CULTURAL TOURISM – (EDUCATION & DESTINATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF TANZANIA)

AN INTRODUCATION TO EAST AFRICA

The four territories of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Zanzibar making up “The East Africa”; which form a rectangular block; covers on area of 645,000 sq. miles.

The distances within East Africa are very considerable. From the north of Kenya to the south of Tanzania is 1,200 miles. The width across Tanzania is about 600 miles. East Africa stretches through 11 degrees of longitude of longitude and 17 degrees of latitudes, about 2/3 of it being in the southern hemisphere.

Tanzania: Welcome to the extremely interesting rural areas in Tanzania where you can experience African life

and enjoy the scenery of Green Mountain and wide plans. The population of Tanzania people drawn from over 120 ethnic groups; each with his own custodian of a culture that traces its history either to North, South or West Africa, the Asian sub-continent and the Arabian peninsula. The people of East Africa.

About 89% of the people of East Africa come from three main groups, {a} Aboriginal Group {b} Hermitic Group and {c} Negroid Group.

Aboriginal: There are very few of them remaining, the “Dorobo” or Hadzabe are the very important survivors as far as is known the always live in East Africa. These people are of yellowish-brown skin as they live in the Great Rift Valley around Manyara region, Babati district for Tanzanian side. They usually live by hunting as they eat game meat, roots and fruits in the bush.

Hamitic: The nomadic Gala and Borau of the desert of northern Kenya and Mbulu of Tanzania are pure hamates similar to Somali. These people have skins color varying from darkish white to a coppery brown that are fairly tall and have wavy or curly hair. Their faces are narrow with longish noses and thin lips.

Negroid: There are no pure Negroes in East Africa, but there is a strong mixture of Negro blood. This is shown by the dark skin, curly hair and thick lips, which are so common. Most of the tribes of East Africa are made up of a mixture of these three stocks. The most numerous group is the Bantu.

The Bantu: Bantu strictly refers to the language and not to race. Most of the Bantu-speaking peoples are the result of intermarriage between Negroid and Hamitic tribes. The color of the skin is much lighter than that of

the West African Negroes; their color is of varying shades of chocolate. Many of the best-known tribes of East Africa are the Bantu; the Haya, Sukuma, Chagga, Nyamwezi, Nyakyusa and Kikuyu etc.

Nilotics: Among these people, the Negro strain is very much more obvious. This is however a mixture of Hamitic blood even among the Nilotics. This mixture took place in Sudan before they arrive in East Africa. The Nilotics; therefore speak a Sudanese language; they are on the average much taller and much darker than the Bantu. Infact, they are among the tallest peoples of the world. They also tend to be rather thing, also they have curly hair and their faces vary between rather long and fine face of a Hamite and round face with broad lips of a typical Negro. The most important representatives in East Africa of this group are the Jaluo and Acholi.

The Nilo–Hamites: As their name suggests, have a large proportion of the Hamitic element in them. It is difficult to describe a typical Nilo-Hamite, as the degree mixture between Hamitic and Negro varies very greatly. The Nilo-Hamitic tribes of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda have two skin colors; dark, similar to the Nilitic, and a reddish-brown, very common among the Maasai. The most obvious characteristic of the Nilo Hamitic people is their love of the pastoral way of life.

CULTURAL TOURISM:

The Tanzania's people are among the most welcoming and approachable on earth; most of ethnic groups are now welcoming visitors into their communities, understanding of their people and their perceptions of the country around them; and introducing them to the traditions and ready to be shared with visitors.

Meru: Only minutes in any direction from bustling Arusha are spots that look and feel as they did decades ago. But everywhere, too, is transition as the Waarusha and Wameru peoples adapt tradition to progress and science. Visitors can meet a traditional medicine on remote hillsides with the doctors of the Wameru tribe. Also learn about animal husbandry and agriculture, or buy carvings and foodstuff from local handicraft co-operatives or women's businesses.

The Usambara: An African Switzerland, a hiker's paradise, with dozens of varied treks from full day tour to a week the stunning mountainous district of Lushoto was once home to one of Tanzania's great historical kingdoms. Cultural tourism programs are beneficial to everyone the tourist get a unique, unforgettable experience, the local people generate income and improve

Medicine Man is found in every African society and village. They may be either men or women. They carry out the work of healing the sick and putting things right when they go wrong. Their knowledge and skill have been acquired and passed down through the Centuries since in every homestead and every village people fall sick or meet with accidents and misfortunes, medicine men are considered to be extremely importance men are considered to be extremely important. In some cases, children inherit the profession of medicine men for their parents.

In other cases, a person feels the call to become a Medicine man. This call or inclination may come suddenly or gradually. Where it comes suddenly, people say that they are called in a dream or through constant visits from a spirit, especially of a living dead. The call to become a medicine man may come to a person at any age.

A person then associates himself with a skilled medicine man in order to start training. This training can last up to ten years or even longer. It consists of learning the names and nature of herbs, trees, roots, seeds, bones, birds and animal droppings (excreta) and many other things which are used for the making of medicines and also consists of learning hour to diagnose diseases and people's troubles of every sort, how to handle the patients, how and what to prescribe as the cure, and in general how to perform one's duty as a medicine man.

Furthermore, the medicine man acts not only as a doctor but also often as a listener to people's troubles of all kinds and as their canceller or adviser. When cattle die, their owners go to him for help. When children disobey parents, the parents go to him for advice, when someone is going on a long journey, he/she consults the medicine man to know whether or not the journey will be a success or to obtain protective medicines, and so on. Some medicine men are also the priests of their areas. They pray for their communities, take the lead in public religions vituals, and in many ways symbolize the wholeness or health of their communities. They deal in medicine, which means much more than just the medicine, which cures the sick. It's believed that their medicine not only cures the sick but also drives thieves, protects from danger ad harm removes the curse, and so on. That's why we say medicine in Africa societies has a wider meaning therefore come with us and explorer the hinder traditional assets from the African societies through cultural tourism in a country known as (a peace of Heaven) “Tanzania”. We too; say karibu Tanzania.

CULTURAL TOURISM AND DESTINATION IN TANZANIA

•  Ilkiding'a:

Welcome to Ilkiding'a village at the foot of Mount Meru where the sounds of rivers, birds and people are in harmony. Ilkiding'a is a village only 7 km north of Arusha town with its neighboring Ilboru, it has played a role in the history of Arusha. The Chiefdom ship was strong before colonization; the Lutheran missionaries from Germany and the Chief of Waarusha that time sabaya agreed in 1904 to build the first church and school in Ilboru. From that time on wards the co-operation between the church and the chiefs was settled.

Youngsters were invited to study at the boarding school (Ilboru). In 1907 the first young men on Simeon Kokan was chosen by the Waarusha to become Chief; under his

To do:

• A guided tour to some farms on the green and steep slopes of Mt. Meru.

• A visit to several developments projects in the village, soil conservation, and irrigation, cross breeding, biogas.

• A climb to kiresi hill, an old volcano with natural forest on top.

• A vise into the Waarusha culture; old stories, traditional house.

• Delicious lunch and dinner prepared by the Juhudi women's group.

Machame:

Welcome and explore the life of the Kilimanjaro Mountain people. Machame is a mosaic of beautiful valleys, deep gorges, rivers, waterfalls, farms and is the home base of the Chagga people. You can experience and witness the only agro-forestry best practice, an intensive farming system of inter cropping of mixed crops using traditional irrigation. Machame is an ideal place for acclimatization before climbing the Mountain.

To do: A warm welcome in a local Chagga household.

• Hikes through dense natural forests and farms for acclimatization along fast flowing streams.

• Three different views of snow capped Mount Kilimanjaro, where local ancient chagga legends recount tales of an Iron hut that brought them strength.

• A visit to several development projects in the area (coffee production, traditional irrigation, afforestation, cross breeding, bee-keeping, schools, health care, food processing.

Access: Machame is located to the north of the Arusha–Moshi road and is easily accessible. From Moshi town to Machame junction is just 12 km and from junction to the Machame Cultural Center is just 5 minutes which is 14 km.

Marangu and Mamba:

At the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro outside the entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park lie the beautiful town of Marangu and Mamba. Here is just more than having a chance to climb he most unique, the tallest and the most beautiful mountain of Africa. We a Kilimanjaro design, arrange and participate with you in ensuring that you will have a satisfied touch of our cultural; we believe that service of the local inhabitants provide a tasty authentic and the most memorable attraction whatever curiosity one may have, it may be rewarding to try to venture high with us in Africa. We are inviting you whether you as a tourist, volunteer, a retiree, a student, a pupil a researcher, and adventurer or just one with some curiosity about out culture and natural resources existing within the vicinity of our communities to time with us and through us.

Marangu: is home to Kilimanjaro; tours through Marangu offer panoramic sights ideal for photography Mountain climbing enthusiast will be delighted to visit the home and memorial of the late prominent native Guide Yohana Lawuo, a man who accompanied Dr. Hans Meyer and his company Ludwig Rischeller from German in 5 th October 1889 on the first recorded climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro Mzee Yohana Lawuo is the first man to open the path to the Mountain who documented evidence will owe visitors that a astounding feats who guided treks up the Mountain at the age of 70 year. The old man of Mountain Kilimanjaro lived for an astonished 124 years.

To do: Guide tours leading to panoramic viewpoint's ideal for Photography of waterfalls and Mount Kilimanjaro.

• Chance to pass historical sights from clan wars and ancient legends including large hiding caves used during the Chagga –Maasai wars.

• Visit to local blacksmiths who continue using ancestral methods to prepare Maasai Spears, hoe, knife and other tools.

•  Opportunity to experience Chagga Culture with a visit to a traditional Chagga house.

Babati-Hanang:

Welcome to the fertile lands and farmland where most crops grow on the edge of the Rift valley. Here you can walk and see a mixture of ethnic cultures groups and rural life as lined by ordinary Tanzanians off the well treads tourist circuits.

Babati: is a district a located in Manyara Regional; the small town's lies in the Arusha Dodoma road in the Rift valley, south of lake Manyara park and west from Tarangire national park. The town boasts Lake Babati where floating hippos can be seen and is rich in fish, both species tilapia and Nile perch. In this place commercial and farming tribes co-exist with conservative (traditional) cattle herding tribe to provide a distinguished cultural contrast.

Hanang: also this district is located in Manyara Region close by the beautiful mount Hanang (3418 M), live the Barbaig people whose traditional culture is still unchanged and unspoiled. The women wear traditional goatskin dresses and the men walk around with spears. Guest can mix freely with the Barbaig, commonly known as the Mang'ati living in the Mang'ati plains; also this area is very known for over 400 bird species.

To do: A special Barbaig cultural insight hike

• An exclusive Mount Hanang

• A fishing adventure with local countries on Lake Babati while viewing hippos

The tour start by visit Mang'at village, original home of the Gorowa tribe and climb Bambaay hill from where you see the beautiful rift valley landscape with Lake Babati and Manyara. The rift valley escapement in the background and the Maasai steppe at the last; the visitor can get a chance to speak with an elder Gorowa tribesman's Mzee Kwaraa, he will tell about Gorowa culture, Marriage, rain prayers, burial, religions and circumcision vituals. Also one can row, fish and view hippo's pool on Lake Babati, by using local canoes accompanied by local fisherman.

Mount Hanang 3418 M (11,200ft): Mount Hanang is the last and most southerly of the volcanoes in the Rift valley of northern Tanzania; is the fourth highest mountain in Tanzania. Hanang is nevertheless a great mountain to climb; especially if one wants to get off the beaten track or has limited time or finances, the mount can be climbed in one day. An early starting is necessary with guides and porters through farmland, forest, scrub and grasslands. Finally, after a climbing of 5-6 hours you will reach the summit. Another 3-4 hours is needed for descent. Usually it is advisable to climb from Gendabi at the foot of the mountain, a 3 hours walk from Katesh. (Summiteers will receive a certificate).

Engaruka:

The people of Engaruka welcome you to the old agricultural settlement lost in the Maasai plans and surrounded by holy mountains. Engaruka is situated 63km north of the small town of Mto wa Mbu, on the road to Ol'doinyo Lengai and lake Natron. The village of Engaruka lies at the foot of the rift valley escarpment. Engaruka is one of Tanzania 's most important historic sites. Some 500 years ago, a farming community of several thousand people developed an ingressions irrigation and cultivation system. The water that flowed from the rift escarpment was channeled into stone-built canals and led Tostem-bench terraces. Measure was taken to prevent soil erosion and using the manure of stall fed cattle increased the fertility of the plaits. For unknown reasons, the farmers lift Engaruka around 1700 years ago. New, the ruins still give a good impression of the highly specialized, integrated agricultural economy, very remarkable for that period of African history. Also the Maasai cattle graze side by side with herds of zebra's Birds of prey circle above looking for kill, while remarkable looking secretary birds, beloved as snake killers strut across the plains.

Although several famous archaeologists like loins Leakey home investigate the Engaruka rains, the site is still surrounded with mysteries. Many questions remain unanswered

• Who are the people living in Engaruka?

• How did they come to develop such an ingenious farming system?

• And why did they finally leave Engaruka?

To do: A visitor will have a golden chance to see the ruined city of Engaruka which highly developed but unknown civilization and practice irrigation system excellent in East Africa those old goods day. The city of Engaruka located at the foot of the Rift valley escarpment. There you can see the abandoned remnants of the complicated irrigation system. By the help of our guide you can identify and shown the old graves, house walls, irrigation canals and terraces and gives a deep explanation of the various theories of the rise and fall of this highly specialized farming community. The ruined city abounds with colorful birds and butterflies, remnants from the German Colonial times and you can visit an “olpul” a place where Maasai slaughter and eat their cows and goats (a traditional Maasai Meat camp). While walking down to the green village of Engaruka; on the way you will visit several facts where various crops are grown. In actually facts the Maasai people are nomadic but in Engaruka are one of the few places in East Africa where Maasai are practicing irrigation system intensively. Also on the way back you can visit the colorful market place under the shade of an African tulip tree and a huge Mkuyu tree. (Especially on the Sunday and Thursday is market day). Also you can en-route to the Rift valley escarpment via the ruined city narrow footpaths wind up the Rift valley escarpment from above you will have a wonderful view of the ruined city and over the surrounding Maasai plains. During the walk, the guide will help you to spot many colorful birds and show you trees and plants that the Maasai use for making food and for medicines.

Gezaulole:

Is situated on the Coast, South of Dar es Salaam, half an hour drive from the Kigamboni side of the ferry. It has a pristine, white beach with views over the sea and islands dotting the blue ocean. Gezaulole in earlier days it was a Zaramo Settlement, the tribe that has been living along this part of the Coast for many Centuries. In the 16 Century, Arab Settlers came and used the convenient location of the village to carry out their trade; the village thus became a slave, who would be shipped to Zanzibar and beyond. They renamed the village ‘Mbwamaji' a name it kept until the 1970s, when the village was chosen as one of the first settlements under the ujamaa-policy. People from different places in Tanzania were relocated in order to create concentrated agricultural areas. They renamed again the village GEZAULOLE which means “ Try and see ” in the Kizaramo language, the new inhabitants had to ‘Try and see' how they could develop their lives.

To do:

• History of an old Arab Settlement with graves and mosques.

• History as the first ujamaa village in Tanzania

• Enjoy villag3e life and handicrafts

• Wildlife and particularly bird life

• Beautiful beaches

• Fisherman's - day to day life

• Dhow-trip to Sinda Island

• Bicycle tours to neighboring villages