Two million years ago, human relative Nutcracker Man lived on tiger nuts -- ScienceDaily

Two million years ago, human relative Nutcracker Man lived on tiger nuts -- ScienceDaily

No nuts for Nutcracker Man: Early human relative apparently chewed grass instead -- ScienceDaily

No nuts for Nutcracker Man: Early human relative apparently chewed grass instead -- ScienceDaily

Neanderthal genome shows early human interbreeding, inbreeding

Neanderthal genome shows early human interbreeding, inbreeding

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF TANZANIA

Tanzania is one of the unique destinations on the African continent that has yet to be discovered by many. It is a land of many wonders harboring an un-paralleled diversity of fauna and flora. Kilimanjaro, the highest permanently snow-capped free standing mountain in Africa, the exotic Islands of Zanzibar, the finest game sanctuaries of Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, Ruaha, Selous and the Marine Park of Mafia Island are only but a few of the living examples.

The scenery, topography and very friendly people make Tanzania one of the best places to visit and promise the best wildlife photographic safaris on the continent. Tanzania indeed has it all Tanzania has 14 National Parks, 1 conservation area, 17 game reserves, and several marine parks, a breathtaking coast and Lake Zone and gently undulating highlands that are a hiker’s paradise.

NATIONAL PARKS

Tanzanian National parks exist for the primary role of conservation of the great wealth for present and future generation. These National Parks include the:
1. Arusha National Park   
2. Gombe Stream National Park   
3. Katavi National Park   
4. Kilimanjaro National Park   
5. Kitulo National Park   
6. Mahale Mountains National Park   
7. Lake Manyara National Park   
8. Mikumi National Park   
9. Mkomazi National Park   
10. Ruaha National Park   
11. Rubondo Island National Park   
12. Saadani National Park   
13. Serengeti National Park   
14. Tarangire National Park   
15. Udzungwa National Park    

All of these form the core of a much larger protected ecosystem that has been set aside to preserve the country’s rich natural heritage, and to provide secure breeding grounds where the diverse fauna and flora available can thrive safe from the ever increasing threat of human encroachment.

Tanzania has dedicated more than 42,000 square kilometers more than one third of its territory- a uniquely high proportion of land to the formal protection of its wildlife as National Parks and Game Reserves despite its growing population pressures.

The existing park system protects a number of internationally recognized bastions of biodiversity and world heritage sites thereby redressing the balance of deforestation, agriculture and urbanization that is threatening Tanzania’s remaining wilderness. In this, Tanzania has successfully resisted the temptation to cash in on the short term gains of mass tourism.

Human activity is closely monitored and all development strictly regulated. Building in the parks is kept unobtrusive and waste disposal is carefully controlled. Park visitors and facilities are widely distributed to prevent harassment of animals and to minimize the human imprint on the environment.

Guardianship of this rich resource is solely reliant on the goodwill of the park’s neighbors- the indigenous tribes of the different parts of Tanzania where the parks are located.

The Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) is working hard to ensure that local communities have a sense of ownership and a vested interest in the future of the parks by sharing the rewards of conservation and delivering tangible benefits. A percentage of park revenues is allotted to assist community development initiatives such as the construction of schools, health dispensaries, water schemes and roads. Villagers are encouraged to develop cultural tourism projects to cultivate their own cultures and supplement their incomes.

Tanzania has set a benchmark of its responsibility- to its citizens, their offspring’s and the world at large- in the conservation and management of a global resource. In this, Tanzania remains committed to low impact, sustainable visitation to protect the environment from irreversible damage while creating a first class ecotourism destination.

By choosing to visit Tanzania either by merely browsing the net or by actually making a trip to our beautiful land, you are supporting a developing country’s extraordinary investment in the future.

Tanzania’s diverse attractions are of course bound by its people, who take justifiable pride in their deeply ingrained national mood of tolerance and peacefulness. Indeed, Tanzania, for all its ethnic diversity, is practically unique in Africa in having navigated a succession of modern political hurdles – the transformation from colonial dependency to independent nation, from socialist state to free-market economy, from mono-partyism to fully-fledged democracy - without ever experiencing sustained civil or ethnic unrest.

Tanzania has also, over the past 20 years, emerged from comparative obscurity to stand as one of Africa’s most dynamic and popular travel destinations: a land whose staggering natural variety is complemented by the innate hospitality of the people who live there.

How to define the Tanzanian experience? Surprisingly easy, really. It can be encapsulated in a single word, one that visitors will hear a dozen times daily, no matter where they travel in Tanzania, or how they go about it: the smiling, heartfelt Swahili greeting of “Karibu!” – Welcome!

 

TANZANIA WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Tanzania is a country which encompasses an extraordinary history and an abundance of natural wonders; therefore it is no surprise Tanzania has eight World Heritage Sites. These chosen sites are a fundamental reminder why interaction between people and nature must achieve a balance of preservation and conservation between the two.

"The Serengeti National Park is Tanzania oldest park, and one of the world last great wildlife refuges, hence its World Heritage Site status."

Kilimanjaro National Park
The Kilimanjaro National Park is located near Moshi, Tanzania. It is centred on the iconic and dramatic snow-clad slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, which covers an area of 753 km (291 square miles). In 1973, the mountain above the tree line was classified as a National Park and was opened to public access in 1977, but it wasn't until 1987 UNESCO listed the park as a World Heritage Site.

Kondoa Rock Art Sites
The Kondoa rock art site is a series of caves carved into the side of a hill looking out over the steppe. The cave site is nine kilometres off the main highway from Kondoa to Arusha, about 20 km north of Kondoa. The site has a spectacular collection of images from over 150 shelters depicting elongated people, animals, and hunting scenes. Today many of the shelters are still considered to have ritual associations with the people who live nearby, reflecting their beliefs, rituals and cosmological traditions.

Stone Town, Zanzibar
Stone Town or Mji Mkongwe in Swahili meaning ancient town is the old part of Zanzibar City. The old town is built on a triangular peninsula of land on the western coast of the island and was awarded World Heritage Site status in 2000. Justification for the inscription, includes its rich cultural fusion and harmonization; its great symbolic importance in the suppression of slavery; and the intense seaborne trading activity between Asia and Africa, which is illustrated today in the exceptional architecture and urban structure of the Stone Town.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) boasts the finest blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and archaeological sites in Africa and is situated 180 km west of Arusha. The rich pasture and permanent water of the Crater floor supports a large resident population of wildlife of up to 25,000 predominantly grazing animals. The conservation area is administered by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, and its boundaries follow the boundary of the Ngorongoro Division of Ngorongoro District. It covers an area of 8,288 km (3,200 square miles).

Selous Game Reserve
The Selous Game Reserve covers a total area of 54,600 km (21,081 square miles) and is one of the largest fauna reserves of the world, located in the south of Tanzania. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 due to the diversity of its wildlife and undisturbed nature. The reserve is home to typical savannah animals such as elephants, hippopotami, the rare African Wild Dog and crocodiles, which are all found in larger numbers compared to any other African park.

Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti National Park is Tanzania oldest park, and one of the worlds last great wildlife refuges, hence its World Heritage Site status. It is most famous for its annual migration of over one million white bearded (or brindled) wildebeest and 200,000 zebra. The park covers 14,763 km (5,700 square miles) of grassland plains and savannah as well as riverine forest and woodlands. The park lies in the north of the country, bordered to the north by the national Tanzania and Kenyan border, where it is contiguous with the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara
The remains of two great East African ports admired by early European explorers are situated on two small islands near the coast. From the 13th to the 16th century, the merchants of Kilwa dealt in gold, silver, pearls, perfumes, Arabian crockery, Persian earthenware and Chinese porcelain; much of the trade in the Indian Ocean thus passed through their hands. Serious archaeological investigation began in the 1950s. In 1981 it was declared a World Heritage Site, and noted visitor sites are the Great Mosque, the Mkutini Palace and some remarkable ruins. However, the ruins are also on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The list constitutes a call to improve their safeguarding and is designed to rally national and international efforts for their preservation.

 

Discovery of partial skeleton suggests ruggedly built, tree-climbing human ancestor

Discovery of partial skeleton suggests ruggedly built, tree-climbing human ancestor

VISIT THE VILLAGE MUSEUM AND MEET THE FAMOUS IRON SMELTER'S HOUSE; THE FIPA.

THE VILLAGE MUSEUM.
The  museum  is  located  8 km  from  the  city  center,  along  Ali  Hassan  Mwinyi/ the  new  Bagamoyo  Road,  adjacent  to  Lapf  Millenium  Tower.  The  village  museum  was  set  up  in  1966   to  demonstrate  and  preserve  cultures  of   Tanzania’s  ethic  groups.  The  museum  currently  displays  22  homesteads  of different  groups  across  the  country. All are authentic homes, built and maintained using local  skills  from  indigenous  groups.  The  village  museum  provides  an  important  historical  record  of  how  different groups  of people  lived  in Tanzania  rural  setting  until  the  recent  past.

Village mission,

It intends to build a peaceful society with strong sense  of  value  and  pride  to  its  heritage  and  which  is  dynamic  and  traditional  in  its  use,  access,  and  conservation

Mission statement

The  village  museum  is a  center  open  to  all  which  enables  communities  to  express, appreciate,  enjoy  and  promote  our  heritage and social  development  through  interactive  educational  and  recreational  programmes  by  involving  the  community.

What to SEE

Ø Come  and  experience the  unique  culture  and  traditions  of  Tanzania’s  many and  varied  ethic  groups.

Ø The  village museum  is situated  in  a  large  open-air  site  with  wide  variety  of  trees  giving  a  natural  shade  as  you  wonder  around  the  numerous  authentic  dwellings,  which  give  the  visitors  a  taste  of  how  different  ethnic  groups  lived  generations  ago.

Ø The  museum  had  plenty  of  species  of plant  such  as  sleeping grasses  [kifauongo]  which  tend to  fold  up  its  leaves  when  touched  by  anything.

 

Fipa  people are  ethinic  and  linguistic  group  based  in  the  Sumbawanga  rural  and  Nkasi  districts  of  Rukwa  region  in  southwestern  Tanzania  speaking  the  fipa  and  Mambwe  languages. These  bantu speaking  people  inhabit  the  Ufipa  plateau  between  lake  Tanganyika  and  Rukwa.  The  milanzi  [central chiefdom] was  headed  by  a  dynasty  of  ironsmiths. But  the Twa   [immigrants]  possibly  Tutsi  from  north  dominated  the  Ufipa  plateau  by force  and  cunning.

The  house  of  fipa  is  made  up  of  clay  soil with  standing  stick  attached  to the soil. From  the  bottom  of  the  house  there  is  a  simple  foundation  which  gives  the  strength  of the  house. Its  roof  is covered  by  dry  grasses which  are  attached  by  the long sticks, the  roof  of  the  fipa’s  house  is  holded  by  one  strong  stick  at  the  center and  a  rope  hold them  tightly.

Within  fipa’s  house  there are two  beds where by one  bed is made up of  short  and long  sticks at the  top  it  is covered  by  a  mat  and  parents use to sleep on it   while the  other  bed  is found  on the  floor  where  by  children sleep there.   Various objects are  inside  the house  of  fipa  such  as  grindstone,  horn  and  container  used  to  store  medicine.

Outside  the  fipa’s  house there  is  a  stone  used  to  wash  legs  in  front  of  the  bathroom  and  their  bathroom  is  made  up  of  dry  grasses. Also fathers and  their  sons have  the  resting  place.

People  of  fipa  engaged  themselves  in  making  iron also  they  used  fish  traps  to  catch  fishes.  They  constructed  long  furnaces  on  the  ground  and  built  it,  using  the  clay  soil  which  retain  temperature  for  long  time.

Opening time

Every day  from  9.30 to 18.00 HRS.

Entrance fees

Tanzanians  adult                          Tsh 1500

Students                                          Tsh   500

Foreigner adult                              US$  5

Foreigner  student                         US$  2

Foreigner  children                        US$ 1

Watching traditional dances

Adults                                               US$  2

Students                                           US$  1

 

THE MUSEUM IS OPEN FOR ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!