ‘ugali’. This is a dough made from cornmeal and cassava flour, making it stiff and a good plate filler. It oftentimes accompanies meat or fish, as well as cooked vegetables or beans. In the northern part of Tanzania, plantains are a common source of food as well. These are basically cooking bananas and offer an interesting alternative to those yellow fruits which we are used to back at home. Of course, spices are also found in the food here. This is due to influences from the Arab world, integrating and creating very interesting food.

As far as drinking goes in Tanzania, their home-brewed beer is well-known. A variety of ingredients go into making this specialty, including bananas and millet, which make up the beer called ‘mbege’. If you travel to the coast of Zanzibar, coconuts are very popular and you can experience the taste of their unique nectar.

So there is a lot to see and do in Tanzania. From the Serengeti National Park, to the islands of Zanzibar, there are destinations aplenty. Mount Kilimanjaro is a dream for many people, some of whom are even lucky enough to climb this majestic mountain.