Natural Attractions in Kenya and Tanzania

[Geza Ulole]

 

[Geza Ulole]

Paradise found – Africa’s most exclusive islands
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24/02/2017 11:28
Written by Bradt Travel Guides

Thanda Island
In the Indian Ocean, toughly halfway between Mafia Island and Tanzania, Thanda is the quintessential Indian Ocean-island idyll: a tiny patch of low, lush green vegetation, encircled by powder-white sand, lapped with intense turquoise waters. Yet it is exceptional, too, for there is no rustic Robinson Crusoe hut, no string hammock strung between a few palms, no remote fishing community. The only bottle on the shore here is likely to be chilled champagne, served in crystal and with style, for this is private-island luxury at its best. Reminiscent of the Kennedy’s Cape Cod home, Thanda is a private villa of a kind previously unseen in these parts: American beach house-glamour meets natural Scandi design in a truly exotic location.

North Island
The Seychelles have long been one of the most exclusive destinations in the world, but North Island takes barefoot luxury into another realm. The island has just 11 handcrafted villas overlooking pure white sand, with stunning sensual designs and an aura of sophisticated, stylish calm created by the use of weathered wood, velvet cushions, glass, thatch and coral. It’s easy to see why the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose this as the location for their honeymoon in 2011.

Mnemba Island
Lying just 2.5km off the northeast coast ofZanzibar, Mnemba Island is a picture-perfect coral atoll. Previously uninhabited, it is now privately leased by &Beyond and has become one of Africa’s ultimate beach retreats. The crème de la crème of their impressive portfolio, Mnemba Island is the height of rustic exclusivity: a place where the term ‘barefoot luxury’ is reality. It is unquestionably expensive, but its flexibility and service levels are second to none, and its idyllic location and proximity to outstanding marine experiences are very hard to match.

Bom Bom Island
Bom Bom means ‘Good Good’ in Portuguese, and this four-star resort just off Príncipe is truly a slice of paradise. Accommodation is in spacious individual chalets directly on the beach or built into the rock, with a couple of family bungalows next to the swimming pool. You might be the only person/couple there and will have everything to yourself, including the resort’s two lovely beaches.

Mumbo Island
The exclusive but down-to-earth retreat on hilly Mumbo Island is one of the most romantic spots in Malawi, set miles away from anything, amid tall boulders overlooking the lake, to generate a real ‘Robinson Crusoe’ feel. Built entirely with timber, thatch and canvas, accommodation is in comfortably furnished tents with shaded balconies, hammocks, hot bucket showers & ‘ecoloos’, and the communal dining area offers simple buffets of home-style cooking & a well-stocked bar. You can kayak there from Cape Maclear, or take the twice-daily motorboat transfer.

Nosy Tsarabanjina
Part of the Mitsio archipelago – the Maldives of Madagascar, with world-class diving and perfect beaches – Nosy Tsarabanjina means ‘good-looking’ and this is indeed a small but incredibly beautiful island. Its real glory is the pure white beaches of coarse sand, along which laps crystal-clear ocean where turtles and rays rest. Home to a luxury hotel with just 25 beautifully designed chalets, it’s a real idyll, and despite the exclusivity there is a total lack of pretension as guests are encouraged to cast aside their footwear and go barefoot.

Articles - Paradise found – Africa’s most exclusive islands | Bradt Travel Guides

 

[Geza Ulole]

Travel Guide: Six top tourist destinations to visit across Africa
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BY TAMILORE JOSEPH

You don’t need to cross continents to have a wonderful vacation. Africa is blessed with some of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the world.

Here are six amazing places to visit when you want to tour Africa.

Victoria Falls
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Victoria falls, also known as Mosi oa-Tunya (‘the smoke that thunders’), is a waterfall in southern Africa on the Zambezi River at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

It is the largest waterfall in the world with a width of 5,604 ft. It has about six gorges and contains about 39 species of fish below the falls and 89 species above it.

Victoria falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. When the sun sets on a full moon, the moonlight bounces off the spray and forms a nighttime rainbow.

Mount Kilimanjaro
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This is the highest mountain in Africa and the world’s highest free-standing mountains at a whopping 16, 100ft.
Mount Kilimanjaro is located in the beautiful country of Tanzania near its border with Kenya.

It is a dormant volcano that is made up of three volcanic cones which are known as Shira, Mawenzi and Kibo. It is very fascinating as every kind of ecological system is found on the mountain.

Serengeti National Park
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Serengeti National Park is best known for its annual wildlife migration of wildebeest and zebra.

It is among the famous parks in Africa. It is Tanzania’s oldest park and a UNESCO world heritage site.

The park is famous for its annual migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest, over 200,000 zebra and 300,000 gazelles.

Asides the wildlife, other attractions of Serengeti include endless plains and hot air balloon safaris.

Djenne
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This historic city in Mali is one of the oldest cities in sub-Saharan Africa.

It is famous for its architecture especially the Grand Mosque which stands five stories tall.

It is a centre of Islamic teaching all over the world. It has also been designated a world hHeritage site by UNESCO.

Table Mountain
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This is a flat-topped mountain that overlooks the city of Cape Town in South Africa. It is 3,563 ft high and is over 260 million years old.

There are an estimated 2,200 species of plants on the mountain, many of which can’t be found elsewhere.

Table Mountain is often covered in clouds called “Table Cloths” which just adds to its never-ending beauty.

Sossusvlei
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This is a clay and salt pan surrounded by high red sand dunes located in the Namib Desert, Namibia.

The Sossusvlei in Namibia is more than 300 kilometers long and 140 kilometers wide and consists of seemingly endless sand dunes.

At 300 meters high, the spectacular height of these dunes creates a phenomenal attraction to visitors.

Travel Guide: Six top tourist destinations to visit across Africa

 

[bagamoyo]

The Catholic museum of Bagamoyo, Tanzania​

The museum is a historic landmark of the town that belongs to the catholic church and is located at the end of Mango drive, in the northern part of the Tanzanian town.

It has old documents, photographs and relics from slave trade period. In the same compound is the chapel where Livingstone’s body was laid before being taken to Zanzibar Town en route to Westminster Abbey. The mission dates from the 1868 establishment of Freedom Village and is the oldest in Tanzania.In addition the history of Bagamoyo and East africa is well archive.

Source : Global TV online​

THAMANI ZETU: Ni kipindi kinachoelezea historia ya wapi tulipotokea tangu enzi za Bagamoyo ikiwa chini ya utawala wa Sultani wa Zanzibar na wakoloni wengine kabla Tanganyika haijapata uhuru. Katika kipindi hiki muongozaji wa watalii, Father Nicetac Kyala, anaelezea Kanisa Kuu la Kristo Bagamoyo, ambalo pia ni la kwanza kujengwa ktk ukanda huu wa Afrika Mashariki baada ya Sultani kuligawia kanisa eneo hilo, awali lilikuwa likitumika kama soko la watumwa,Pamoja na Vito mbalimbali vya Thamani ambavyo vimeachwa na Wakoloni hao, ia utaweza kujionea, tamaduni za makabila mbalimbali, zana za jando na uchago, mizimwi n.k mbuyu mkubwa ambao una Historia.

 

[Geza Ulole]

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[Geza Ulole]

Zawadi sits in prime position on Zanzibar’s east coast ( Photography by Zawadi )


ZAWADI HOTEL REVIEW: BAREFOOT LUXURY ON ZANZIBAR’S EAST COAST​

A beachside stay on Freddie Mercury’s home turf makes for a chilled out holiday
In a nutshell: A jewel of a barefoot-luxury hotel nestled between cliffs on Africa’s spice island.

The neighbourhood
The white-sand Paje beach on Zanzibar’s east coast, where the Indian ocean is calmed by an offshore reef, is an hour’s drive from the airport and the capital Stone Town. It’s home to a string of hotels and lodges and within striking distance of the small towns of Paje itself and Bwejuu, and the wildlife reserve of the Jozani Forest with its red colobus monkeys.

The look
Restrained modern beachside chic: a guarded driveway leads down to a simple reception area framing the swimming pool and beyond it the stunning ice-blue sea, with the hotel’s vintage fishing dhow – now used for snorkelling trips to the reef – moored dead centre. The nine private villas, to the left, are basically big, white, glass-fronted boxes looking out over private terraces and plunge pools to the sea. The mirror-lined bar has an Ibiza-ish vibe – the decor throughout is white and light blue – while the restaurant is more African, with a steepled roof and rattan furniture. The hotel sits on two cliffs, with a central staircase leading down to a sandy terrace created by the owners, and then to the beach, which gets cut off at high tide; a breakwater creates a lagoon for all-day swimming. It feels very private.

The design has a clean, Ibizan feel (Zawadi)​

The vibe
Service is relaxed and friendly and the mood is grownup. Zawadi is better suited to adult couples than families, though its owners, the Raguz family, also own the more family-friendly and Arabian-influenced Baraza further along the beach, as well as the Breezes and Palms hotels: a benefit is that you can visit their other properties for dinner or a spa treatment.

Bed and bath
Like everything at Zawadi, the huge beds are focused on the breathtaking view, and sit dead-centre in the rooms (each given a Swahili name for a sea creature) with a bank of wardrobes running behind, facing the bathroom. There’s a well-stocked minibar: beer, soft drinks and water are free, but wine is charged at $25 (£20). (Certain wines, high end spirits and champagne are also charged for in the bar and restaurant). There was a TV that we didn’t switch on – why would you, with that view? – and dependable wifi, plus a medical kit with sting relief cream (we’d been badly bitten on safari before arriving). The bathroom has a free-standing oval bath and a hand-built curved shower cubicle that looks like it was modelled on a conch shell. The furniture and fabrics are all locally made.

Beds are positioned to take in the view (Zawadi)​

Food and drink
Great use is made of local seafood, from snapper to giant prawns, and the food is superlatively cooked, though Zawadi’s restaurant caters perhaps too obviously to European and North American tastes. Each meal has five courses, including soup and palate cleansers and slightly poncey puddings. Again, it’s worth checking the option of visiting Zawadi’s sister hotels: we had the best lobster I’ve ever tasted served to us on a private beach table at Baraza.

Pools, spas and public areas
The gym and spa are small (again, you can use the more sumptuous hammam-like spa at Baraza) but – nice touch – there is a landscaped running track through the hotel’s gardens where food is grown for the kitchen, and chickens kept for eggs. The pool, illuminated at night with blue light, beautifully offsets the sea, and here or on the lower sand terrace you never feel too close to fellow guests. Staff arranged a wonderful snorkelling trip to the reef for us, and a trip to Stone Town embracing its bustling market, the house Freddie Mercury was born in, the architecture from its Omani rulers and British governors, and a sobering museum commemorating its role as the hub of the east African slave trade.

The hotel is as beachside as it gets (Zawadi)​

Nuts and bolts
Room count: Nine
Freebies: All food and most drinks, though premium spirits and some wine and minibar items are charged.
In the bathroom: Frangipani Spa products.
Wifi: Free, and good.
Extra charges: Laundry charges (eg $14 for a pair of trousers or dress); late checkout (until 6pm) available for a fee.
Minibar prices: Beer, soft drinks and water free, wine $25.
Disability access: No, but sister property Baraza is wheelchair accessible.
Pet policy: No pets allowed.

Bottom line
Best thing: The sense of relaxation, privacy, and the stunning view.
Worst thing: There’s live entertainment during dinner (common on Zanzibar, but irksome). Beware of sea urchins in the ocean.
Perfect for: A laid-back decompression after a safari, or a romantic break.
Not right for: Families.
Instagram from: Poolside, with the sea beyond.
Room rate: Zawadi villas start from €640 (£570) a day, Baraza one bedroom villas from €750, and one bedroom ocean front villa from €800.

This hotel offers barefoot luxury on Zanzibar’s east coast

 

[Geza Ulole]

BY ELIZABETH OFOSUAH JOHNSON, at 01:30 pm, August 13, 2018, WE TOUR

The remains of a magnificent 5th-century African empire in Tanzania will leave you dazzled [Photos]

Kilwa Kisiwani is described as the greatest empire to exist in Eastern Africa. Ruins of the island exist in present-day Tanzania on the Indian Ocean. The empire records over 6 decades of existence without Western influence.

The empire is also one of the oldest to have existed in Africa dating back to the 5th century and becoming a thriving port between the 10th to 15th century. During it prosperous years, the Sultan of the empire had full control of the gold in neighbouring Zimbabwe Empire making the empire very wealthy.

The island thrived as a great empire with huge monuments and buildings forming an estate-like community where no one lived in poverty.

Despite being in ruins, many buildings still stand today that give proof of the breathtaking civilisation that puts to shame the modern day claims that African societies were nothing until the influence of Western culture.

The island boasts of stone buildings and wooden doors that demonstrate the advancement and sophistication in the architecture of the medieval empire. The many forts, mosques, trading centres were vastly admired by Arab merchants and Portuguese traders.

Great Mosque -photo- Whitney Warren
In recent times, the Great Mosque and Palace at Husuni Kubwa are a few of the ruins that remain in somewhat good shape despite being destroyed in the 14th and 16th century by the Portuguese after an invasion.

-photo-Ron Van OersThe island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tanzania and it comes with an enjoyable boat ride to the site.

In 1981, the island was declared a UNESCO Heritage site. The experience on the island is an actual trip back in time to a thriving ancient African community that will leave you oozing with pride after the tour.
Kilwa Kiswani is a must-visit destination for every African.

Source: Face2Face Africa

 

[mwaswast]

 

[kadoda11]

let's be honest, Kenyans have nothing to offer here except "porojo". This thread is above their weight.

 

[kilwakivinje]

Ukisikia mlio kama huu ujue kuna mtu kaumia

 

[Geza Ulole]

Taking a selfie with a cheetah in the Serengeti.

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[Geza Ulole]

ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA

Tippu Tip's House: This slowly crumbling mansion was home to one of East Africa's richest and most powerful slave traders

Tippu Tip's house. DIDIERTAIS/CC BY-SA 3.0​

WANT TO VISIT?
Stroll down Suicide Alley south from Kelele Square and you’ll pass a short flight of marble steps leading up to a heavy wooden door, its elaborate but weathered carvings hinting at the home’s former glory. This was the residence of Tippu Tip, a slave trader, ivory merchant, and plantation owner who was once a mighty figure in Zanzibar and a force to be reckoned with on the African continent.

The story of Tippu Tip, whose real name was Hamad bin Muhammad bin Juma bin Rajab el Murjebi, is straight out of the adventure books of old. Born in 1832 to a family of some standing, he left for Central Africa at an early age in search of slaves and ivory. His quest was fruitful, and he returned to Zanzibar with the spoils of his plundering.

Tippu Tip then went on to build himself a vast trading empire, his ruthlessness and financial acumen turning him into one of the region’s leading merchants. Along the way, he encountered explorers such as David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanley. He claimed the Eastern Congo for the Sultan of Zanzibar, and was made governor of the Stanley Falls District in the Congo Free State. He led troops in the Congo Arab War, and all the while maintained control of his extensive assets.

By his mid-50s, Tippu Tip realized that the growing European influence in Africa was changing the trading dynamic on the continent. His influence in the Congo was also diminishing rapidly with the rise of Belgian colonization. After carefully considering his options, he returned to Zanzibar where he used his fortune to develop seven valuable clove plantations, and to manage his slaves, who now numbered close to 10,000.

Back in Zanzibar, Tippu Tip had a mansion built in the historic Stone Town area of the city. With its elegant balconies and carved wooden fittings, the large townhouse was befitting of the status of a man like Tippu Tip, who retired here as a wealthy and highly respected upper-class gentleman of Swahili society.

After his death in 1905, the house remained a private residence until the Zanzibar Revolution in 1964. Then began its slow decline. It was converted into a block of flats, and is now occupied by various families of modest means. Today, its arched doorways are crisscrossed with laundry lines, its wide wooden stairways rickety and close to collapse, and the once elegant carved wooden screens stand chipped and peeling in the rays of the Zanzibar sun.

Know Before You Go
Tippu Tip's house is not officially open to the public. Intrigued visitors often pass by the front door and may get a glimpse of the courtyard within. If you're lucky, however, residents of the building might invite you in for an informal tour. A tip is appreciated and typically expected.

Tippu Tip's House

 

[Geza Ulole]

TRAVEL & LEISURE: Where To Go Diving and Snorkeling in Tanzania​

By Space Coast Daily /August 22, 2018

PLACES TO GO, PLACES TO SEE, THINGS TO DO

Each year more and more of us are heading to Africa on vacation, and with Tanzania holiday packages promising all-action experiences, the more adventurous amongst us are keen to find out what’s on offer.

Although Tanzania may not be renowned the world over as a diving hotspot in the same way that Malaysia’s Sipadan or the Blue Hole in Belize are, that’s not to say the East African nation doesn’t offer spectacular underwater adventure.

Each year more and more of us are heading to Africa on vacation, and with Tanzania holiday packages promising all-action experiences, the more adventurous amongst us are keen to find out what’s on offer.

For diving or snorkeling lovers, little is perhaps known before you pack your equipment, read our guide to the best places to go diving and snorkeling in Tanzania.

Zanzibar Island diving
Ideal for beginners, diving of the coast of Zanzibar is a great first step but for more experienced divers it’s best to explore some other locations.

Mnemba Island contains a shallow wall dive which goes down around 60 feet, with a sandy bottom and a nice coral cover. The island is easily accessible and can be combined with an afternoon of snorkeling.

Kizimkazi Reef is perhaps the best diving location on the island and is located in the southern reaches of Zanzibar, right next to Unguja Lodge. Again, this is a relatively shallow reef and forms part of a larger inner reef system.

World heritage site Stone Town is another location worth exploring. Located on the west coast of the island, the area off Stone Town contains a series of sunken wrecks worth getting the wetsuit on for.

Mafia Island diving
For the more hardcore divers out there, Mafia Island is the place to go. With great weather pretty much all year round, this small, unassuming island south of mainland Zanzibar has enough to keep even the most experienced diver occupied for several days.

The island’s Marine Park has been a protected zone since 1996, and has maintained its natural beauty as a result, making it one of the best diving hotspots in the entire region.

Pemba Island diving
Some distance away from Mafia Island, Pemba Island provides similarly captivating diving opportunities. Located to the north of the mainland, this quiet island’s waters are also known for its large fish shoals and provides medium to advanced divers with plenty worth exploring.

Northern Mozambique diving
Even further afield, a short connecting flight away is Northern Mozambique, where some of the world’s finest diving experiences can be found.

There are plenty of lodges that provide divers with the perfect base from which to explore, and divers can experience average depths of 130 feet as well as some shallower inner barrier diving, making it well worth the trip for true diving enthusiasts.

Source: Spacecoastdaily.com

 

[Geza Ulole]

By MWEHA MSEMO

August 27, 2018

Why Germany is still cashing in on Tanzania’s dinosaur skeletons after over 80 years

Photo: pingaller​

Between 1909 and 1913, approximately 250 tons ofBrachiosaurus brancai bones were recovered from more than 100 sites in Tendaguru in the southern province of then German East Africa (present-day Tanzania), which made it the most successful dinosaur excavation of all time.

Tendaguru, which is one of the richest and most important fossil deposits in the entire world, was discovered in 1906 by a German mining engineer who noticed enormous bones sticking out of the path near the base of a hill. Tendaguru means steep hill in the local language of Wamwera people, and the place is considered the richest of Late Jurassic strata in Africa.

After reports of such discoveries reached Germany, the scientists of the Berlin Museum of Natural History’s Institute for Geology and Paleontology arrived at the site in April of 1909, and found areas that were seemingly covered in fossilized dinosaur bones washed out of the earth by a recent rainstorm. Some accounts suggest that without this accidental erosion, the site might never have been discovered.

During the excavation that took more than two years before the last fossilized bone was dug out, Germans needed over 500 local helpers to excavate bones of which many were still encased in solid rock and had to be carefully removed.

Subsequent to the excavation, these bones of the dinosaur that is said to have roamed the earth 150 million years ago were packed in bamboo cases made by locals, carried nearly 60km away to the seaport of Lindi by African laborers, and shipped to Germany.

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Today, the remains of the giant herbivore, which is actually a composite of at least 5 individuals found at the Tendaguru site, have been built in the central atrium of the Berlin Museum of Natural History. This skeleton ofBrachiosaurus brancai, one of the world’s most prominent scientific objects has been towering over the German museum scene for over eighty years.

The skeleton, which is 22 metres long and 13 metres tall, represents an animal that would have weighed between 20 and 30 tons (other accounts suggest otherwise). This exhibit has been the centrepiece of the museum’s dinosaur collection ever since, and is one of the largest mounted dinosaur fossils on permanent exhibit anywhere in the world, as certified by the Guinness Book of Records.

While Germany has benefited from the skeleton for nearly a century, back in Tanzania, there have been fruitless intermittent parliamentary discussions calling for the return of the dinosaur fossils from Germany so that the people of Tanzania can benefit from them and help boost tourism revenues.

In late 2011, it was reported that the Governments of Tanzania and Germany were to strike an agreement for the return of the remains of the giant lizard. Ezekiel Maige, then Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism said that the Tanzanian government had already initiated talks with the museum management on the modalities of setting up proper research facilities and structures or a museum in the village where the dinosaur originated and that they were more than ready to give back the remains of the dinosaur.

However, after years of discussions on the matter, the issue re-emerged last year, but this time around the country’s Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism told the parliament that it was not profitable to return the dinosaur remains because the country lacks the capacity and technology required to preserve and display the remains for tourism purposes.

Now, the more time goes by, the slimmer the chances of getting back home the ‘dinosaur’ of Tendaguru which has been on display in Germany since 1937.

The 2017 minister’s statement was supported by the Permanent Secretary of the same ministry who said early this year that logistics for bringing back the dinosaur fossils was complicated adding that the German museum is willing to cooperate with the Tanzanian government in promoting the dinosaur fossils kept in the German museum.

Due to its differences from the American species, TheBrachiosaurus brancai found in Tanzania was renamedGiraffatitan brancai, a name now scientifically recognized and used by researchers.

Source: Face2Face Africa

 

[kadoda11]

The only thread where Kenyans feel uncomfortable to upload photos, leave their comments or respond to Tanzanians.

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[Geza Ulole]

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[Geza Ulole]

HYATT REGENCY PLANS TO CONSTRUCT HOTEL IN DODOMA
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31/08/2018

HYATT Regency Dar es Salaam, the Kilimanjaro, plans new hotel facility in Dodoma to tap business opportunities in the rapidly growing capital city.

This was unveiled in Dar es Salaam this week by the Hotel’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Mr Denis Glibic, at a media briefing on the completion of the hotel’s extensive refurbishment and addition of new rooms to its inventory.

“Plans are there to establish another facility in the country’s capital city, Dodoma to bring closer and support various activities with high quality and international standard hotel services that reflect value for money,” he said.
He said the major renovation that started last year made the number of rooms rise to 182 from 180 signify the increased investment in the hotel to capitalise on the immense opportunities of the hotel industry.

He said the continued investment in refurbishing the hotel facility was important in order to sustain market competitions as well as to give customers high quality and international standards services.

“Our investment has continued to grow from time to time, which is an indication that the hotel industry is faring well,” he noted, adding that while other players are quitting the business for Hyatt Regency the business is good.
He said over 60 per cent of visitors who eat various dishes at the hotel are local while 90 per cent of those occupying the rooms are foreigners. Room occupancy has grown by 10 per cent by June 2018 compared to the corresponding period in July last year.

This is an indication that hotel industry supported closely by tourism sector and other economic activities are faring well. He said the establishment of the hotel facility in Dodoma will have huge impact in the regional economy as most of the food products to be used are to be sourced locally.

“Farmers and suppliers will benefit from the new investment to be set in Dodoma,” he added.

Hyatt Regency plans to construct hotel in Dodoma

 

[Geza Ulole]

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[Geza Ulole]

When Mauritius President visited the Serengeti

 

[Se-ronga]

Huu uzi umeshawanyorosha majirani wenye kelele,kwenye hii sekta Tz sio rika lao,wajaribu kwa Wanyarwanda.Geza endelea kuwanyorosha mpaka maji wayaite " mayi".

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