| Responsible tourism is an attitude of mind to | | | | Parks and Game Reserves. If you are camping |
| which we should all aspire. When on a walking | | | | close to a village it is possible to negotiate a visit |
| safari or camping safari it is a must to keep to | | | | with the village elders. This will normally involve |
| the tracks laid out in the parks; in Tanzania it is | | | | some payment. |
| important to keep to the designated trails. If a | | | | The Tanzanian Government does not encourage |
| driver is caught making a new trail with his vehicle | | | | roadside deals for photography or giving of gifts |
| he looses his license and is banned from all | | | | at the roadside. This encourages people to harass |
| National Parks. To keep to the trials helps protect | | | | tourists and has been known to cause the deaths |
| fauna and prevents soil erosion. Tanzania takes its | | | | of children who run into the road looking for |
| responsibility towards the environment very | | | | sweets or money when a vehicle approaches. It |
| seriously. The African in these parks is the | | | | is better to visit a village and give through the |
| heritage of the Tanzanian people. | | | | elders or make a donation to a registered charity. |
| In the National Parks use authorized land for | | | | I would also advise that many of the peoples |
| camping. The official camps sites may be little | | | | may be poor in material positions but they are |
| more than a cleared area of ground to pitch your | | | | rich in skills. Pay them for their beadwork, |
| tent; camping is generally very basic in Tanzania. | | | | carvings basket weaving... when buying a curio it is |
| Camp fires are not allowed because of the | | | | better to buy from the people who make them |
| danger of a bushfire, the small amounts of wood | | | | so they get the full benefit. If you buy from a |
| there is available is not to burn but to return | | | | curio shop you make the middle men rich. Your |
| nutrients to the soil or best left for the resident | | | | driver/guide may well take you to a curio shop or |
| pastoralists. It is preferable therefore to bring you | | | | two; driver's receive commission for this; so it is |
| own camp stove. | | | | in his interest to convince you to buy from an |
| It is advisable to use bottled water; the local | | | | established curio shop as this is where the lagest |
| water sources may be heavily used by people | | | | commission is paid. |
| and animals so may well be contaminated. If you | | | | An exception to this rule would be Tanzanite; this |
| do use water purify by filtering and boiling and/or | | | | beautiful blue stone is better bought from an |
| the use of purification tablets. Avoid using soap or | | | | established gem dealer. Do not be tempted to |
| shampoo directly in the water sources and wash | | | | buy in the street you may get a good deal but it |
| at least seventy meters away from any water | | | | is more probable you won't. You may even find |
| source. Use established toilets where possible | | | | buying from an established merchant is a better |
| otherwise dig a shallow hole and burry all evince | | | | deal than in the street! It is also safer, much more |
| of you visit; a makeshift toilet should be seventy | | | | comfortable and stress free. |
| meters away from any water. | | | | This should not have to be said but say it I must; |
| The local people of the area - remember you are | | | | remember not to littler. Pack with care leaving all |
| their guest - treat them with the regard a visitor | | | | unnecessary packaging in the town. Carry out all |
| should show toward the host. Many of the | | | | you litter, do not be tempted to burry it as |
| National Parks are home to people whose | | | | animals will invariably dig it up - litter looks unsightly |
| economy is based on livestock; respect the local | | | | - littler kills. |
| customs and traditions and dress code. Often | | | | In conclusion treat the peoples here as you would |
| tourist has little respect for the dress code of | | | | want to be treated by visitors to your home. |
| other cultures. It is not pretty to see tourism | | | | Threat the country with the respect it deserves; |
| interfere with the native peoples work and private | | | | remembering you are the stranger here arriving |
| lives use common sense and remember what is | | | | with the strange customs. Relax and enjoy this |
| acceptable in your culture may not be acceptable | | | | wonderful country, Africa is an amazing place to |
| in a more traditional culture. | | | | be, the peoples of Tanzania are friendly and very |
| Ask permission before photographing people, try | | | | polite with a keen interest in learning about where |
| to use designated village to visit within the National | | | | you come from and to welcome you. |