make the most of your time in africa
ACTIVITIES YOU CAN TAKE PART IN WHILE YOU’RE IN THE AREA
For those with energy to burn there are some challenging mountains, including Kilimanjaro. At almost 20,000 feet above sea level, this is the tallest free standing mountain in the world and is a truly magnificent sight. Its ascent is not for the faint hearted, taking up to a week and exposing the climber to temperatures well below zero and halving the oxygen levels in the blood. However, I can guarantee that its the memory of a lifetime! Other slightly less daunting climbs include Mount Meru (three days) and Ol Donyo Lengai (one day), although these are in some ways technically more challenging than Kilimanjaro. The Usumbara mountains are more gentle but still offer superb scenery and beautiful landscape views with little villages clinging to the hillsides.
Away from the mountains, there are many safari parks to spend time exploring the local wildlife. The Serengeti offers vast rolling plains and the hope of following the migration of the Wildebeest. Lake Manyara has flamingos and its famous tree lions, while the elephants of Tarangire are complemented by the zebra and giraffe that roam in abundance. But for me the jewel in the crown is the Ngorongoro Crater. Only eighteen miles in diameter, it hosts the most diverse range of large animals anywhere in Africa. We saw ten different species in our first two hours, and the action is non-stop. A truly remarkable place.
If you prefer to avoid spending a long time travelling then for the more sedentary travellers the Hot Springs offer a refreshing chance to swim while having your toes nibbled by the resident fish. Avoid the higher pool where the terrapins breed as their main food source are the snails who carry Shistosomiasis. Resist the temptation to dive under the surface! Another popular day trip is to the Coffee and Banana plantations on the slopes of the mountain, and for a few extra shillings you can roast your own beans or try the locally brewed banana beer. Be warned, its an acquired taste.Visit the many waterfalls that surround Old Moshi while learning of the history of the local tribes and those colonisers who followed in their wake. Or try the vibrant local market down by the old railway station where the bar serves the cheapest beer in town!
And if you can't resist the lure of the beach then there's Tanga on the coast, and Zanzibar just an hours flight away, where the yellow sands and green sea await. The diving and snorkelling on the north and east of the Island are worth the trip alone, although you must visit Stonetown and its little laneways full of sights, smells and sounds from the days it was the retreat of Sultans and capital of the Slave trade. You may also chose to visit the last bastion of the Red Colobus monkeys on the road to Paje or take a Dhow across to Prison Island and visit the giant tortoises that live to over 200 years of age.