Travel ideas for Tanzania - unique sights, worth Guinness records

One of the world’s largest reserves - the Serengeti reserve - is located in Tanzania and covers an area of 14763 square kilometres. About a century ago the Maasai tribes were the first to settle the deserted territories that were once home to wild animals. With the arrival of Europeans, the Serengeti has become an attractive place for hunters, only in 1951 these territories were identified as a reserve.
Some years ago an event occured in the park that literally shook the world. Archaeologists found traces of ancient human habitation in the course of exploring. The archaeological region was immediately declared a closed zone with no access to some of its parts.
The National Park gained worldwide fame and popularity thanks to a huge amount of birds and animals living on its territory. The Serengeti holds about 3 million species of wild animals and more than 500 bird species. Lions alone there are more than 3000 species. Besides, tourists can observe herds of antelope and rhinos, but a real luck is a meeting with the leopard and the rare bat-eared fox. The Serengeti reserve is full of crocodiles, poisonous snakes and insects, so travelling is possible in special clothes only and in the company of a guide. ... Complete sights collection

Not far from the Zanzibar Island is the uninhabited Mnemba Island, which is part of the marine conservation area. The length of the island's circumference is about 1.5 km. Nearby is the incredibly beautiful coral reef, which the divers from all over the world in this area. At present the island is private property. It is not so easy to get on it. This wonderfully beautiful area is one of the elitist destinations.
On the island it was only a magnificent hotel, the Mnemba Lodge, which can accommodate no more than 20 guests. This unique hotel is popular with the world famous celebrities. The best time to visit the wonderful exotic island is the period from January to April. Apart from the chic hotel, the island has a lot of other interesting features: the large beaches and the lagoons with snow-white sand, hundreds of exotic plants and palm trees, as well as the strange animals.
The divers who wish to investigate the coral gardens located near the island can see more than 600 species of birds, as well as the rare green turtles. During a hike through the island you can meet the tiny songbirds and the exotic insects. For several years Mnemba has been one of the most romantic islands on earth. When you look at them from the bird's eye view, the island outlines are reminiscent of the emerald green heart, which is surrounded by the strip of white sand. ... Complete sights collection

In Tanzania, near the Kenyan border is the salt lake Natron. Its depth does not exceed 3 meters. One of the main characteristics of the lake is the high alkalinity. Notwithstanding such harsh conditions, the lake is not lifeless, some species of aquatic plants and other microorganisms are living and multiplying, as well as fish - alkaline tilapia. The unique aquatic plants color the lake scarlet several times a year, which makes its shape truly superhuman.
The water composition of the lake contains a rare mineral - soda, on whose honor the lake was named. The lake, situated among the deserts, is home to rare flamingo species and is visited not only by curious tourists but also by professional ornithologists. The contact of the sea water is deadly for all birds and mammals, since the concentration of the toxic substances is much too high.
The hike on the sea coast is interesting for the followers of Horrorfilmen and the vampire stories. Here you can see among the dead trees and bushes the mummified remains of the birds and the bats that once came into the lake. Gradually they are covered with the minerals and look like the terrible stone statues. The photographer Nick Brandt was the first to tell the public that the lake can kill the animals. He has done a very impressive photo shoot on the coast of Natron. The locals believe in the supernatural forces of the lake and call it 'bloody.' The local shamans advised their contemporaries a few years ago to build a salt-growing plant on the shores of the lake. ... Complete sights collection

The Stone Town of Zanzibar, a unique historical district with a lot of preserved buildings, is one of the most interesting historical sights in Tanzania. The unusual name of the historical district is due to a lot of stone buildings, the first of which were built at the beginning of the 19th century. At that time, Zanzibar was a large trading city. At the time of the reign of Said ibn Sultan, Zanzibar was proclaimed the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
For years the Stone Town remained the great center of the slave trade. Buildings of the old slave market can also be found today. In its place a beautiful Anglican cathedral was built, beside which one can see a few cages - once they contained people. The historic district is ideal for walks. Many old houses are now a location of interesting shops and restaurants. In addition, the Stone Town has several colourful markets. Lovers of cultural programs can admire local museums and beautiful mosques.
Among the historical sights one must mention the Palace of Beit al Ajaib, also known under the unofficial name 'House of Miracles'. Once this ceremonial palace was used for the most solemn events. It managed to retain some of the original decoration. The ancient Arab fort, built in the 18th century, is also worth seeing. In total, there are more than 1700 old buildings on the territory of the Stone Town of Zanzibar, most of which, unfortunately, are under the threat of complete destruction. ... Complete sights collection

Travelers who want to visit places once inhabited by the largest dinosaurs of the planet have to go to Tanzania. Here are a few years ago, a scientific group has found a skeleton of a titanosaur, a large long-necked reptile that lived about 100 million years ago. Titanosaurs ate plants. Remains of this species are considered to be incredibly rare for Africa.
Unique archaeological area is located on the shores of Lake Rukwa in the south-western part of the country. For two seasons, researchers were searching for priceless artifacts. Professional excavators and miners were involved in excavations. After examining the findings, experts have determined that the size of titanosaurs was several times larger than an elephant; the length of its front limbs reached two meters.
The neighbourhood of Lake Rukwa isn't the only archaeological area of ​​Tanzania, where the remains of dinosaurs have been discovered. In the first half of the 20th century, researchers found the bones of the Nyasasaurus parringtoni dinosaurs in another area. This finding is also very important, since dinosaurs of this specie are among the most ancient on the planet. These herbivorous dinosaurs lived on the Earth about 250 million years ago. Animals reached no more than a meter tall and weighed from 20 to 60 kg. Archaeological discoveries of the first half of the 20th century remained outside attention of scientists for a long time. Research at new archaeological sites in Tanzania continues these days. ... Complete sights collection

On the border between the two African countries, Tanzania and Kenya, there is a unique natural reserve, Serengeti. Tourists from all over the world come here to admire its beauty. Lions are among the main inhabitants of the nature reserve. Serengeti is one of the few places on earth, where you can watch these predators in their natural habitat. Not surprisingly, it became the prototype of Simba's World in the well known Disney cartoon, The Lion King.
The area of the nature reserve is about 15 000 square km. A significant part of the territory is occupied by plains with sparse vegetation and lakes. Only on rough estimates, the natural park is home to about 3 million large animals, as well as more than 500 species of birds. You can watch lions, zebras, and wildebeest here. Many researchers have come to the national park specifically to watch the animals in the period of migration. Crocodiles live in the local rivers. It is only allowed to visit the park accompanied by a guide, because of an abundance of wild animals.
One of the favorite activities among tourists are jeep tours, during which you can explore the most picturesque places of the reserve and admire the wildlife within a safe distance. The reserve is famous not only for its amazing scenery, but also because of historical artifacts discovered among the spacious plains. The cave with Masai paintings has been found among the plains. All the guests of the reserve can see the place. Moreover, Serengeti is the only national park in Africa, over the territory of which you can fly in a balloon. ... Complete sights collection

Sanctuary Swala Lodge offers amazing entertainment to its guests. It is located in the scenic Tarangire National Park in Tanzania. It is surrounded by wildlife. You can watch wild animals while relaxing in the surrounding area of the Lodge. There are a few dangerous wild animals nearby. But even the majestic sight of huge elephants strolling nearby can seriously frighten those who are used to the city atmosphere.
There is a large beautiful swimming pool on the territory of this Lodge. Not all guests decide to swim in it. It is located among amazing natural expanses. Antelopes graze just a few meters from the pool. Also, elephants walk and flocks of birds land on the ground near the pool. Do not be surprised if a giraffe or a small curious elephant who decided to drink clean water will come near the pool while you swim in it. Experienced rangers are on duty around the clock at the Lodge to ensure that guests’ stay in the wilderness is as safe as possible.
Jeep Safari in the picturesque places of the reserve is the main entertainment for vacationers. You can see more rare wild animals during the safari. The Lodge is the most comfortable and well-equipped despite its location in an exotic area. A great restaurant and bar are open in it. Wonderful recreation areas with furniture and sunshades are available to guests in the vast surrounding area. Such proximity to the wild can frighten someone. But there are still many more connoisseurs of original recreation than timid city tourists. ... Complete sights collection