Trip Overview
"Cultural Experiences with African Scenic Safaris"
Tanzania has a long history dating back eons of time. The Pliocene hominid fossils dating back 6 million years ago. The Homo genus was found near Lake Olduvai and can be seen on display in the Olduvai Gorge Museum, near Ngorongoro Crater.
The mainland of Tanzania was formerly Tanganyika and became independent in 1961. The Zanzibar Archipelago became independent in 1963. Then in 1964, the two entities merged to form the United Republic of Tanzania.
The current population of Tanzania stands at 56 million. There are around 120 ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups. There are over 100 different languages spoken, with Swahili being the national language. Around 10% of Tanzanians speak Swahili as a first language, and 90% speak it as a second language. All Tanzanians are assigned a tribe, which is determined by their father's tribe. Each tribe has its own customs, and way of life. People may choose to live a more traditional way of life, especially in rural areas.
For those interested in experiencing a new culture, we have some exciting Tanzania Cultural Tours opportunities. One tribe is the Maasai. They are known for herding livestock (cows, goats, and sheep) and living a traditional way of life. They tend to live in small villages (called bomas), surrounded by a wooden fence. The traditional house is made of wood, mud and cow dung. The Masaai can be identified by their style of dress, which is usually bright red and/or blue clothing. As of 30 years ago, to become a warrior, young men were required to kill a lion. This is no longer allowed as the lion is protected. But their culture is still strong.
