Tanzania - Elemental Quests

Tanzania is the best place for safaris and mountaineering. Plan your visit so that you climb Kilimanjaro first and go on safari as a reward. The combination of wildlife, scenery, and culture is unparalleled.

Adventures | Must Sees | Food | Lodgings

ADVENTURES

Summit Kilimanjaro

Trek to the Roof of Africa via the Marangu Route, which transforms from a lush rainforest to moorland shrubs, then climbs through an alpine desert to the arctic summit.

Safari

Discover the astonishing biodiversity in the East African bush. Observe how majestic animals really interact with each other when they are free to roam in their natural habitat.

MUST SEES

Maasai Villages

Around the bomas (huts), Maasai women wear red fabrics and donut-shaped, beaded bangles around their necks. Many women also have stretched earlobes. The warriors will invite you to sing and leap up and down.

Kilimanjaro

Hike pole pole, Swahili for slowly, slowly, so you can enjoy the scenery on the entire trek. You start in a tropical canopy which becomes a Seussian landscape of bizarre-looking giant groundsel trees. On summit night, the guides sing to you to lift your spirits.

Serengeti

The Serengeti is a tropical savanna with endless plains and the world’s largest concentration of large mammal species. Also, millions of wildebeests and zebras embark on a 1,200-mile journey known as the Great Migration.

Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater was once a volcano as tall as Kili that erupted and collapsed on itself. The caldera’s high walls have isolated the animals from the outside world. This is the place to see the largest lions and tuskers.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire borders the East African Rift Valley and contains grasslands, woodlands, and river gulleys. The landscape is covered with thorny acacia trees and tall termite mounds. The giant baobab trees are the highlight of Tarangire.

Tented Camp

Deep in the Tanzanian bush, the wildlife can walk right up to the tents. Listen to hyenas whooping and laughing in the evening. Every entrance has a zipper: the front door to the bedroom, the changing room, the toilet, and the shower.

Oldupai Gorge

Oldupai Gorge is a cradle of life. Mary and Louis Leakey found important hominid fossils here. The fossil evidence showed that various hominid species occupied the area for three million years.

Karatu

Karatu is close to Ngorongoro Crater. The Hadza people make this place home and Karatu is known as the onion capital of Tanzania. Among the farms, there is a brick factory.

Lake Burunge

Lake Burunge is north of Tarangire, making this a great staging area for wildlife drives.

Arusha

Arusha is one of the largest cities in Tanzania. You will probably fly into Arusha if you are going on a safari or climbing Kilimanjaro.

Moshi

Moshi is a town by Kilimanjaro. Along the roadside are simple brick homes with corn and banana fields. There are small clusters of shops selling tires and other basic commodities. The dirt embankments have a basic gutter separating the road from the shops.

Materuni Falls

Near Moshi, Materuni is a Chagga village. The Chagga live on the slopes of Kilimanjaro and have a coffee farm. A clay path leads to Materuni Waterfall. The cascade is tall and fierce, and blasts a strong mist.

The Big Five

The Big Five is a collection of iconic megafauna that is a must see for safari-goers. The Lion lounges around most of the time. The Elephant eats trees. The Cape Buffalo models its horn helmet. The Rhino is the hardest one to find. The Leopard snacks on its prey in a tree.

FOOD

Ugali

Ugali is the national dish of Tanzania. Maize flour is mixed with hot water to form a polenta paste. The ugali is eaten with other dishes, such as stews and curries.

Ndizi Nyama

Ndizi Nyama is a stew of plantains, beef, and coconut milk. It is slowly cooked so that the meat is tender and the flavors have developed.

Kuku Paka

Kuku Paka is chicken in a coconut-based curry. The chicken is grilled before it is added to the curry, which imparts a smoky flavor.

Sukuma Wiki

Sukuma is Swahili for collard greens. The sukuma is stewed with tomatoes, onions, and spices.

RECOMMENDED LODGINGS

Honey Badger Lodge

In Moshi, the lodge has a lot of space as does each room. Enjoy the idyllic setting, with its pool, gray monkeys, and fortifying breakfast of toast, chapati (crepe-style pancakes), and coffee.

Lake Burunge Tented Lodge

This is the best place to stay when on safari in Tarangire as the lake is right next to the park. The tents are on stilts with thatched rooftops. Escorts with bows and arrows will walk you back to your lodge at night.

Camp in the Serengeti

Camping in Tanzania’s Serengeti is luxurious. This is even beyond glamping. The camp has unrivaled sunsets and resort-quality cuisine. A top-flight staff makes this a memorable experience.

Keep Exploring!