Home to lush green forests, sandy beaches, bustling cities, rocky hills, and vast safari parks, Tanzania is one of the most amazing tourist locations in East Africa, where one can enjoy an extraordinary visit. If visitors had only 48 hours to spend in this spectacular country, here are the top 5 things that must be part of their itinerary!
- Explore Dar Es Salaam
Tourists can reach Dar Es Salaam by flying to Julius Nyerere Airport, which is located around 12 kilometers from the city center. Those who are already in the country can reach the city by road, which is a cheaper but more time taking option. In Dar Es Salaam, tourists can enjoy the unique taste of the local seafood, visit the interesting Askari Monument and learn about Tanzania’s role in the second World War, and learn about the country’s history and heritage at the National Museum. The local marketplaces provide a great insight into local life and culture, and tourists can observe different crafts and skills (such as carving, weaving, and bead making), and buy souvenirs and gifts.
- Visit a Beach
A visit to Tanzania is incomplete without a Beach trip. Near Dar, tourists can go to a number of spectacular beaches and enjoy a relaxing trip. The pristine Coco Beach, also known as Oyster Bay, is located in the beautiful Msasani Peninsula!Tourists can enjoy the stunning view of the white sands and blue waters while eating delicious fresh seafood! Tourists can also take a ferry from Dar to Mbudya Island, where they can enjoy the seclusion and tranquility. When the tide is low, they can also enjoy an extraordinary snorkeling experience! Travelers can also visit Kigamboni Beach, which is home to Fun City, the largest water and amusement park in Tanzania, where they can enjoy a bull ride, a ferris wheel, a zip line, a merry go round, rotating wheel rides, plane rides, bumper cars, go karts, bungee jumping, a free fall, and water slides!
- Road trip to Selous Game Reserve
A road trip is a great way of exploring another country. A drive from Dar to Selous Game Reserve will take around 4 hours. Here, tourists can enjoy an exciting game drive or safari, and watch wildlife such as lions, elephants, hippos, buffaloes, crocodiles, wild dogs, wildebeests, zebras, leopards, elands, giraffes, hyenas, rhinos, baboons, cheetahs, jackals, vervet monkeys, bushbucks, waterbucks, and impalas. The stunning park is also great for bird watching as it is home to over 350 species of exotic birds such as lapwings, kingfishers, kestrels, herons, and eagles.
- Visit Kilwa Kisiwani
Tourists can take a 2 hour long trip to Kilwa Kisiwani, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is one of the best historical landmarks in Tanzania. Travelers can explore the ruins of a 9th century medieval trade city which acted as a trading port in the 15th century. They can visit the Great Mosque which is the largest coral stone mosque in the region, and was built in the 11th-13th century! The roof has the Great Dome, known as the Kilwa Chronicle, which was the first dome in East Africa.
- Visit Kizimbani
Kizimbani is a stunning town which can be reached via a 50 minute drive from Kilwa. Here, tourists can enjoy a spice farm tour, where they can touch, smell, taste, and observe spices such as cardamom, vanilla, cumin, pepper, lemongrass, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, garlic, coriander, nutmeg, basil, and chillies. Tourists can buy these spices, as well as other products such as soaps, teas, perfumes, and fruits.
This way, in 48 hours, tourists can explore a bustling city, visit a Beach, experience a safari, enjoy a road trip, learn about history, and have a spice farm tour. Tanzania is a spectacular tourist location and should be on every travel lover’s wish list. On longer vacations, visitors can go to other exciting locations such as Serengeti and Kilimanjaro as well!
