Tailored Travelling Tanzania

We arrange trips to Tanzania according to your wishes, with help by Swedish staff on site. This is your opportunity to get close to the colourful culture and hospital people. We arrange trips that suit the individual as well as the group from a broad spectrum of services and activities. In that way every traveller creates their own journey to Tanzania according to their personal wishes and demands. There is a lot to discover in Tanzania: make a visit to a Maasai village, follow the footsteps of David Livingstone, choose this as the place for your honeymoon, or tour with your choir or band… Stay for a longer period, stay for a while. Live big, live small.

A few suggestions on how to tailor a trip:

MOUNT KILIMANJARO

The highest mountain in Africa, the mighty Kilimanjaro, is in the northern Tanzania, on the border of Kenya. It rises 5895 m above sea level. There are many ways to experience Kilimanjaro depending on your personal goal – walk for a day or accept the challenge to reach all the way to the top, Uhuru Peak.

A climb up the slopes of Kilimanjaro could look like this:

Day 1

You are picked up by a car in Moshi and driven to Kilimanjaro National park Gate, 1980 meters above the ocean. You meet up with carriers, cooking staff and guides, who pack food for the climb. When ready you start a 5 hour walk uphill, through the rainforest. On the way you eat your packed lunch. When reaching Mandara Hut, 2500 meters above sea level, the rainforest transforms into a harsher landscape. Here you are served dinner in a warm hut and given a hut or a tent to sleep in.

Day 2:

The wandering starts after breakfast and if it is a clear morning you will pretty soon be able to spot Kibo Crater, which is the crater the peak consists of. You walk 6 hours today, including lunch, in a landscape without trees but with a lot of other plants to discover along the road. The goal is Horombo Hut at 3700 meters. When you get there warm water for washing, rest and dinner awaits you. If the weather is clear you will have a good view of the top. Looking down you can see Moshi.

Day 3:

A day to acclimatize, so that the body get used to the different conditions on this relatively high altitude, is recommended. Today, to help the acclimatization you go just a bit further and then back. This is a good opportunity to speak with other climbers. Speak with the ones going down to hear about what awaits you!

Day 4:

The climb up along the mountainside starts again in the morning. You wander through a barren and desert like nature. On the way you will round the other mighty top of Kilimanjaro: Mawenzi Peak. On the height of 4130 meters you pass ”Last water point”. From now on there are no more water to fill your supplies. When reaching Kibo Hut you are at 4700 meters above sea level. Go to sleep early to be prepared for a try on the summit at midnight.

Day 5:

Just before midnight it is time to rise for a tough walk/climb. It is dark and cold, so dress carefully and put on your forehead torch. Follow every detail in the instructions from the guide because they can make the difference in reaching the top or not. If everything goes as planned you will reach Gilman’s Point at the crater edge at dawn and watch the sun rise over the African continent. If you have any strength left the highest peak in Africa, Uhuru Peak, is about 1,5 hours away, along the edge of the crater. On the way back you rest for a while at Kibo Hut and then continue down to Horombo Hut for a well-earned rest and a good meal.

Day 6:

The estimated time to get to the gate where you started off is 6 hours. From there a car will take you back to Moshi, hopefully with a certificate to show that you made it to the top!

There are more mountains and alternative walks or climbs in Tanzania.

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EXPERIENCE ONLY ZANZIBAR!

Zanzibar, or Unguja which is the real name of the island, is according to most visitors a paradise with its white beaches and turquoise water. spend lazy days here or discover what the sea has to offer: swim with dolphins, snorkel among the corals or dive deeper to experience the life in the depths. But Zanzibar has even more to offer. You can see how herbs grow or stroll around the winding streets of the stone city where there is a lot to buy. There are influences here from the Arab world as well as historical threads leading back to the colonial time and the slave trade.

A week on Zanzibar might look like this:

Day 1:

You reach Zanzibar and go across the island in a car to the eastern shore. This is where the village Paje is situated. At the beach is the guesthouse Paje Ndame, with its hospital environment. Make yourself at home, go for a swim in the ocean and eat a nice meal in the cosy restaurant.

Day 2:

Have a peaceful day at the beach. Take a seat in the sun, or in the hammock, with something to read and look at the turquoise water. Sunbathe and swim, or go for a stroll along the beach. Challenge the Masaai in a game of “Kubb”, beach volley or boccia. Lunch and dinner can be ordered in the restaurant but why not try one of the restaurants further down along the beach.

Day 3:

Go on Blue Safari, a full day at sea. A car takes you to the western shore where you board the small boat with the guide that is to take you out to sea. Two cooks are with you to the first stop, which is a deserted bay where they disembark to prepare lunch. You go on to a lagoon filled with mangrove trees where you do some snorkeling, you explore the vegetation on one of the islands, stop to eat fresh fruit at a sandbank, then some more snorkeling and swimming among the corals and fishes. Afterwards the boat takes you back to the bay for lunch consisting of most of what the sea has to offer, hot from the grill. There is time to swim and rest in the bay before taking the boat back.

Day 4:

If you like diving it is a good idea to do it while in Paje and on Zanzibar. The diving centre is situated a five minute walk away. See the rich life below the surface at the reef. If you do not want to dive, take a sailing boat to discover the reef when the tide is out, or just relax and do nothing. In the afternoon you pack a few things for the night and go off to Kizimkazi on the southern part of the island. This is where the lovely little guest house Dolphin View is situated. Sit down in a comfortable chair at the brink of the ocean and have a drink as the sun sets. In the meantime the fire is lighted and dinner served in the sand surrounded by burning candles. After dinner you can sit by the fire and let the time fly. Overnight stay at Dolphin View.

Day 5:

Wake up at dawn to go on a dolphin safari starting from Kizimkazi. Together with a guide you go in a boat and it is very likely that you will be able to not only see the dolphins, but also swim with them. When the tour has finished you go back to the eastern coast and Paje where a massage might be just right in between the swims.

Day 6:

Pack your things and head off to the spice farms after breakfast. There you go on a tour where you learn a lot about the spices we use every day. The trip continues to the cosy stone city Zanzibar Town. You check in at Zenji hotel and go for a walk through the small dwindling streets. There is a lot to see and to buy. Don’t forget to haggle! Watch the sunset from Africa House while sipping a drink. When it has darkened, go to the harbour and the huge barbeque market that is being prepared. Walk between the stalls and buy, for a very good price, whatever you want. Finish off with a dessert at Mercery's, a bit more luxurious restaurant built right beside the beach.

Day 7:

Take a guided tour of the city to learn more about the slave trade and the sites where the slaves were shipped off. You will learn a lot about the history of Zanzibar and the colonial time. If you are not interested in that, use the day for shopping. Gather your impressions in the afternoon before going back to the mainland.

Tanzania has more islands and places with sun, swimming and diving. If you wish, it is also possible for us to arrange all-inclusive hotels for your journey.

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BEYOND THE TOURIST ROUTES – NZEGA

The small town Nzega is situated in the inner parts of Tanzania. Just south of Nzega is the village Tazengwa. Here you meet people and participate in the daily routine. Not being able to speak Swahili is not a problem; with a laugh and an expressive body language you will get far in finding new friends. Of course we offer an English speaking guide if you want help translating.

Sleep beneath the skies, help in the maize field, visit the local hospital, dine with your new friends, get to know and play with the children at the orphanage Home of Peace, buy fabrics and fresh fruit at the market in Nzega, visit a Sunday service in the local church or participate in a lesson in the village school… your curiosity and courage is the only limit.

A week in Nzega and Tazengwa:

Day 1:

You reach Tazengwa and check in at the simple but nice guesthouse. Take a dip in the pool and wash off the dust from the road. Walk around the village to discover and feel the slow way living. You will meet many people that greet you with big smiles. Have dinner at the guest house where you live.

Day 2:

Go into the city Nzega and head for the market overflowing with exotic fruits. Walk the narrow street of fabrics, here you can buy African fabrics in all kinds of colours and patterns. Let one of the tailors sitting along the road create something for you from what you have bought. Explore the small shops filled to the brim with tiny things. Experience the atmosphere and talk to the locals. You can have your lunch in the street or in a restaurant. Relax by the pool when you return. Maybe a game of tennis or a stroll in the evening. You will have dinner with Zawadi and Alfred who live in the village.

Day 3:

Yohanna brings you to the neighbouring village Silimka and the house he lives in with his wife and three children. You grab the pickaxe and head out to the maize fields where you work yourself into a sweat. Or help out with other kinds of work that needs to be done in a Tanzanian home. Of course you will be served delicious traditional food in between the shifts. In the afternoon you go back to Tazengwa to cool off in the pool or relax with a good book. Towards evening you head off towards the hilly mountain Hongi, which despite its low height gives a fantastic view across the flat landscape. You watch the sun set over the mango trees and clay houses. Lazaro has lightened the fire and you have a barbecue.

If you want you can sleep beneath the magnificent starry sky. In that case a guard will see to that nothing happens and that the fire is kept burning.

Day 4:

Have a sleep-in and a slow morning. Then visit the orphanage Home of Peace which is in the vicinity. You get a brief tour before having lunch together with the children and staff. Afterwards you offer whatever gifts you would like. Play with the kids, help cleaning or help the house master with maintenance work.

For dinner Enock grills a buffet at the guest-house.

Day 5:

Attend a service in the village church and rejoice in the singing and dancing. Afterwards you eat Sunday dinner in a restaurant in town. Back in Tazengwa an half an hour walk brings you to a witchcraft doctor. You get to see his stock of medicines and ask him questions about his work. Esta will cook your dinner.

Day 6:

To get to understand the Tanzanian school system you visit the elementary school in the village. You get a tour of the state hospital to learn how hospital care works here. At the local-government office you may ask questions about the political conditions in the district. After having lunch in the city again you might pick up the clothes that have been made for you at the tailor and go for another round of shopping. Before returning to the village you might want to visit the man keeping two pythons as pets.

In the afternoon you visit the neighbouring village Itilo and mama Steven, a pot maker. Watch her at work and buy a pot for your garden or balcony. Mama Margareta lives in Itilo and cooks a Tanzanian buffet to eat below a mango tree in her garden.

Day 7:

You bid farewell to the village and villagers and leave Tazengwa and Nzega behind.

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WORK AS A VOLUNTEER

To travel as a volunteer is something special. You offer yourself: your time, abilities and experience and get so much back! To work as a volunteer gives you the opportunity to get to know a different culture and find friends for life. Count on a broadened mind and memories to stay with you for a long time. How long period you would like to work is up to you. All the voluntary work is in and around Nzega.

A period as a volunteer might include one or several of the following activities:

1. The orphanage Home of Peace.

Home of Peace is an orphanage with about 20 children living here. As you work here you contribute to the everyday life of these children. You can teach them games and songs and dances, plan excursions, paint, write, make things together with them and lots more. You help the staff to take care of the home, do the dishes, cook, clean, wash etc. All in an African way of course. The staff really appreciates to get the chance to develop their poor English. You can participate in English lessons for them.

2. Nzega Secondary School/Bulunde Secondary School

Secondary corresponds to the Swedish”gymnasium” School in Tanzania, and all the teaching is in English. You participate in the English lessons but can also create new projects in your favourite topics. Extra teaching during afternoons and evenings is a big need for the students.

3. Folk high school Tazengwa Pentecostal Bible College (TPBC)

TPBC is a folk highschool and a boarding-school run by the Tanzanian Pentecostal Movement. You get the opportunity to help with whatever you are interested in and know about. You can teach, as a part of the English courses given at the school. You can run projects, for example in music or sports, for the student’s spare time. You can have seminars and lessons about what you know: environment, cultural exchanges, first aid…

4. Tazengwa Nursery School

In the village nursery school there are about 40 children aged 4-6. They are taught to count, to read and to write. In between the lessons they play. Follow them all day in school and help prepare the gruel in the morning.

5. ”Your profession”

If there is a certain profession that you are interested in, you might for a shorter or longer period get the opportunity to see how they work in a country as Tanzania. You get to learn and to teach, and exchange thoughts and experiences with your “colleagues”.

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GETTING AROUND

There are many ways for you to move around in Tanzania. Which way you choose depends on where you are going and what you prefer.

By air

As comfortable as in our part of the world but a slightly more expensive alternative. The airports are not that many which means longer transfers from time to time.

Bus

Not as comfortable, and takes a lot of time, but an experience for the adventurous. A cheap alternative

Boat

To Zanzibar in a couple of hours. A cheaper alternative than flying and a good one if you are not the type prone to seasickness.

Train

For you believing the journey to be the goal. The train is not the first hand option if you want to get from A to B as fast as possible, but it is an experience apart from the usual. It is quite slow which gives you the opportunity to watch the landscape through the windows. The train is cheap and you get a ticket for a sleeping cart.

WHERE TO STAY

Many different accommodations with varied quality and price are offered. You can stay in a luxurious all-inclusive hotel or in the simplest guesthouse with a hole in the floor serving as toilet. In the village you might also stay with villagers, which is a cheap alternative.

PRICES

Concerning your budget there are many ways to plan the journey. Generally the activities made for the tourists cost more while staying with the locals cost less. There are big differences pricewise depending on the standard and situation of your accommodation. The same goes for meals and transportation.

TRAVEL DURATION

That is up to you.