| The word "safari" automatically conjures visions | | | | taarab music have largely been ignored by |
| of vehicles making their stealthy way through tall | | | | tourists, but have an incredible wealth of richness |
| savannah grass: of lions, elephants, leopards, | | | | to offer when explored with an open and eager |
| gazelles and other game that can only be | | | | mind. |
| glimpsed with great difficulty, in a journey thick | | | | Located in East Africa, Tanzania has seen |
| with breathless suspense. | | | | repeated and intimate interaction with peoples of |
| Today, this is not all that can be described by the | | | | several cultures through the centuries. As a result, |
| word "safari". In recent times, the word has | | | | Tanzanian culture has evolved from a hybrid of |
| returned closer to its original Swahili meaning of "a | | | | the traditional, West Africa, the Islamic, and finally |
| long journey", and now refers to any journey | | | | the British, all through its long history beginning |
| undertaken for the purpose of exploration. | | | | from the time of hunter-gatherers and evolving |
| Therefore, "birdwatching safaris", "photographic | | | | through to the present day. |
| safaris" and "cultural safaris" have become popular | | | | If you plan to visit Tanzania, or any other place |
| activities to undertake on a tour to Africa. | | | | with a long and colorful history, it is best to do so |
| The greatest exploratory journey one can take is | | | | as soon as possible. Slowly but surely, remnants |
| without a doubt the cultural safari. The cultural | | | | of the country's traditional and tribal culture - |
| safari includes all forms of exploration over an | | | | languages, relics and preserved sites - are dying |
| extended period of time, taking you through all | | | | out, lost to the world's memory and never to be |
| that the country has to offer - museums, scenic | | | | revived again. |
| beauty, historical sites and relics, geographical | | | | Wildlife, too, is only to be found at a premium - |
| wonders and religious structures. Put together, all | | | | big game hunting, commercial poaching and |
| the aspects of the cultural safari can give the | | | | mass-scale deforestation have rendered many |
| traveler a quick, tantalizing glimpse of the history, | | | | species, once plentiful in their natural habitat, |
| geography, social mores, rituals, religion and | | | | nearly extinct in the wild. The African Lion, African |
| customs of the explored region. So if you, as a | | | | bush elephant, Cape buffalo, manatees, Black |
| traveler, want to see everything and are not sure | | | | rhinoceros and white rhinoceros are fast dwindling, |
| where to begin, the cultural safari is definitely an | | | | and their numbers depend upon the conservation |
| excellent start. | | | | efforts that are woefully inadequate, at least in |
| Tanzania is one of Africa's most popular safari | | | | the present. |
| destinations, mostly thanks to the world-famous | | | | If you have decided to explore Tanzania at some |
| Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. | | | | point in your life, the time to do it is now. With |
| However, there is much more that the country | | | | the cultural safari, the insight you will get into the |
| has to show and offer - its fascinating history, its | | | | country shall give you food for thought for a long |
| tribal culture, and its traditional art forms such as | | | | time to come. |
| the tingatinga drawings and the Islam-influenced | | | | |