Tanzania Cultural destinations: Cultural tours in Tanzania take you to discover the countries diverse heritage. There are 120 tribes in Tanzania and because of that, Tanzania’s culture is just as varied as the wildlife in the country.
The fact that these tribes have learnt to live in harmony (at least when you compare with what is happening in some of the neighboring countries ) is an achievement that is often understated. Each of the 120 tribes have their own traditional dances, music, rituals, social practices, art and traditional religious beliefs.
Given her cultural diversity, Tanzania is not just about wildlife and beaches. We think that a visit to this beautiful country would be incomplete without experiencing the way of life of the people and the amazing historical sites.
By experiencing the culture of people in another country, one gets to understand their values and what makes them different. It is also an opportunity to compare these values with your own and acquire perspectives that may help change your opinion of them.
Cultural tours in Tanzania offer amazing opportunities to meet some of Africa’s most interesting indigenous tribes and historical sites. The cultural tours are often an additional activity to standard game drives, other wildlife experiences and experiencing the beautiful beaches of the Indian ocean. A remarkable development was the partnership between the government of Tanzania and the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) to develop special villages where some of the local tribal groups can offer an authentic cultural experience.
Visiting these villages provides tourists with opportunities to observe and experience how the local people live life in a rural setting. At the end of the day, the proceeds are used to develop the villages while also offering jobs to peasants. The village developments are in form of building schools, water holes, health centers and reforestation. We will now begin discussing the popular cultural attractions in Tanzania but before that, you might want to read about the major tourist attractions in Tanzania.
Experience our Diverse Cultures
With 125 - 130 Indigenous communities and more than 126 Indigenous languages, Tanzania’s 31 one diverse and beautiful regions offer extensive authentic Indigenous experiences. Connect with the people and languages that have spoken the land, collected the knowledge, and passed the stories of Indigenous BC for thousands upon thousands of years.
Arusha Tours
Welcome to the vibrant and culturally diverse city of Arusha, nestled in the heart of Tanzania. Arusha is more than just a gateway to the country’s stunning national parks and wildlife adventures. It’s a place where you can immerse yourself in the colorful tapestry of Tanzanian culture and get to know the warm and welcoming people who call this city home. Arusha, often referred to as the “Safari Capital of the World,” is a bustling city located in the northern part of Tanzania. It’s surrounded by some of Africa’s most renowned national parks, making it a hub for tourists and adventurers. However, Arusha has its own unique charm and allure, especially when it comes to experiencing the local culture.
Karatu Tours
Karatu is a small town in the Arusha District, perfectly located on the borders of Lake Manyara National Park and Ngorongoro Crater – Tanzania, giving it the nickname ‘Safari Junction’. It is often used as a quick stop over in-between safari trips or as a cheaper accommodation option compared to staying on the rim of the Crater and within Lake Manyara National Park. If you only see it as a stop over though, you might miss out on some amazing cultural tourism and outdoor action! If you have a few more days, check out what Karatu itself has to offer, giving you a break in between safaris. Karatu is within the Arusha District. It is best reached by car or bus from Arusha. The 150 km on a decent road will take just over two hours. The international airport for Arusha is Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO), about 45 minutes away from the city.
Kilimanjaro Tours
Kilimanjaro Cultural Tours: On our cultural tours you will get in touch with local people of the Kilimanjaro region. Most of our Wanderwomen belong to the Chagga tribe who live at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro for hundreds of years. You are warmly welcome and spend an unforgettable day there – hiking through the lush rainforest to beautiful waterfalls, visit a home for traditional lunch, singing, dancing and learning about their culture (Machame Cultural Tour). We offer day trips to villages of Chagga Tribe (near Moshi) and Maasai Tribe (near Arusha). These tours can be booked as day trips, but we can also arrange an overnight stay for those who want to immerse even more into the African culture.
Lake eyasi Tours
Lake Eyasi is a seasonal shallow endorheic Salt Lake on the floor of the Great Rift Valley at the base of the Serengeti Plateau, just south of the Serengeti National Park and immediately southwest of the Ngorongoro Crater in the Crater Highlands of Tanzania. The lake is elongated, orientated southwest to northeast, and lies in the Eyasi- Wembere branch of the Great Rift Valley. The Hadzabe bushmen live in this region, as do the Datoga and Mbulu tribes. A visit with the bushmen is worthwhile and they will graciously show you where and how they live and hunt. They subsist entirely off the bush and by bow hunting. Everything they use is made from local materials.
Lake Natron Tours
Lake Natron is one of the most famous lakes in the Northern circuit and situated close to an active volcano, Ol Doinyo Lengai known for its thin silvery lava. The minerals, such as salt, soda, and magnesite, from the volcano, have turned Natron into an incredibly alkaline water body which has also made it deadly for many creatures. So as the birds and animals die near the lake, the high content of salt calcifies their dead bodies turning them into stones. There is no paranormal activity going on here, it is just natural minerals. So Lake Natron offers a completely different landscape to the rest of the safari locations in the northern circuit. Quite a few find the looming silhouette of Ol Doinyo Lengai in the background of the wide open plains of the lake, a spectacular scenery. So read on to see if Lake Natron is for you.
Best Cultural Experiences
From encounters with the famous Maasai tribe and Bushmen to African music festivals and walking tours through Stone Town. We selected a few of the best cultural experiences in Tanzania for you..
