Tanzania At a Glance

When many people think of Africa, they are actually thinking of Tanzania. It is one of the most beautiful and politically stable countries in East Africa. It contains some of Africa's finest game reserves (Ngorongoro, Serengeti) as well as the roof of Africa: Mount Kilimanjaro. From the palm-fringed sands of Zanzibar on the coast, to the fabulous bush scenery near Arusha, there is no better way to experience Africa in safe and happy surroundings. The GapGuru volunteer programmes of teaching in schools, vocational training and child care are all based in cities which offer a centre point to explore East Africa during your gap year abroad.

It borders Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda and Mozambique. Modern day Tanzania was formed in 1964 with the merger of Tanganyika and the island of Zanzibar. Migrating tribes from across Africa settled on the land as early as the first century BC, while Arab traders occupied the coastal regions from around the 8th century onwards.

The Portuguese added to the mix when they colonised the country from the 16th century. By the 19th century, a European presence was stronger than ever; explorers, notably Stanley and Livingstone, were arriving and the country became part of the German Empire until the British took control after WWI. This combination of influences makes Tanzania a culturally-rich country. The coolest months are from June to October and the warmest from December to March. Along the coast, there's high humidity and temperatures averaging between 25°C and 29°C. On the central plateau, temperatures range from 20°C to 27°C between June and August. Between December and March they can soar above 30°C.

There are two rainy seasons, with the masika (long rains) from mid-March to May, and the mvuli (short rains) during November, December and into January. The best time for gap year travel in Tanzania is between late June and October, when the rains have finished and the air is coolest. The most opportune time to see lions roaring and wildebeest roaming is to visit the Serengeti from January to March, or the beginning of June and mid-November, when the great migrations to and from Kenya takes place.

Getting Around

Precision Air flies the main domestic routes, including flights to Zanzibar (around 20 minutes flying time from Dar es Salaam), with the main flight hubs based at Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Kilimanjaro. Zan Air, Zanzibar's airline, also flies to the mainland and to the island of Pemba. Coastal Aviation specialises in Safari trips and has a fleet of small planes varying from 3 to 12 seaters. Ferries also serve Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam. Ferry operator Azam Marine provides a daily service that takes around 2 hours, while its route from Zanzibar to Pemba takes just over an hour and runs a couple of times a week. Faster services are available from companies such as Sea Express and Flying Horse.

Private companies like Scandinavia Express offer air-conditioned buses that cover the major routes and give gap year volunteers a chance to chat with fellow travellers. Dalla dallas (minibuses) are also in abundance and often travel to more remote areas though they don't have the best safety records.

Things to see and do

It is in Tanzania that some of the continent's most vivid images come to life: snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, rhinos standing proud in the Ngorongoro Crater and wildebeests hooves thundering over the Serengeti National Park. A gap year in Tanzania gives you the chance to experience mountain-climbing, safaris with amazing wildlife, chimpanzees encounters, beautiful beaches and scuba diving. Tanzanians are well known for their hospitality, and living in a local community means you'll get invited to weddings and family celebrations as well as the chance to drink sweet tea in numerous houses.

Our gap year volunteers are based around the lively towns of Arusha and Moshi with plenty of interesting weekend excursions available, as well as the vibrant towns themselves to explore. Arusha has many good restaurants and bars catering for European and African tastes and buzzing discos playing hip-hop, local bongo flava and taarab from the coast. Moshi is more laid back and enjoys a beautiful location below Mount Kilimanjaro, with great views of the mountain (when it's not clouded over!). Both towns have plenty of shops with lovely handicrafts to buy tingatinga paintings, makonde carvings, Masaai jewellery and batiks. There are also plenty of swimming pools, where gap year travellers can laze away a sunny afternoon, relaxing after the hard work of the week!

Further a field, there are easy day trips to cultural tourism programmes. Longido is a Masaai village near the Kenyan border where you can climb the imposing Mount Longido, do a walking safari to see great birdlife and giraffe, and visit a local medicine man. Gap Year travellers can even sleep the night in a Masaai boma. Ngaramtoni village also has great walking through the forests and foothills of Mount Meru and you can visit a boma where you'll learn how to make Masaai jewellery. On Sundays it hosts a huge cattle market, where warriors trade their cows and catch up for some singing and dancing.

Tengeru town has a fabulous market on Saturdays where everything from fruit to clothes can be snapped up at a bargain price be prepared to haggle! It is also close to the picturesque Lake Duluti, a lake set in a dormant volcanic crater and surrounded by lush forest teaming with birds and monkeys, as well as a community programme where you can pick and grind your own coffee. Gap year travellers looking for something more relaxing head over to Marangu, one of the starting points of a Kili climb. It's a lovely place for some gentle walking and breathtaking waterfalls.

Of course any gap year trip to Tanzania wouldn't be complete without one of our journeys:

• Mount Kilimanjaro Climb: The highest mountain in Africa provides a challenge that can't be missed. Kili can be walked up (no technical climbing required) and provides a variety of scenery from forest to snow-capped peak. Climbs take 5-6 days and are tough as most people suffer from some altitude sickness. A good general level of fitness and more importantly determination and a positive attitude are needed.
• Safari: There is no better way for gap year volunteers to experience wild Africa than by camping in the middle of the Serengeti and hearing the calls of hyenas in the distance. The Northern Safari Circuit is world-famous for both the density of wildlife and variety of environment. A tour of the circuit covers the Serengeti with rolling plains and wildebeest migration, the spectacular Ngorongoro crater with the biggest concentration of wildlife in Africa, Tarangire, famous for his huge elephant herds and Lake Manyara home of the amazing tree-climbing lions. A safari in Northern Tanzania with knowledgeable, eagle-eyed guides gives you a great chance of seeing the big five close up.
• Zanzibar: The stunning spice island of Zanzibar is a tropical paradise. It boasts white sandy beaches fringed with palm trees and clear turquoise waters. There are great opportunities for snorkelling and scuba diving with giant turtles regularly spotted. The northern resorts host full moon parties and there are plenty of bars and restaurants. Away from the beach the Jozani forest has troops of red colobus monkeys and mangrove swamps, while a spice tour gives a fascinating insight into the agriculture of the island, as well as a chance to sample cloves, vanilla and the lipstick tree! Stone Town is a historical slave centre with strong Arab influences. It's a maze of back streets with beautiful architecture and a surprise around every corner. Gap year travellers can finish the day with a cocktail in hand watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean.

Gap year abroad in Tanzania and nearby has many fascinating places to visit. The west of Tanzania is home to Gombe Stream National Park home to many families of chimpanzees and the famous Jane Goodall Research Centre. Rwanda and Uganda offer access to Mountain Gorillas where gappers can come face to face with a silverback. Gap year travellers can also whitewater raft down the Nile in Uganda. Closer to home Mount Meru can be climbed in 3-4 days and is often used as an acclimatisation trip before a Kili climb.

Culture and Customs

The Tanzanian population comprises mainly of Christian and Islamic community. Both comprise of approximately 35% each of the total population in Tanzania. Most people practice their religions and churches and mosques are abundant.

Tanzania has more than 126 ethnic groups and each ethnic group has its own language. Swahili is the de facto official national language. According to the official linguistic policy of Tanzania, as announced in 1984, Swahili is the language of the social and political sphere as well as primary and adult education, whereas English is the language of secondary education, universities, technology and higher courts.

The music of Tanzania stretches from traditional African music to the string-based taarab to a distinctive hip hop known as bongo flava. Tanzania also has its own distinct African rumba music.

Tanzania has a remarkable position in art. Two styles became world known: Tingatinga and Makonde. Tingatinga are the popular African paintings painted with enamel paints on canvas. Usually the motives are animals and flowers in colourful and repetitive design. The style was started by Mr. Edward Saidi Tingatinga born in South Tanzania. Later he moved to Dar Es Salaam. Since his death in 1972 the Tingatinga style expanded both in Tanzania and worldwide. Makonde is both a tribe in Tanzania (and Mozambique) and a modern sculpture style. It is known for the high Ujamaas (Trees of Life) made of the hard and dark ebony tree. Tanzania is also a birthplace of one of the most famous African artists George Lilanga.

Tanzanian food is very carbohydrate-based. Staples are rice, chips and ugali. Ugali is made from ground maize flour boiled in water until its solid. You break pieces off, roll them into a ball and dip them in a sauce made with meat, beans or vegetables. The staples are served with beef, chicken, fish or beans and in Masaai areas goat is common. There is plenty of fresh fruit depending on the season with oranges, pineapple, mangoes and jackfruit all sold cheaply on the street depending on the season. Breakfast tends to be very sweet tea, either with or without milk along with chapatis, bread, doughnuts or fried rice cakes. Gap year volunteers living with local families get to try all the different food and local dishes.

Tanzania is still quite a traditional society with men and women socialising separately, especially in the rural areas. Women are in charge of the home, bringing up children, cooking, cleaning and fetching water. In some houses, men eat separately from women and children although this is now changing. It is common to have big families, and 4 or 5 children are normal per family. Education is free at Primary School and children attend from the age of 7 - 13 years, attendance is now about 96%. Secondary School must be paid for and runs up to O-level 14 - 17 years and then A-level 18 - 19 years. Many children don't have the money to go to Secondary School.

Tanzanian dress is quite conservative. Men wear long trousers (shorts are for children) and women are expected to wear long dresses or skirts covering the knees and also to cover their shoulders. Gap year volunteers can buy brightly coloured material and have clothes made very cheaply, and rectangles of cloth called kangas can be wrapped round as a sarong, cover-up, headscarf or used as a beach towel.

Tanzanians pride themselves on being peaceful people and particularly the fact that different tribes work and live together so harmoniously. Tanzania doesn’t suffer from any of the tribal tensions of Kenya. Many Tanzanian children now only speak Swahili and some of the tribal languages are being lost. Socializing and visiting friends is the major pastime and Tanzanians are very friendly and open. Family is very important and extended families often live together, this means Tanzanian homes are usually busy with plenty going on! People love to welcome visitors (it’s seen as a great honour) and gap year travellers find they are asked lots and lots of questions about life at home. You will hear the Swahili word Karibu all the time, meaning Welcome.

Karibu Gap Year in Tanzania!

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