Tours
Cultural Tourism in Tanzania
There is a problem with spontaneous cultural tourism; that is it must be organized and as soon as this is done?well, sadly the cultural visit is no longer worth doing. To experience true culture; to have that genuine experience; it should be done slowly over a day or maybe two. It cannot be done in a morning or squeezed into a couple of hours one afternoon before you race off to the Serengeti.
So, should you as a tourist just not bother with the Cultural addition to the safari? I would say an emphatic yes, just don?t bother; it is not worth the effort! Especially so if your cultural visit is rushed, half hearted, over organized and created for the tourist.
However, I think if you come all the way to East Africa, you need to see more than the animals. Tanzania is about so much more. Tanzania cannot be rushed. To rush involves missing what is hidden just under the surface; you will experience Tanzania in black and white only. You would be better served visiting the local zoo; it would be a lot cheaper too.
If you don?t have time to spend living in a village; or maybe you fear your constitution is not quite up to eating fried chicken feet and boiled grass; or you just don?t have the time; I would suggest you go for a short expeditionary sojourn around the village or town. Take a local person with you, the hotel or lodge or tour operator will provide someone. Explain you want to see village life and not the tourist attractions. This may not be as easy as it sounds. Your guide may not perceive at first that you want to see Tanzania in all its unattractive poverty.
Walking around the village in Tengeru or on Kilimanjaro or a suburb of Dar, Mbeya or Arusha can be done in half a day and you can meet real Tanzanian people and see how people live. This is as long as you stay away from the ?traditional blacksmith? in fact as a general rule of thumb it may be a good idea to stay away from the contrived traditional anything.
Another, less strenuous, way of receiving a good condensed slice of culture is to visit a local bar for lunch. Choose an attractive open plan bar with a thatch roof - so you are able to watch life pass by. Get your recently acquired guide to order some roast goat, some roast beef and some roast banana?s and enjoy soaking in the culture whilst you wait for the meal to arrive. Don?t eat any salad or fruit that may accompany the meal in respect for your stomach. If you are not so hungry order chips mayai [chips my-eye] which is a chip omelet - and very nice it is too!
Even better would be to take a day or more to walk in a remote village accompanied by your guide. Take it slowly and stop to talk with the local community. Some of the locals may know a little English and they will want to try it out and practice with you. Those who don?t will appreciate and encourage you [sometimes with great hoots of laughter] any attempts you make to communicate in Swahili. Your meals and overnight can be spent with a local family.
The cultural safari adds another dimension to your visit. You will now be on your way to becoming to know Tanzania just a little. Africa is a wonderful place and Tanzania is a most peaceful destination. Many agents claim that various countries and peoples are warm and welcoming; however this is true of Tanzania. I have lived in may countries in Sub-Sahara Africa and Tanzania?s truly love to receive visitors. So? welcome to Tanzania and above all relax and enjoy this vast and special land.
For more information on any of these subjects visit http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk and also for tourism and cultural issues see http://www.betheladventure.co.uk ? Using tourism to change lives. |
Ian Williamson
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