TANZANIA - RESEARCH PART 1

Capital: Dodoma
Population: 39 million (over 120 ethnic groups)
Official Language: Swahili
Currency: Tanzanian shilling

- image from skyviewofafrica.com

The other day I told Yao Jung about this trip. In Skype mode excitement, the first thing he blurted was "Serengeti!"

Yes, the stuff of the National Geographic Channel. The great migration.


1. The Serengeti

There's just too many National Parks and Game Reserves to choose from, such diverse habitats, but supposedly the untamed Katavi National Park is one of the few that allows visitors to jump off the jeep and walk on the plains. The only complication is to get there, land transport may take days. My eyes open wide when I read "all flights will require landing on a grass airstrip" and "bush-compatible light aircraft". Bush-compatible. Cute.


2. Zanzibar

'Nuff said :)

- image from come-to-africa.com


3. Kilimanjaro

Standing at 5891m, the climb up to the Uhuru Peak at Kilimanjaro needs a week, possibly a bit more costly too. Scientists posited the year 2014 as the date for disappearance of the mountain's ice cap due to global warming.

- image from 7summits.com


4. The Maasai

The world is fascinated by them.

Lions are afraid of them.

Everybody else wants to dance the adumu with them.

- image from masai-mara.net

This may be one of the highlights of the trip, especially for Riz. I leave it at that, I'm sure he'll divulge the story.    

BOTSWANA - RESEARCH PART 1

Time to be moving on to the next country.


Botswana.

Capital: Gaborone
Population: 1.5 million, majority 'Batswana'
Official Language: English (Setswana more widely spoken)
Currency: Pula

1. Xai-Xai (West of Botswana, bordering Namibia)

Described as 'a community-based tourism among Bushmen and Herero herders', this seems to be a promising start to getting myself acquainted with 'the culture'. Alas I found very limited references online, a visit also come in a package. Hmmmm....not my ideal way to getting to know the locals so I'll leave this one until I'm actually there to find out more. Besides, it came with a warning, "If you decide to come, don't do so expecting to meet 'traditional' hunter-gatherers; these days the Basarwa or San (that's Bushmen for you) only dress up for the benefit of visitors."

Looking forward to discovering what's not mentioned in the guide books.



Other than that, it's just a long list of National Parks and Nature Reserves, thanks to the charm of the Kalahari wildlife. One that interests me is the Khama Rhino Sanctuary.

2. Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Serowe

Established in 1992, it's another community-run project to preserve Botswana's rhinos, poached almost to extinction in the 1980s.

Activities range from camping to rhino trails to bird watching.

More research needed.