Things we’ve learned
The south of the country varies greatly from the north. The southern section is much less influenced by Western society and feels more like Africa. It is harder to find people that speak English and much easier to pick up Swahili. The north is characterized by the big name national parks and is focused around tourism. Cities feel different as their focus is on foreigners and English is widely spoken. We also noticed that several of the homes in the south had a large ‘X’ on them as they had been built too close to the road. As the country is close to the equator, their hours of sunlight are the same year round. Whether due to this or for another reason, they use Swahili time that differs from international time. Their clock is 6 hours different as it is roughly 12 when the sun rises and 12 when it sets.
Tanzania by the numbers
- 1688 kilometers in daladala
- 2210+ kilometers in private car (tours)
- 145+ kilometers in boat
- 11 towns visited
- 6 National Parks visited
- 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites visited
- Meds used: 72 antimalarials, 1 bandaid
- Items fixed: Tico’s hiking pants
- Items lost: Tico’s wedding ring, Universal adaptor, Clothesline
Roam to Discover Awards
- Most memorable meal: Spicy BBQ chicken (nyama choma) with lime in Arusha
- Best (and hardest) hike: Mount Kilimanjaro
- Most enjoyable day activity: Udzungwa National Park
- Best wildlife experience: Wildebeest migration in Serengeti
- Incredible underwater experience: Wall dive in Woo South
- Drink of choice: Tico’s – Serengeti; Maria’s – Balini
- Favorite newly discovered song: Jambo Bwana
- Most colorful sunrise: Jambiani, Zanzibar
- Most photogenic sunset: Matemwe, Zanzibar
The Tanzania route
Overall helpful tips:
- Prices in the north are much higher than in the south as they focus on foreign tourism.
- Cellular data is quite affordable and a much cheaper option than paying for hotels with wifi.