The Animals and The Culture

Tanzania - The Adventure, The Animals and The Culture
By Ian Williamson

Tanzania Culture Safaris are the latest fashion when taking a safari in Northern Tanzania. I think this type of adventure safari is a good thing for Tanzania although I must admit to having one or two misgivings. The people and culture of Tanzania are wonderful and to experience the adventure of Tanzania life is an inexpressible privilege.

A Tanzania cultural encounter of the third kind should be top of your list when planning an adventure safari to sunny Tanzania. There are, of course, many pseudo experiences on offer in Tanzania. An off-the-shelf cultural tour just won’t cut the mustard; you will quite simply be left feeling ripped off.

Every Tanzania town in high season has its groups of self conscious western tourists doing their best to fit into the surrounds, when in fact they so painful don’t belong. The white skins of the northern Europeans freshly reddened from the strong Tanzania sun. There they stand huddled into a group unsure of which way to go, what to do and looking thoroughly harassed by the local Tanzanian.

A good start to enjoying your cultural safari experience is to organise a visit into a Tanzania home. Try not to try too hard. Show respect; and don’t be afraid of the dreaded silence. Sometimes it is better to accept the silence and thereby allow everyone to settle into the stillness. We in the west feel a silence is a void that must be filled at all costs; in Tanzania there are no such hang-ups. In Tanzania a silence is better than taking too much. Do not fear the silence; the foolish person rushes in to make a noise where none is necessary.