Article Tanzania Culture: Masai Tanzania and other cultures – Zanzibar History & Tanzania History follows in a further article.

in brief: click here or on any photo to see all culture and history safari packages


a Masai Tanzania Welcome is true to all Tanzania culture

Masai Tanzania – a part of Tanzania Culture

We spell Masai for a while in our article because most people enter it that way in search engines. Meanwhile, at other times we spell it Maasai.

Of course, Tanzania Culture is multifaceted. Masai Tanzania is a significant but small part.

Masai Tanzania is significant for several reasons. Especially because Masai people wish to keep their traditional lifestyle. In addition they also want to keep up with modern times.

Moreover their semi nomadic lifestyle is exemplary, Because they are basically pastoralists. Their ecological footprint is small and their mud huts do not impose on nature.

Masai Tanzania – their Contribution to Tanzania Culture.

Masai Tanzania is recognized across the world because they continue to keep up many traditions. In some maasai villages they begin to drop certain unacceptable customs. However this is not necessarily a tribal standard.

Nonetheless they are good people and many of their traditions are fun to experience. For example their chanting and dancing is of great interest. Their lifestyle too, is of specific interest. To watch them drive their cattle back from distant pastures is certainly interesting. The intricate bead jewelry made by the women is especially of interest. And how the women are able to rebuild their huts after moving to another location. Their semi nomadic lifestyle is essential because of a lack of grasses for the cattle.

Some maasai men become politicians or even work in the city in various professions. Yet they remain traditional. At week end they travel home in their city clothes and change into their robes at home. The colourful robes of the Masai Tanzania also show their adherence to tradition. Even though they may have a mobile phone on them too.

So the Masai Tanzani contribute a great deal tu Tanzanian culture.

Masai Tanzania – What Role does Money Play?

Their main indication of wealth is in the number of cattle they own. And the number of children they sire. However, they are simple cattle herders and cultivate very little. Thus they need money to purchase vegetables and medicines and so on. Education for their children is also costly. Accordingly they learnt some while ago to earn from tourism. Any photo of Masai Tanzania would cost you! Now, of course, it is less rampant but you should still ask.

We can take you to these lovely people in their own boma without you paying. We have agreed a renumeration with them up front and that is, of course, taken into account with our prices. However, this means that you can take as many photos as you want – hassle free. Whilst in their boma they will explain anything you want. They will also invite you inside their huts and the corals they build for their livestock. You can join them on the final stages of driving their cattle home, or milk the cows. Whatever you would like to do just ask us and they will be happy and proud. They will also gladly sing, chant and dance with you too.

Masai Tanzania live in a dual world of tradition and today and they do an excellent job of it!

Masai Tanzania – to Conclude.

Any time spent with masai people is interesting. You can perceive how easy it is to befriend them. Also how close their values are to yours yet how distant their traditional lives are from ours. They are close to nature, at peace with the environment, a tribe to wonder.

in brief: click here or on any photo to see all culture and history safari packages


a Masai Tanzania Welcome is true to all Tanzania culture

Tanzania Culture – there is a whole lot more…

Masai Tanzania is by no means the only interesting culture in Tanzania. But with over 120 tribes Tanzania is there are almost as many varying cultures. Some of which are less apparent.

The Hadzabi in the Lake Eyasi region is the only surviving member of bushmen in East Africa. Indeed in Central Africa. We can take you to meet them, even go hunting with them – although you have to be fit!

The Datooga survive by growing onions and other vegetables but they also cast iron. They make arrow tips for the Hadzabi hunters and, of course, metal jewelry.

The Chagga live at the foot of Kilimanjaro and a few of their huts made of banana leaves are still standing. This is the largest tribe in Tanzania. They were “used” to help the colonialists build their empires. However this “usage” enabled them to learn English and earn a little money. They became the first Tanzanian business men.

Tanzania Culture – is here to stay.

But no single tribe in Tanzania takes power over all. In fact they frequently marry cross tribal. Even religion is not an impossible barrier in cross marriages.

This could result in washing away their traditions. But, on the contrary, Tanzania has understood the name of its greatest gold mine: tourism. Thus even tribes that were loosing their roots now retain their culture in the form of arts and crafts. Also in their music. In addition a number of tribes have kept many traditions whilst living in the present.

We must not forget food either. On some of our tours we can arrange a cultural tour in a local community. This can also include an amazing meal cooked by a local family.

More on Tanzanian Culture here. And here.

Tanzania History – Where it all began

Eventually Julius Nyere took on the combined states of Tanganyika and Zanzibar as Tanzania. Yet this was three years after Tanganyika had gained independence from Great Britain.

Long before that Tanganyika was the home of Homo habilis, a forerunner of Homo sapiens. Visitors can see some remains and fossils today in the museum in Ol Duvai Gorge. In fact, it is Ol Dupai Gorge, as you can learn in the interesting lecture that is part of that tour. The tour takes you on a walk through the gorge. During the walk a guide will explain the geological and paleontology sites. It is easy to get there because it can be a stop off between the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti.

Tanzania History – pre modern times

Let us jump the odd two million years or so to the 8th century. Tanzania history was well under way! By then some Bantu speaking Africans had settled in the fertile, higher regions. Also at that time Arabian peoples colonised the coastal regions and islands such as Zanzibar. A combination of Bantu and Arabic became the language of Swahili.

But already did Europe become part of Tanzania history…

The Portuguese came in the 16th century to secure trading posts but were driven out in the 18th century. It was a new wave of Arabians, this time from Oman, that took over.

Tanzania History – Exploring the Dark Continent

Ujiji, a small town on Lake Tanganyika, not far from Kigoma is where Stanley met Livingstone. Thus Tanganyika and Zanzibar were both essential as bases for the explorers.

Unlike Livingstone who fought Arab slavers on his missions Burton and Speke used them. Because they set off across from Zanzibar to Lake Tanganyika with Omani traders. At the same time Zanzibar was the hub of slave and ivory trade.

Indeed, Tanzania History gave a great deal to Africa’s geographic cartography.

Tanzania History – Deutsch Ost Afrika

But in the early 1880s Germany annexed the coastal regions. Finally, at the end of that decade the whole of Tanganyika was in their power. During that time the coastal towns Tanga and Bagamoyo were significant trading posts. Bagamoyo became the capital of Deutsch Ost Afrika.

But, after the first world war, Britain took Tanganyika from the Germans. Until, in 1961, Tanganyika became independent. Finally, Tanzania history was to become the property of Tanzanians.

Tanzania History – What can you see today?

You can still see the arabic influence in many places in Zanzibar and Coastal regions. In fact Stonetown on Zanzibar will take you back a century or two. Just walk through the narrow passages between the arabic styled houses, or just admire the carved wooden doors.

Bagamoyo and Tanga contain much arabic architecture with a touch of German flair. And Dar es Salaam is a mixture of all plus many modern office buildings, hotels, coffee bars and shops.

You can visit museums and outdoor sites in many places on our Tanzania Culture and Tanzania History safaris.

in brief: click here or on any photo to see all culture and history safari packages


Zanzibar history and Culture in its market

Zanzibar History & Zanzibar Culture

History and Culture melt often into one pot and this is especially true on Zanzibar. Zanzibar history will enthrall and excite you.

Zanzibar is not the same as mainland Africa, that would be like comparing an ant with an elephant. Yet it also has a lot to offer. Thus in addition to Tanzania history and culture it is worthwhile trating Zanzibar separately.

If you plan a Tanzania safari plus a few days on Zanzibar you will not be disappointed. Especially newcomers to Africa should enjoy Zanzibar history and culture before the mainland. Because they can also acclimatize by relaxing on the beaches.

Zanzibar History & Culture – you can feel it

As mentioned above Stonetown is like a time machine. In fact, walk through the many alleyways to perceive it. The typical afro-arabic structures with their beautifully carved doors will certainly haunt you. Because you will look around just to make sure that no slave trader is after you.

Those passageways contain shops selling items from spices to cloths. Cafés offer coffee and tea of various sorts but you can also find good restaurants too. In fact just outside the centre of Stonetown where the streets open up you can find a special restaurant. A single baobab tree is encircled by a circus top. Below the canvas sit local people eating and drinking but the occasional tourist will sit there too. Meanwhile, if you sit there after a walk through Stonetown, you can even smell Zanzibar history.

Any rockers amongst our readers? You can even drink the pub in Stonetown where, reputedly, Freddy Mercury was born and bred.

Zanzibar History and Culture in the form of Museums

The Sultans palace is well worth a visit. Guides walk you through and explain life as it was during the Omani Arab rule.

Furthermore from the Sultans palace you can see the Old Fort of Stonetown, the oldest building. It was specifically built by the Omanis to defend Zanzibar against the Portuguese. It is a great attraction and contains an amphi theatre and a courtyard in which traditional Tanzanian song and dance is performed every day.

Because many other museums and galleries are in Stonetown you should check here.

Zanzibar History and Culture – the spice of life.

You can see many spices and tropical fruit in Stonetown’s market but you can also take a spice tour. This full day bus ride through Zanzibar is interesting because you can sample all spices. You also get the benefit of full explanations from the guide.

You see pepper, cardomon, cinammon and many other spices and you get a super traditional lunch.

Zanzibar History and Culture – swim with dolphins.

Furthermore another popular trip from Stonetown is the dolphin tour. First of all you drive across the island to the east coast where you get the boat. The captain takes you out and finds a school of dolphins. At that point you dive in with your snorkeling gear and attempt to keep up.

Of course, on the way back from the east coast you can stop off at Jozani Forest to see red colobus monkeys.

Zanzibar Culture & History – to conclude

Zanzibar is different to mainland Tanzania. But it is an ideal place to chillout either before or after any Tanzania safari. Also to absorb Zanzibar history and culture.

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