Travel Agent - November 26, 2007 - (Page T8)

cultural tourism Interacting with the people of Tanzania may be a visitor’s most rewarding experience Photo courtesy of African Latitude Before their arrival, most of your clients will see plenty of pictures of Tanzanian people in tourist brochures. But what about actually meeting these people, and sharing a meal or even accompanying them into the bush during a hunt? Many local areas run their own cultural programs for visitors. The Tanzanian government is encouraging these programs as a way to bring income from tourism directly into the community. Everyone beneﬁts – the people of Tanzania gain a sense of pride as well as proﬁt in sharing their traditions with visitors, and tourists receive an unforgettable experience of another culture. A list of local tour operators specializing in cultural tours can be found on the Tanzania Tourist Board’s website: http://tanzaniatouristboard.com/directory/tour_operators. Here are some examples of how your clients can interact with the people of Tanzania to greatly enrich their experience. Maasailand: The Maasai still live as traditional herdsmen. Travelers can visit Engaruka, the lost city in the shadow of the Great Rift Valley, where Maasai farm and tend their herds of cattle. In Mkuru, near Arusha National Park, they can also take camel excursions with local Maasai, giving them insights into nomadic culture. Mount Meru: Arusha is a great base for interacting with the Waarusha and Wameru people. Visitors can meet a traditional healer, learn about animal husbandry and agriculture, or buy carvings and foodstuffs from local handicraft cooperatives. Lake Eyasi: The region around Lake Eyasi is home to the Hadzabe Bushmen, considered some of the last hunter-gatherers in Africa. Day-trips or longer safaris give visitors a chance to join morning hunts with the Hadzabe warriors, who are armed with bows and arrows. In addition, they’ll take part in honey gathering, seeking out traditional healing plants, and enjoying traditional dances of the Hadzabe Bushmen. It’s important to remember that opportunities for cultural interaction surround your clients throughout their Tanzania journey. Having a conversation with a fruit-seller in a city market, sharing thoughts with a guide or porter on a safari, or even sitting down to coffee in a cosmopolitan cafe with a Tanzanian business person – these are all opportunities to get underneath the surface of this fascinating country. Dining, Dancing, and Decorum Cuisine: Tanzania’s national dish is Ugali, a polenta-style dish made with corn ﬂour. It’s served with a variety of stews, cooked meat and is eaten with your hands. Other local dishes worth a try include Mtori, cooked beef and bananas, and Mchicha, a vegetable stew with meat or ﬁsh. Start out the morning with a cup of coffee and a Mandazi, a sweet, Tanzaniastyle doughnut. Music: Tanzanian music and dance has strong-driving rhythms and lyrics in Swahili. Visitors to Zanzibar should seek out taarab, traditional sung poetry. Etiquette: Tourists should wear modest or conservative attire in general, and especially in Zanzibar which is a conservative Muslim society. The Maasai people expect to be paid for having their photograph taken. 8 Tanzania Travel Specialist • Travel Agent Magazine http://tanzaniatouristboard.com/directory/tour_operators http://tanzaniatouristboard.com/directory/tour_operators

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Travel Agent - November 26, 2007 Online Now Contents From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Europe: InterContinental Geneva Puts Forth a New Look and a New Way to Get to Know the Swiss City London’s Soho Hotel Pacific/Asia: Taichung: Taiwan’s Third Largest City Pacific/Asia Briefs and Packages Tanzania Travel Specialist Mexico: A Roundup of Premier Hotels in Mexico City Q&A with U.S. Director of the Mexico Tourism Board Mexico Deals Las Vegas: A Three-Day Itinerary for Gen-X couples Creating a Kid-Friendly Vacation for Gen-X Clients that Still Includes Alone Time for Parents Richard Harper of Mandalay Bay Caribbean & Bahamas: What’s Happening in St. Kitts Puerto Rico’s Other Rainforest, Toro Negro Hawaii: The Big Island: First-Class Resorts and Native Culture Hotels: The Sky Lodge in Park City; The Lodge at Vail Tours: American Safari Cruises in Alaska’s Inside Passage Pacific Northwest: Suncadia, Eco-Friendly Resort Near Seattle Cruise: The Added Lure of Sailing with a Celebrity Onboard Small Ships Offer Up-Close Experience Cover Story: Hip Hotelier, Social Scientist Supplier Profile - Maximilian Brockmann: The New Face of Auto Europe Agent Profile: Sigrid Carter of Envoyé Travel The Orient-Express: Fabled Train Remains an Elite Product Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Europe Bookings as Dollar Falls Freestyle Cruising Casinos On the Rise in the Caribbean Maui’s Grand Wailea Resort Prepares for Major Renovation Visit Europe Media Exchange In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - November 26, 2007

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