Why Tanzania?
We have been asked why did you pick Tanzania for your trip? For starters this country is one of the most tourist friendly and stable countries in Africa. It also contains some of the most desired tourist destinations including the Serengeti National Park, the Olduvai Gorge (where the Leakeys found the fossils of many "pre-human" remains), and the natural wonder, the famous Ngorongoro Crater and Mt.Kilimanjaro, the highest Mountain in Africa at over 19000 feet high. More details on these will be posted at the appropriate time.
A motto on the side of one of the Safari companies (Bushbuck Safaris) reads: " It's rough, it's dusty, but it's an adventure". This is a great summary of our trip.
A Brief History of Tanzania
Quoting from the Tourist Map of Tanzania: "In 1880 the coastal region was acquired by Germany. The mainland territory then became a German Protectorate and Zanzibar became a British Protectorate. The Germans were replaced at the end of WWI by the British who received a mandate over most of the German East Africa and renamed it Tanganyika.
On December 9th, 1961 , Tanganyika attained independence, and exactly a year later the country became a Republic within the Commonwealth. Zanzibar became independent on Dec. 11th, 1963, but only a month later a popular movement deposed the Sultan and brought into being a Republic. On April 26th, 1964, the two sovereign states united to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. On Oct. 29th, 1964, it became the United Republic of Tanzania."
Our guide stated that the early governments here were "communist-like" and the people were kept very poor. More recently, the governments realized the importance and wealth that tourism could bring to the country and steps were taken to promote tourism without damaging the ecology. The current administration has done so well that the president was recently reelected, receiving about 90% of the popular vote.
Visitors are required to pay for hotel and safari services in foreign currency, and the dollar is welcomed everywhere. The current rate of exchange is approximately 1250 Shillings to the dollar but the rule-of-thumb was, figure 1000 Shillings to the dollar.
Quoting from the Tourist Map of Tanzania: "In 1880 the coastal region was acquired by Germany. The mainland territory then became a German Protectorate and Zanzibar became a British Protectorate. The Germans were replaced at the end of WWI by the British who received a mandate over most of the German East Africa and renamed it Tanganyika.
On December 9th, 1961 , Tanganyika attained independence, and exactly a year later the country became a Republic within the Commonwealth. Zanzibar became independent on Dec. 11th, 1963, but only a month later a popular movement deposed the Sultan and brought into being a Republic. On April 26th, 1964, the two sovereign states united to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. On Oct. 29th, 1964, it became the United Republic of Tanzania."
Our guide stated that the early governments here were "communist-like" and the people were kept very poor. More recently, the governments realized the importance and wealth that tourism could bring to the country and steps were taken to promote tourism without damaging the ecology. The current administration has done so well that the president was recently reelected, receiving about 90% of the popular vote.
Visitors are required to pay for hotel and safari services in foreign currency, and the dollar is welcomed everywhere. The current rate of exchange is approximately 1250 Shillings to the dollar but the rule-of-thumb was, figure 1000 Shillings to the dollar.
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