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Arusha, Tanzania
My adventurous journey to Tanzania begins in town of Arusha, just 75 minutes from the Kilimanjaro International Airport and 75 miles from Mt. Kilimanjaro. For work, trips to Africa were few and far for me, so I was always thrilled when I got assigned one.
Naturally, my co-workers and I intended to plan a safari while in Tanzania. Arusha is a lovely place to stay, and even though we stayed at the Mount Meru Hotel, there are many other very nice accommodations in the town. Check out hotels in Arusha here.
Honestly, I never felt unsafe when we were traveling through Tanzania or while staying in our hotel. However, I still always check with the Department of State before traveling overseas, especially personally. To make sure you travel safe too, check out my article on The Safest Tips for Traveling Overseas.
Mount Meru Hotel – Arusha
I was highly impressed with this hotel and found it the perfect oasis to relax after long work days. The property is protected, and though there are certainly parts of the world I have traveled to that left me feeling unsafe- the Mount Meru hotel ensured this was not one of them.
The hotel pool area is absolutely stunning, so grab lunch by the pool as you relax all day! (Their brick oven pizzas are fantastic, if you need a poolside recommendation.) The hotel was able to book us a safari for the next day, but if you aren’t staying here and planning to go to Tanzania specifically, I recommend Viator.com. You can even book your whole trip through Viator; most likely, you will be in a group of other travelers, so this is a great and safe option for a solo or group traveler to meet others with the same adventurous passions for traveling.
Luxury Tent Accommodations
The next time I go to Tanzania, I plan to book a luxurious tent in the Serengeti National Park. This isn’t a Fyre Festival tent we are talking about here- these things are epic, and the Ole Serai Luxury Camp is a great option for a night or two. From here, you can also book a Safari into the National Park.
Lake Manyara National Park
The animals migrate to different parts of the country, so because of the time of year that we were in Tanzania, Manyara National Park is where our guide took us on our safari. Lake Manyara National Park is a 3-hour car ride from Arusha.
Check out this cool website to see when the “Great Migration” is happening each month so that you are not disappointed on your once in a lifetime chance to be on a safari.
Was the Safari Worth It?
Going on a safari has always been on my bucket list. It wasn’t like going to a zoo, although Disney’s Animal Kingdom Safari does do a good job if you think you won’t ever be able to make the long journey to Africa.
Being able to see these beautiful and wild creatures in their habitat was a dream come true. Thankfully we did see all the animals that we wanted to see. Our guide did mention that sometimes they do not see many animals so it can be disappointing if you have traveled a long way to check this off on your bucket list. It’s another great reason to check the Great Migration website above, to have the best chance! Either way it is a adventurous experience and I highly recommend it if you are able to make the journey.
Check out these other Trips that Viator offers:
- Full-Day Trip to Ngorongoro Crater from Arusha Town
- 4-Day Tour to Tanzania’s National Parks
- Serengeti Balloon Safari and authentic bush breakfast – A great Proposal idea to book if you are planning to ask that special someone to marry you while in Tanzania! (It’s also just a really cool experience, if you aren’t.)
Mount Kilimanjaro
As we made our 3-hour drive to Lake Manyara for the safari, we could see Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance, and it was absolutely breathtaking. For bragging rights, it also ranks as the fourth tallest peak in the world! We didn’t have enough time on our trip to visit Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, but if you do, check out Viator Tours—Mountain Kilimanjaro Day Hike or The Best 6-Day Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour Via Machame route.
On our long drive to and from the safari, I was amazed by all the African tribes we passed along the road from the window. I saw a native African man walking with shoes made of tire tread—how ingenious! There seemed to be a simple contentment amongst them, as well as an independent spirit that I highly respect.
Tanzanites!
If you have not figured it out by the name, the precious gemstone Tanzanite comes from Tanzania. I am mesmerized by these beauties, and for good reason: they are 1000 times rarer than diamonds! They were only recently discovered in 1967 by Maasai herders in the Merelani Hills near Arusha. It was Tiffany and Co. who initially started selling the beautiful stone in 1968. (1)
One of the things I love to buy when traveling is earrings, particularly ones made with the stones of that region or country. This way, when you do a lot of traveling, you don’t end up with suitcases full of trinkets but instead small earrings that pack easily and will bring back memories each time you wear them.
You can find really great deals when looking for Tanzanite in Tanzania. These gems are stunning, and present in different shades of almost light purple to deep sapphire. Make sure you find a reputable dealer so that you don’t end up with fake stones for which you possibly paid a fortune.
And Now for your History Deep Dive…
The History of Tanzania is anything but simple. The country that we know today is made up of 120 different indigenous African tribes and was officially formed in 1964. Prior to this, Tanzania was part of a larger territory called Tanganyika which included the coastal region of Zanzibar.
From the 1880s to 1919, parts of Tanganyika became a part of a German colony in Eastern Africa. Following World War I and then under the power of the League of Nations, Tanganyika then came under British Authority. The British would use the region as a military post during World War II. In 1947, Tanganyika became a United Nations Trust under British rule until they gained their independence in 1961. (2)
The Arabs and the French became very interested in the slave trade in Kilwa, a town in Tanganyika, in 1776, taking advantage of the free labor it presented. (3) A famous Scottish explorer and Christian missionary who traveled named David Livingstone (“Doctor Livingstone, I presume?“) would become an anti-slavery activist during the mid-1800s throughout Tanganyika after seeing the slave trade firsthand. He pressured the British Empire to stop this horrific practice.
His plan was to open legitimate trade routes throughout the interior of Africa to allow for the slave trade to be destroyed. Livingstone would expose the horrors of the slave trade through his book The Life and Explorations of Dr. Livingstone. (4)
In 1873, the slave trade in Tanganyika was abolished by the British, but it would still go on secretly for some time after. (5) Astoundingly and unfortunately, the slave trade continues illegally throughout all parts of the world to this day.
Sources
(2). https://www.britannica.com/place/Tanzania/German-East-Africa#ref419184
(3). https://www.britannica.com/place/Tanzania/History
(4). https://www.britannica.com/biography/David-Livingstone
(5). https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2095/
(6). https://africanlanders.com/en/tanzania-en/tanzania-history-of-slavery-in-zanzibar/