TANZANIA LOCAL CUISINE

PILAU

Pilau is a rice dish, or in some regions, a wheat dish, whose recipe usually involves cooking in stock or broth, adding spices, and other ingredients such as vegetables or meat, and employing some technique for achieving cooked grains that do not adhere   

                                                                                                                    

UGALI

Ugali is a type of maize flour porridge made in Africa. It is also known as ngima, obusuma, kimnyet, nshima, Mieliepap, phutu, sadza, kwon, isitshwala and other names. Nsima is sometimes made from other flours, such as millet or sorghum flour, and is sometimes mixed with cassava flour

BIRYANI

Biryani is a mixed rice dish with its origins among the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent. It can be compared to mixing a curry, later combining it with semi-cooked rice separately. This dish is especially popular throughout the Indian subcontinent, as well as among the diaspora from the region

CHIPSI MAYAI (ZEGE)

chipsi mayai, Tanzania’s unique twist on fast food is a combination of chips and eggs fried together.This dish is adored by locals and tourists alike and goes great with nyama choma and your favourite beer or soda.

MAANDAZI

Mandazi, is a form of fried bread that originated on the Swahili Coast. It is one of the principal dishes in the cuisine of the Swahili people who inhabit the African Great Lakes

MISHKAKI

Mishkaki is a famous East African bbq meat delicacy. Cubes of steak are marinated and then skewered and grilled until tender, the result is succulent, moist and delicious barbecued meat morsels. It is somewhat similar to the desi beef boti.

VITUMBUA

Vitumbua (Coconut Rice Pancakes) – An addictive healthy coconut and rice vegan donut or pancake topped with vegan caramel sauce. A melt in your mouth experience!is a breakfast dish in Tanzania you usually have it with a good cup of Chai (Tea in Kiswahili) while its still warm

PWEZA WA NAZI

Pweza wa nazi. Meaning “octopus and coconut” in Swahili, this dish is prepared by boiling octopus in coconut milk, lime juice, curry, cardamom, garlic, cinnamon and other spices common in the coastal islands of zanzibar unguja and Tanga

TARANGIRE TREE CLIMBING LIONS

Tarangire National Park; this park is also home to tree-climbing lions. The reason that these lions have taken to climbing is unknown. Whether it’s to catch a cool breeze or escape the tsetse flies is a matter of debate. Of course, there’s also the chance that the lions simply enjoy the view from up high. Whatever their reasons though, watching these lions gingerly move across the branches is a sight that’s worth seeing.

THE GREAT WILDERBEAST MIGRATION

The Great Wildebeest Migration sees over 1.5 million wildebeest, as well as zebra, and gazelle, make their way through the grasslands of Tanzania and Kenya in search of pasture.
Undoubtedly, the most exciting part of the journey is the Mara River crossing, where massive herds make their way to the Masai Mara, braving crocodiles, and danger at every turn.

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THE 3 CRAZIEST ANIMAL SIGHTINGS IN KILIMANJARO MOUNTAIN

There have been a few strange animal encounters – one from a long time ago and two in more recent history – that stand out in particular. Let’s look at the three craziest animal sightings on Mount Kilimanjaro.

THE MUMMIFIED BUFFALO

Buffalo will occasionally venture into the higher regions of the mountain. They are drawn to the salt and other minerals on the rocks. Unfortunately, around 2009, this buffalo got lodged between boulders and eventually starved to death. When discovered by local porters, the body was very much intact and well reserved.The carcass was moved from its original position and put on display near the trail for passing hikers to see between the Third Cave Campsite and School Hut. It remained there for several years, becoming a highlight for those on the northern routes.

THE SUMMIT DOG

In 2011, a living dog was observed near the summit of Kilimanjaro. Antoine le Galloudec was peeing on the rocks when he spotted the thin brown dog wandering about. He was able to snap a picture using his cell phone.The sighting has raised questions surrounding why the animal was there and how it survived the freezing temperatures. There is no food for a dog at this altitude.A veterinarian who heard about the story stated that though dogs can survive cold temperatures, it was unusual that one would voluntarily go to such a harsh environment when the region below makes for a far better home. He noted that this dog could be rabid. However, a local guide stated that this dog might be the same one he saw spotted ten years ago at a lower Kilimanjaro camp.For those who are concerned about the dog and think attempts should have been made to rescue it, a dog who climbs to the summit can easily make its way down, if it wanted to. There are plenty of humans to follow and the paths down are well established.

THE FROZEN LEOPARD

Close to the western summit there is the dried and frozen carcass of a leopard. No one has explained what the leopard was seeking at that altitude.In 1926, climber Richard Reusch discovered a “freeze-dried” leopard at the crater rim of Kibo, at roughly 18,500 feet. The pastor suspected that the animal died somehow while chasing a goat, whose remains were found a few hundred feet away. Reusch cut part of the leopard’s ear off as a souvenir. The general location of the carcass is known as “Leopard Point.

12 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT THE KILIMANJARO

• It is one of the seven summits. ...
• Kilimanjaro stands on its own. ...
• The mountain is on the equator. ...
• Three volcanic cones created it. ...
• Kilimanjaro isn't dead; it's dormant. ...
• No one knows the real meaning of 'Kilimanjaro. ...
• The first ascent was more than a century ago. ...
• Half of the people who attempt Kilimanjaro fail.
• Elite athletes have climbed Kilimanjaro really fast.
• The young and the old have conquered Kilimanjaro.
• The journey to the summit is like going from the equator to Antarctica.
• Kilimanjaro’s ice cap is destined to disappear.

THE GREAT EAST AFRICAN RIFT VALLEY

The East African Rift System (EARS) is one the geologic wonders of the world, a place where the earth's tectonic forces are presently trying to create new plates by splitting apart old ones. In simple terms, a rift can be thought of as a fracture in the earth's surface that widens over time, or more technically, as an elongate basin bounded by opposed steeply dipping normal faults.Geologists are still debating exactly how rifting comes about, but the process is so well displayed in East Africa (Ethiopia-Kenya-Uganda-Tanzania) that geologists have attached a name to the new plate-to-be; the Nubian Plate makes up most of Africa, while the smaller plate that is pulling away has been named the Somalian Plate (Figure 1). These two plates are moving away form each other and also away from the Arabian plate to the north.The point where these three plates meet in the Afar region of Ethiopia forms what is called a triple-junction. However, all the rifting in East Africa is not confined to the Horn of Africa; there is a lot of rifting activity further south as well, extending into Kenya and Tanzania and Great Lakes region of Africa. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the general geology of these rifts are and highlight the geologic processes involved in their formation.

TANZANIA VOTED AMONG THE BEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD 2019

Readers of Conde Nast Traveller in the Readers' Choice Awards 2019 have voted Tanzania among the best countries in the world to visit in 2019 after scoring 89.70 points and the only second African country after South Africa in the list.In the Conde Nast's website (www.cntravel.com) where winning countries are listed.

ABOUT COVID 19 "CORONA VIRUS"

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.*

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

Depending on your travel history, you will be asked to stay home for a period of 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread (Level 3 Travel Health Notice).
Countries that have a Level 3 Travel Health Notice (widespread, ongoing transmission):

• China
• Iran
• South Korea
• Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City

HIGHLY ENDANGERED SPECIES OF MONKEY

SANJE MANGABEY MONKEY

The Sanje mangabey is a highly endangered Old World monkey of the white-eyelid mangabey group from the Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania. They are about 50–65 centimetres in length, excluding the tail, and their body colour is greyish. Fruit makes up about 70% of their diet.

ENDAGERED BLACK RHINO

Native to eastern and southern Africa including Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe Black rhinos are the smaller of the two African rhino species. The most notable difference between white and black rhinos are their hooked upper lip. This distinguishes them from the white rhino, which has a square lip.

ENDANGERED DESPERATE SHREW

The desperate shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.There are only a few left

THE ENDANGERED THE ABBOT'S DUIKER

The Abbott's duiker, also known as minde in Swahili, is a large, forest-dwelling duiker found only in a few scattered enclaves in Tanzania. The main non-human predator of Abbott’s duiker is the leopard although young are hunted by African crowned eagles and pythons. In the Udzungwa Mountains, the lion and spotted hyena are also predators. it is now only known from Mt. Kilimanjaro, Ilole forest in the Rubeho Mountains, the Udzungwa Mountains and the Southern Highlands

ENDANGERED PEMBA FLYING FOX

The Pemba flying fox has a charismatic fox or dog-like face which is covered with a coat of bright auburn fur. These bats represent the largest fruit bats in the world. Although they weigh just about 400 – 650g, their wings can span over 5.5 feet across. They live in large social colonies of up to 850 individuals.

RARE EXTINCT RONDO BUSHBABY

The Rondo dwarf galago or Rondo bushbaby is a species of primate in the family Galagidae.The dwarf galagos are the smallest members of the genus Galagoides. It weighs less than 100 grams, making it the smallest known galago. It is endemic to Tanzania where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.

THE RARE EXTINCT FROG FOUND IN TANZANIA ONLY

THE KIHANSI SPRAY TOAD

The Kihansi spray toad is a small, sexually dimorphic anuran, The toads display yellow skin coloration with brownish dorsolateral striping. They have webbed toes on their hind legs but lack expanded toe tips.They lack external ears, but do possess normal anuran inner ear features, with the exception of tympanic membranes and air-filled middle ear cavities

TIP TOE KING

Whilst most birds have four toes the ostrich only has two. This appears to be an adaptation for running. However, they run on just one toe with the second used for balance.

CAMOUFLAGE MASTER

The word chameleon is derived from the Greek, khamai, meaning “on the ground” or “dwarf” and leon meaning “lion.” Chameleon therefore translates as “dwarf lion.” This is said to be due to its ferocious behaviour

CAN EAT THE WHOLE BUFFET

The stomach acid of a vulture is strong enough to destroy many dangerous diseases such as anthrax and cholera, which they may ingest when eating a carcass

RHINOS HAVE VERY BAD EYESIGHT

They have very small eyes and their vision is so poor that they will occasionally attack trees and charge at rocks by accident. Their incredible nearsightedness means that, from about three meters, a human and a tree can look the same to them. However, they make up for it with excellent hearing and a keen sense of smell.

BUFFALO ARE OUT FOR REVENGE

When hunted by humans or attacked lions, they have a reputation for circling back on their predators and counter-attacking

An elephant may not forget, as the old saying goes, but a buffalo is known to never forgive. Buffalo have been documented attacking people who have hurt them many years after the event has taken place.

UNDERWATER HIKER

HIPPOS CAN’T SWIM

Their method of travel is very simple - they walk underwater. They can’t even float! Rather unusual for an animal that spends up to 16 hours a day submerged in rivers and lakes to keep their massive bodies cool under the hot African sun.

FINGER PRINT ENGINEER

ZEBRAS ARE TRULY UNIQUE

A zebra's stripes act like a fingerprint - each individual’s pattern is unique. Foals recognise their mothers by the pattern of their stripes, as well as by scent and call. Their stripes are also their best defense mechanism. When in danger, they gather together to confuse colour-blind predators, such as lions, who mistake their pattern for grass.

THE GUY WHO DOESN'T SLEEP

GIRAFFES ARE MILD INSOMNIACS

They may be the tallest animal in the world, but giraffes sleep for the shortest length of time - only about 30 minutes every day. And what’s even more shocking is that these daily dozes only occur in five minute stretches at any one time.

MOUNT MERU SAFARI

MOUNT MERU TREK 4 DAYS

• This tour starts and ends in Arusha. Alternatively, this tour can start and end in
• Dar es Salaam or Nairobi and we can book additional accommodation and internal flights upon request
• This tour is a private trek and run exclusively for you and can depart any day
• This tour offers non-participation, full service camping including the following equipment; all-seasons 2-person tents, mattress and pillow
• This tour can be customised to suit your needs perfectly. Ask us for a tailor-made itinerary, created just for you

DID YOU KNOW ???

FUN FACT ABOUT THE OSTRICH

As well as being the largest bird on Earth, the ostrich is also the fastest two-legged runner in the Animal Kingdom. On average, ostriches can sprint at speeds of up to 45 mph/72 kph, while records show that the fastest ostriches can achieve short bursts of up to 60 mph/96.6 kph. They are also the world's strongest bird. An ostrich can easily support the weight of a man, and their enormous eggs are capable of withstanding great pressure. In some areas of Africa, ostriches are used for racing. Be careful though - ostriches have famously volatile temperaments and are capable of inflicting serious damage. An ostrich can easily kick a grown man to death - an ability often used on predators in the wild.

ZANZIBAR BEACHES

ZANZIBAR BEACH SAFARIS

Zanzibar is the majestic spice island of the Indian Ocean and is a fascinating and beautiful world on its own and the perfect way to end your Tanzanian adventure. It is wrapped in a mysterious Arab and African ambiance and flavored with palm fringed tropical beaches with idyllic white sand, turquoise water and unforgettable sunsets. It’s historic center, Stone Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the island is also home to the Red Colobus Monkey. Stone Town is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar and is a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and grand Arab houses and you can spend many idle hours or days just wandering through the fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways.With its location, history, barrier reef and glorious beaches, Zanzibar can offer all of the attractions that most crave such as culture, history, relaxation, adventure and diving and snorkeling.

SUPRISING FACTS ABOUT ICONIC SAFARI ANIMALS

MOUNT KILIMANJARO

KILIMANJARO MOUNTAIN HIKE

Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain on the African continent and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Known as the “Roof of Africa”, it is 5,895 metres high with people travelling from all over the world to conquer her.Mount Kilimanjaro offers six trekking routes and they vary in difficultly, length, price, scenery and summit success. There is no single best Mount Kilimanjaro route to climb. Which route is best for you will depend on several factors and it is important to consider your physical ability, level of fitness, aptitude and comfort level when selecting your route as this will contribute to your overall summit success.We are proud to have a current summit rate of 99% on Mount Kilimanjaro and we look forward to challenging you and taking you on the adventure of a lifetime.