Arusha Tour

Arusha Tour - Whether you want to learn about the earliest signs of mankind, learn about the city's history, visit the park or interact with its people, there are many ways to enjoy your Arusha exploratory tour.

Tanzanite, a blue-purple gemstone, is not only spectacular, but it is also rare. The stone is only found in Tanzania, and the Tanzanite Experience Store is where you may interest yourself and learn all about the mining and properties of the gemstone. The Maasai Market, Central Market and Tinga Tinga shops in Arusha display the craftsmanship and artwork of the native peoples of Tanzania. You may buy souvenirs for yourself or gifts for friends and family back home. The Shanga Shangaa Project is a local community program that helps Tanzanians who struggle with disabilities to learn new skills and gain confidence in their abilities. Your discerning tour of Arusha with Afriphotography may include a visit to this valuable and heart-touching program. The Meserani Snake Park may be a fascinating part of your nature travels in Africa. Located approximately 15 miles from the city of Arusha, the park offers guided tours and activities to learn about the snakes of Tanzania. Playing a round of golf at the 18-hole Kilimanjaro Golf and Wildlife Estate is another option of sport touring in Arusha. Go explore the grasslands, swamps, crater lakes, and highland forests of Arusha National Park; here, you will see varied terrestrial, aquatic and avian fauna, from flamingos to hippos, buffalos, giraffes, zebras and many more. You can also canoe here with the option of staying at Hatari Lodge for the overnight.

Zanzibar Tour

The island has something to offer every kind of traveler, from the history enthusiast to the underwater realm explorer, coastal wanderer, the spice cuisine aficionado or active-water buff and many more.

Despite its diminutive size, Zanzibar Island has something to offer every kind of traveler in Africa, from the history enthusiast to the underwater realm explorer, coastal habitat wanderer, the spice flavored cuisine aficionado or active-water buff and many more. All of these touristy places of interest are alluring interwoven with the casual, laid-back Swahili ambience of the island where time seems to progress at a snail's pace. Arrive at Zanzibar and you will be instantly engulfed in its bygone era charm. Explore its old metropolis capital center, Stone Town, and you will see a fascinating mishmash of old buildings with the exquisite Zanzibari architecture of carved doors and delicate, lattice windows. Wander with an expert Africphotography guide through its narrow streets and shop for beautiful handmade craft, delicious seafood cooked with the fresh catch of the day, striking painting and exquisite jewelry, spices to take back home, fresh, luscious fruit and colorful fabrics. Looking for knick-knacks and mementos of your dream vacation in Zanzibar for your family and friends back home, you will find them all here. Music lovers can visit the Dhow Countries Music Academy on Mizingani Road in Stone Town. Every year, Sauti za Busara hosts a music festival annually in February at the Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens. Zanzibar has long been well-known as the Spice capital, not just because it was an important historic stopover trading port but because of its many spice farm. Tour the plantations as it is one of the top ten things to do in Zanzibar. Here, you can see the zings in their raw form and learn about their remarkable properties Spices do more than imparting that special flavor to your food, they are used to create effective medications and even color traditional wedding garb and as a lipstick too.

Jozani Forest comes almost as a sightseeing surprise because it is hard to imagine that the tropical island of Zanzibar can even host a terrestrial national reserve as one of the natural attractions. Established in the 1960s, this conservation area is a good place to visit as it serves to protect the rare red colobus monkey and also many diverse species of flora and smaller fauna from sykes’ monkeys to Ader’s antelope. Another delightful facet of this reserve is that it is located on Chwaka Bay and includes a marine forest of mangrove trees that you absolutely must explore when on your wondrous trip in East Africa. While your discovery of the treasures of Zanzibar's marine world inaugurates with the mangrove forest of Jozani, you must snorkel or scuba dive at the distinct reefs that lie all around Zanzibar. The coral reefs along the coast are breathtakingly beautiful, and some of them are a part of protected reserves e.g. Chumbe and Mnemba Atoll. There are almost unending walls of living coral and an unbelievable variety of wondrous sea creatures. Should you ocean tour off the coast of Tanzania during the migratory season, you may also spot humpback whales and whale sharks too. Anglers will enjoy raising and snagging a fascinating range of sailfish, marlins, wahoo, barracudas, trevally, and yellowfin tuna to name a scarce few. Though fishing in Zanzibar is mostly permitted in deeper waters to ensure delicately protected corals are not damaged nor its resident reef fish wiped out. In an attempt to protect the billfish numbers and allow them to propagate, you might be asked to tag and release them. But Zanzibar has even more. Go on a horse riding excursion on the pure white sand beaches of Kiwengwa Beach. Or try your hand at quad biking in Kiwengwa also. Take lessons in fitness with yoga sessions on the beach in Matemwe or at Mbweni Ruins while water sports lovers can try kitesurfing or windsurfing on the east coast. Round of your sustainable holiday on Paje Beach with a tour of the Seaweed Center for an understanding of their efforts to improve the livelihoods of the female seaweed farmers. Other day excursion options with Africphotography are dolphin swimming, island yachting, parasailing, jetskiing, wakeboarding, flyboarding, village biking and much more.

Dar es Salaam Tour

Dar es Salaam with her many charms, has much to see and offer her visitants. With your accommodations sorted, you will want to explore the city’s best attractions and places to visit. For the younger tourist generation, if it is a night of partying and music you want, visit the Rouge, the city’s most happening night club at the Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, or if it is gaming you are looking for, visit the casino at the New Africa Hotel. For an in-depth look into her past, go to the National Museum and House of Culture for cultural ethnographic collections, artifacts and vestiges from the Tanganyika fight for freedom, history on slavery and colonialism, evolution displays and more. The Village Museum is a good place for traditional dances, music and other cultural shows at appointed times while the St. Joseph’s Cathedral, White Father’s Mission House, Lutheran Church, Saifee Masjid, Ithnasheri Mosque and the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir depict the rich historic fusion and religious tolerance of Dar es Salaam. Pick up some delightful curios and works of ethnic art at the Nyumba ya Sanaa, which means House of Art in Swahili. Set up to showcase Tanzanian art and craftsmanship, it also sometimes hosts displays of music and dance. You can also look for delicately carved Makonde artifacts or lovely Tinga Tinga paintings. When you reach the Askari Monument (soldier in Swahili), you will know you have reached the actual heart of the city – it hosts a bronze figurine memorial of the fallen native soldiers who fought in World War I in support of Great Britain’s “Carrier Corps” military strategy against the German forces under Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck commandership. Thereafter, Kivukoni Fish Market by the harbor – a thriving ocean produce market for the locals. Always have a local Africaphotography guide with you at all times during your tour of Dar es Salaam - both for your safety in an unfamiliar city and also a guided sightseeing experience with wealth of insider information your city guide has got to offer. Back in the heart of the city, off Samora Machel Avenue and overlooking Karimjee Hall, established during the German era, the Botanical Gardens, though today much smaller in size, retain their splendid natural beauty bringing lushness to an ever-growing city. For more natural sights and aquatic interest, take a boat ride to the Bongoyo and Mbudya Island Marine Reserves. Here, you can take diving and snorkeling expeditions to explore the rich marine world with a wide range of coral and fish species. For other things to do, you can visit the Kunduchi Ruins, 15 miles (25 kilometers) north of Dar es Salaam showcasing 15th-century Arabian reminders with oriental bits and pieces. If you are traveling with kids, you can take them to Waterworld, an aquatic amusement park close to Hotel White Sands in the same Kunduchi area – the northern beach of Dar es Salaam.

Pemba Tour

This verdant island offers varied outdoor experiences, from a walking tour of the Ngezi Forest Reserve in search of the Flying Fox Bats to visiting sandbanks, scuba diving and snorkeling at pristine coral reefs to fishing and more.

Despite its small size and casual, laid-back demeanor, Pemba Island off the eastern coast of Tanzania has a lot to offer by way of exploring for a memorable seaside holiday in Africa (read more on where to stay in Pemba). You will sense you are in for a rare treat even as you travel to the island through the glistening azure waters of the Indian Ocean that offer tantalizing glimpses of the coral reefs at the bottom. As you disembark from your boat on the seashore, you will land on soft, white sands that sink below your feet. Make your way to the inner sections of the island via a vehicle or sometimes on foot where your Africphotography assigned guide will meet you to show you around the island natural hotspots and its many delights. During your day excursion of Pemba Island, begin your exploration by a walking tour of the Ngezi Forest Reserve, a lush green expanse with deep valleys and steep inclines. Look for the endemic Flying Fox Bats of Pemba that have wingspans of 1.60 meters and its faces resembles its given name. They are typically found roosting in numbers of 850 bats in a single location. You could also see red colobus and vervet monkeys and a host of bird species like African goshawk, palm-nut vulture, malachite kingfisher, Pemba white-eye, scops owl and more Take a step back in a time long gone while on your trip of Eastern Africa, visit the fortress at Mkama Ndume. Its collection of historical buildings indicates Portuguese, Arab and Swahili architectural trends. You could also tour the 18th-century ruins at Chwaka, which was perhaps the capital of the island around that time and ruled by the Mazrui clan whose tombs can be still seen today. Also, visit the present day capital of Pemba at Chake Chake that is located close to Chwaka. This nook of Pemba is possibly the only place where you might find some vigorous island activity amidst local taxis, dala-dalas and ox-wagons. If you would like to taste the outlandish fruits of Pemba, check out the local bazaars with their offerings of local fruit and fresh seafood caught the same day from the ocean's bounty. Try your hand at catching fish yourself by going on a deep sea angling expedition in a dhow or motorized boat. Enjoy pitching your wits against stalwarts like swordfish, barracuda, spearfish, giant trevally, sailfish, marlin, tuna, wahoo or many more. For those who prefer an underwater safari, you could snorkel or dive at the pristine coral reefs to watch magnificent sea life creatures in their natural environs. PADI diving courses can also be organized via your Africphotography trip planner. A tour of the famed spice farms and a walk to the lighthouse are a complete must while traveling in Pemba. When the tide is low and current and weather conditions allowing, you could go for a walk on the sandbank where you will see the stunning sands offset by the clear turquoise waters of the ocean. Or view the island from aboard a handcrafted mango wood dhow on a sailing ride. Alternatively, enjoy stunning vistas over the ocean on the traditional fishermen Ngalawa boat as the setting evening sun bathes the ocean in awesome colors of rich gold.

Mafia Tour

While you could spend your complete outdoor holiday in Mafia sunbathing in the powdery white sands or swimming in its azure waters, do take the time to explore its many fascinating, unspoiled treasures.

While you could spend your complete outdoor holiday in Mafia Island sunbathing in the powdery white sands or swimming in its azure waters, do take the time to explore its many fascinating treasures. You could go snorkeling in the waters off Chole Bay where you will discover an enchanting underwater world painted by nature’s many vibrant colors. Look closely into the waving fingers of the coral and you will spot many shy marine denizens peeking through them. Check out the Kirongo Rocks, Utumbe or shallow garden and Milimani, the reef hills. Chole Bay is the superlative spot for diving excursions and has depths from 5 to 24 meters. Beginners and experienced advanced divers can enjoy personalized Africphotography diving trips in Mafia under the watchful eyes of an expert divemaster viewing large groupers or tiny invertebrates swimming among the reefs. If you would like to experience the awesome thrill of swimming with whale sharks, then you should get onboard the Kitu Kiblu dhow, best seen from October to March. In the months from July to October, you could also chance to watch humpback whales following their annual migratory paths to the warm Erythraean Red Sea. On shore, should you chance to tour Mafia in the months of June through September, you could delight in watching rare species of hatched turtles such as green and hawksbill emerging from their sandy nests and scrambling to the ocean. If history interests you, visit Juani Island that houses the 13th century Kua settlement. Shirazi merchants from Kilwa had set up base here, but today nature has taken over completely. You can reach the island by a short dhow ride. Tropical vegetation covers the island, and you will find diminutive antelopes, wild pigs, monkeys and many feathered denizens scampering or flitting among the fig trees. The southeast section of the island has a saltwater pool where you can view upside-down jellyfish that fascinatingly have no stings. A picnic on pure white sand banks is another pleasurable activity on your dream trip to Mafia Island. Every day at low tide, the 600-meters Funguni Sandbank appears and remains accessible by boat for around five-six hours. The receding water leaves behind pools where small creatures abound and you can view tiger cowries, tiny seahorses, crabs and starfish, to name a few. As you laze on the sands sipping drinks and munching on snacks, you might spot coastal birds arriving for meals of their own on the seafood laid out so tantalizingly in the pools. Take a stroll to Chole Village during where you can interact with the local Swahili people and peek into their way of living. Watch craftsmen fashioning dhows alongside the relaxed pace of several village activities. On Chole Island is the Popo Park, the site set aside for the preservation of the habitat of fruit bats (aka flying foxes). These beautiful, nocturnal avian creatures have distinctive fox-like faces and russet-colored fur. Watch them take to the air in hundreds as the sun sets over the horizon. To enjoy the spectacular sunsets on the Indian Ocean, you could take a dhow ride around the island. Sip cool cocktails as the ocean breeze caress you while the calls of the seabirds lull you to a dream-like state, the ideal ending to another day on your unforgettable island travel in Tanzania with Africphotography.

Bagamoyo Tour

History left its mark on Bagamoyo long before the 18th century. You can visit varied historical and cultural sites like the Kaole Ruins, Old Fort to the first Post and Telegraph Bureau in East Africa.

History left its mark on Bagamoyo long before the 18th century. If you go sightsee the Nunge Salt Fields, you will learn that close to these sites is the Mkandini, where Sassania-Islamic pottery from the 9th century was unearthed. And salt, being a valuable commodity contributed to the importance of Bagamoyo. One of the best places to visit is the Kaole Ruins at the south of the town; here, you will see traces of the Mongol invasion of 1256. There are two mosques, the Northern and the Southern and cemeteries with tombs and pillars. In no other location outside Eastern Africa will you see cemeteries sited next to Muslim places of prayer. Also at this archaeological interest site, you will see the vestiges of a stone structure where Chinese pottery, ceramic beads and other items have been found indicating Bagamoyo’s ties with ancient Asian civilization. One of the things to do is to walk through the Makaburini Mwana Makuka Cemetery where you will find evidence that the affluent Muslim African clans from other local areas were also among the first native emigrants into Bagamoyo. Some of the tombs have legible dates of 1793 and 1813 while others have a structure around them pointing to the possibility that the people buried here might have been religiously revered or otherwise significant. A. S. Mahrabi who built the Old Fort in Bagamoyo, also built the Old Arab Tea House (must see local attractions), probably even before the beginning of the 19th century (read more on when is the best time to go to Bagamoyo). Originally erected to house a shop and a guesthouse, the building was also used as a hospital. A sprawling structure with many rooms, the Germans continued to use it as a hospital, but the British converted it into a bank and used the upper floor as their offices. Today, it has been restored and is used by the local administration of Bagamoyo. India Street also dubbed by the Germans as “Kaiserstrasse” has many historical structures located on it. Visit the street and you will see the first Post and Telegraph Bureau in East Africa. Also on this street, is the Boma, considered being among the most significant structures in East Africa. It was first built in 1895-97 as an official base and residence for the German Colonial Governor. Having several rooms, it has been changed by its different owners and natural elements but has now been restored by the government of Tanzania. The Liku House is yet another good point of interest structure on India Street sited close to the Public Garden. Constructed by an Asian trader, it was later used by the Germans for their offices and homes. Do take the time on your Bagamoyo excursion to visit the Public Garden also. Stretching from the Boma to the beach, it was known for its sports arenas and flower beds (read more on where to stay in Bagamoyo with Africphotography). You will find vestiges of the slave trade at many locations in Bagamoyo. The Customs House is sited close to the harbour, and since it has a stone walkway leading from the seaside into the main hall, it may be safe to assume that slaves were once walked to the dhows for loading. The Customs House finds mention in the records of Richard Burton, who talks about the Indian Chief of Customs in 1857. Local lore has it that slaves were auctioned off under a tree in the Old Market and an underground tunnel lead from here to the beach through which slaves were walked after being blindfolded, to be seated in the dhows. The present day Old Market was actually built by the Germans in place of the ancient one. The Caravan Serai served as a base for caravans traveling to and carrying cargo from the interiors of Africa, and at the time, there were large courtyards with pens to house animals and other structures for porters. Historical records also show that there were camps where slaves were kept. Today, it houses a tourist information center office and the Antiquities Office of Bagamoyo. Everywhere you look you will see strong traces of the colonial past of Bagamoyo. For example, you can tour the German Colonial Cemetery and the German Block House. It was built by Major Wissman during the freedom struggle led by Bushiri in 1889 as a defence post for the western entrance to the town. In all, Wissman built five such towers to defend Bagamoyo. In memory of Bushiri and his followers who were hanged to death by the Germans, a monument has been erected in the vicinity of the Badeco Beach Hotel called the Hanging Place. Then, there are also the Bagamoyo District Hospital and the Mwambao Primary School financially donated by philanthropic Sewa Haji, both constructed during the colonial era and now renovated so that they are fully functional. If you are a connoisseur of seafood, you might want to trip out to the Fish Market of Bagamoyo where the catch of the day is auctioned off every day after the fishing dhows return. You might also find that some of the catch is cooked and eaten right there but not recommended for non-native stomachs.

Kilwa Tour

The significance of Kilwa as a port town is very much evident when you tour the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites with Africphotography i.e. the Ruins of Kisiwani being the larger one and the Ruins of Songo Mnara.

Kilwa’s significance as a port town is very much evident when you tour the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites with Africphotography i.e. the Ruins of Kisiwani and the Ruins of Songo Mnara (must see tourism attractions). Kisiwani and Songo Mnara were two port cities located on two different islands off the coast of Kilwa. Kilwa Kisiwani is the bigger of the two and these islands prospered for ten centuries between the 9th and 19th century. It was in the 13th and 14th centuries that they reached the zenith of their influence on trade because they controlled all activity in the Indian Ocean with the countries of Africa, Arabia and Asia i.e. India and China. Kilwa Kisiwani also established its own currency and the islands commodities such as gold and ivory coming from the interiors of Africa were exchanged for shining silver, incenses, carnelians which are a kind of reddish semi-precious stones, Persian earthenware decorated with colored, metallic glaze and Chinese ceramics, from beads to pottery. These port towns were much esteemed by voyagers coming in from Europe, and Ibn Battuta, a famed explorer talks about the beauty of Kilwa in his writings especially on the generosity of the sultan at the time - Abu Al-Muzaffar Hasan. In the 16th century, the islands began to lose popularity, probably with the coming of the Portuguese. Today, ruins of the many momentous and elaborate buildings, some decorated with Chinese porcelain and built using coral stone, wood and lime still remain on the islands. You can sightsee entire Kilwa metropolis sprawls including houses, mosques, public gathering places, baths, palace ruins and cemeteries. The architecture is Arabic with Swahili influence and illustrates the advent of Islam in Africa. It also tells you about the past bustling activity and splendor of these now silent cities.

Moshi Tour

You could take long walks in the coffee and banana plantations in Moshi, spend time bird watching or experience the Mamba Marangu Cultural Tour for a glimpse into the traditional way of living of the Chagga people.

There is so much to sightsee and distinct things to do around Moshi that you could spend much of your Tanzania excursion vacation here. For starters, it is hiking the foothills of Kilimanjaro during the day or even multi-day treks to the summit - Uhuru. You could take long walks in the coffee and banana plantations or just spend time bird watching on the outskirts of the town area. Moshi town also has a bucolic bazaar where you can buy some pretty curios and mementos. The rural “Coffee Shop” has covered tables in its garden, ideal for independent backpackers for an afternoon of hot coffee and conversation. There are also golf courses around where you can spend a morning playing a round. The Nyumba Ya Mungu Reservoir is a good place for sighting birds, and there are also fishing spots to interest you. Visit some of the most beautiful falls such as the Makoa and Uru Waterfalls. Also stop by at the Kikuletwa Hot Springs and enjoy a fun Tarzan-like dip in its crystal clear waters, perfect also to relax those sore muscles if you have just returned from an arduous climbing expedition. If you want take a picnic with a packed lunch, visit one of the lakes like the Chala and Duluti. At Lake Chala, you might chance to spot some crocodiles. If you visit the Njoro Rau Forest, you can sight the black and white colobus monkeys and stately Mvule trees. For an insight into the colonial culture of Moshi, you must go visit the Lutheran and Catholic cathedrals in Kibosho, around 9 miles (15 kilometers) away from town (read more on where to stay in Moshi during your Africphotography travels). Kibosho is also the site of the Kidia, the oldest church in Tanzania built by the German occupiers. Also, take the time to go on the Mamba Marangu and Machame Cultural Tours for a glimpse into the traditional way of living of the Chagga people. While you are there as a curious tourist, you might see a blacksmith creating a piece of spear art and other traditional iron tools like his ancestors have done centuries before him. The above are only a sample of some of the best tourism places of interest to visit and experience around Moshi.