Featured Country: Tanzania Tanzania is a travelers paradise - for many reasons. Within a limited time, you can climb the highest mountain in Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro, safari in the Serengeti (home to some of the largest concentrations of animals anywhere on the planet), and finally end your time relaxing on the beaches of the exotic spice island of Zanzibar - all within a period of three weeks. This is a perfect vacations for someone who wants a little bit of everything. While most people visit northern Tanzania for some of the world's most famous wildlife parks, the real treasures of Tanzania can be found almost anywhere in the country - and it can be done on a small budget. Throughout the country are seldom visited wildlife parks, picturesque villages, isolated mountain ranges, and friendly, curious people. From the tribal Masai in the north, who still dress traditional clothes and live in mud huts, to the veiled Muslim women of Zanzibar, Tanzania is a huge, diverse country that offers travelers a unique, sometimes contrasting, landscape and culture. What's in this issue? Tanzania's Top Attractions Airfare Deals From Safaris to Climbing Kilimanjaro, Read the Featured Stories of Tanzania What our Insiders say about Tanzania Accommodation Links & Resources Books on Tanzania Share your Africa travel story Tanzania's Top Attractions Mt. Kilimajaro The highest freestanding mountain in Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro towers at 19,340 feet / 5895 meters near the border of Kenya. Mt. Kilimanjaro is perhaps the most famous mountain in Africa, with early explorers, such as David Livingstone and Henry Speke, using the mountain as a guide for exploring deeper into so-called "dark continent." Nowadays, mountain climbers from all over the world come to conquer and hopefully summit the "roof of Africa." The attraction for Mt. Kilimanjaro is that it can be climbed by a semi-fit person. It doesn't take any special equipment or intense training, and is basically somewhat of a hike to the top (keep in mind this is taking the easy route). Separate from the mountain climbing, colorful villages, beautiful markets and stunning waterfalls, are sprinkled around the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, making it a great area for exploring. Northern Safari Parks - Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park This is the reason why people come to Africa - these are the classic, well-traveled, somewhat famous, safari parks of northern Tanzania. While "each one of these" parks offer unique landscapes and diverse ecosystems, each one has huge concentrations of wildlife. From lions to buffaloes to giraffes (and perhaps even a black rhino), this is what makes Tanzania spectacular. These four wildlife parks, all relatively close together, are usually combined into a five to seven day safari where tourists can experience camping under the Africa sun and hearing the sounds of animals exploring the campsite at night. This is a once in a lifetime experience! Zanzibar Often known as the exotic spice island, Zanzibar was the starting and organizing point for slave traders, missionaries, and explorers before they went into the interior of Africa. Because of diverse colonial and Islamic influences, Zanzibar has a strange mixture of eastern and western influences, very much different from mainland Tanzania. Today legions of tourists flock to Zanzibar after a long hot safari and come to relax on the white-sand beaches, swim in the deep blue Indian Ocean, and explore the mystical wonders of ancient Stone Town. BootsnAll AIRFARE DEALS Brought to you by the BootsnAll TripPlanner Plan and book your round-the-world or multi-continental trip! There a couple affordable ways to get to Tanzania, but this depends upon your time and money. Below are a few strategies for both the laid-back backpacker to the rushed "I-have-two-week-vacation" stressed out American. There three airports are Nairobi, Kenya, and Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam International Airports, both in Tanzania. If you only have two weeks and really want to maximize each day, then you should fly directly into Kilimanjaro airport. This will save you time, energy, but be a little bit more expensive than flying into Nairobi, the cheapest method. From Nairobi, East Africa Shuttles, runs two shuttles per day to Arusha, the gateway to safari country, and Moshi, the starting point for climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. If your are headed anywhere into Southern Tanzania, like the Selous Game Reserve, or are planning to visit Zanzibar or Pemba, then Dar es Salaam International Airport is your next best option. Here are some ticket prices we found: $1254 Seattle - Kilimanjaro Airport $1148 Los Angeles - Nairobi $1424 New York - Kilimanjaro Airport $1424 New York - Dar es Salaam Now, log on to the TripPlanner or International Airfares and put together an itinerary of the places you want to see! Back to top Featured Stories of Tanzania Snows of Kilimanjaro Robert Geier is determined to climb the tallest mountains of the world. This time it's Africa's biggest, Kilimanjaro. Lions in the Serengeti Family pride takes on a whole new meaning when Graydon visits his sister, who researches the lions in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. Beach? Smeach! Gemma Pitcher spends New Year's Eve on Zanzibar and discovers that paradise is alive and well - and not a trust fund in sight. If you would like to submit an article on your travel experiences, check out our Writer's Guidelines, then send it along. Back to top BootsnAll Insiders BootsnAll Insiders are a great source of information, and they can tell you what the guidebooks can't. We asked some of our Insiders for their take on safaris, and here's what they had to say: Donovan Pacholl, Picking a Safari or Trekking Company If you plan to organize a safari, or climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, in East Africa with a local company, you need to check out a few things. When you arrive, there will be loads of people looking to sell you a trip. Since it's a commission-based system, there are "fly catchers" on the streets, looking to capitalize off the naive tourist who just arrived. Don't let this bother you. They are good guys, just trying to make a living like everyone else. Of course, they can be a bit pesty, but that's the nature of being successful. First, you should review as many companies as possible, and only use companies that actually have an office. Ask for pictures of previous trips, references, and to meet the guide. Even ask other tourists on the streets if they had any good (or bad) experiences with local companies. For safaris, ask to see a vehicle first, to make sure it's in good condition and ask if they have a back-up plan in case it breaksdown. Likewise, for trekking on Mt. Kilimanjaro, you should ask to see their gear, meet the guide, and make sure you will have a good tent and equipment on your climb. Back to top Accommodations in Tanzania Chez lbs Backpackers - Arusha Chwaka Bay Resort - Zanzibar Island View Hotel - Zanzibar Hotel Sea Cliff - Dar es Salaam Links & Resources Use the following sites to learn more about Tanzania, the attractions for travelers, and what to consider on your next trip. Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project The Kilimanjaro Porter's Assistance Project is dedicated to clothing porters, teaching English, first aid, and educating the tourists about how to make sure the porter is treated properly. Tanzania Tourism Board One of the definitive resources for the basic attractions throughout the country. Amazing Safari Lodges Going to Africa and want to sleep in a rich colonial-like setting, much like Ernest Hemingway when he wrote the "Snows of Kilimanjaro?" While this isn't exactly like Hemingway's adventures, meaning you won't have a gun to scare the animals away, you will be living in extreme old world style, but with a nice touch of modern conveniences, with people waiting on your every need. This link with show you the places to visit when you want to travel in Africa, and do it in style. Africa Pictures Amazing pictures and stories on all facets of life and experiences in Africa. This is not only the colorful tribes and beautiful landscapes, but also the harsh existence of reality - famine, war, poverty, slavery, and many of the problems that face Africa. Moshi Mountaineering & Expeditions If you're headed to the wild, untamed Serengeti, or want to climb (and hopefully summit) the highest mountain in Africa, this is one of the best tour companies. When choosing a tour operator in East Africa, look for a company that has integrity, character and can show you not only animals but also explain, in depth, the history and geology of the Great Rift Valley. Back to top Books on Tanzania Lonely Planet Tanzania By Mary Fitzpatrick Snows of Kilimanjaro By Ernest Hemingway Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival By Dean King Kilimanjaro: Mountain at the Crossroads By David Breashears, Audrey Salkeld WRITE AN ARTICLE If you have a story of your own that you would like to submit on Tanzania, have a look at BootsnAll's Writer's Guidelines: http://writers.BootsnAll.com And then send it along. We're always looking for new content and new perspectives, and we hope to get yours soon. TELL A FRIEND If you feel that BootsnAll.com is a valuable resource, or that others might think so, please tell your friends about us. As many of you know, we respond personally to every email we receive in an ongoing effort to build a true traveller's community. Many have responded positively. If you have comments both positive and constructive, we would love to hear them. Tell us what we have done well and how we can improve. We would appreciate it greatly. Back to top