Travel Agent - November 26, 2007 - (Page T9)

vibrant towns & CITIES When your clients are visiting Tanzania, it’s safe to say that they’ll be most intent on exploring the country’s natural treasures. Often, while they’re en route to the Serengeti or Mt. Kilimanjaro, they’ll be passing through or staying overnight in one of Tanzania’s towns or cities. PEOPLE AND PLACES These towns and cities offer great opportunities for cultural tourism: meeting the Tanzanian people, shopping in lively markets, dining in little restaurants and soaking up some local ambience. Visitors with a little time to spend will also discover these places have many historical and cultural sites of interest. Dar es Salaam, the largest city and the political and economic capital of Tanzania, is a bustling port off the Indian Ocean coast that is being redeveloped to make it the commercial capital of east Africa. Visitors will notice traces of the city’s German and British colonial heritage. Major sites include The National Museum, the Village Museum, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, and the Botanical Gardens. Bongoyo Island Marine Reserve, four miles north of the city, has good snorkeling and diving. Dar es Salaam is also the jumping off point for the Southern Circuit (see page 12). The heartland city of Dodoma is the nation’s ofﬁcial political capital and the seat of government in the country. Though Dodoma is smaller than Dar es Salaam, it has appeal for visitors, being the center of Tanzania’s growing wine industry. Safaris use Arusha — in the northern highlands of Tanzania, at the base of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro — as a setting off point into the African bush. Arusha was built by the Germans in the early 20th century. Today it’s a laid-back, prosperous town and the hub of Tanzanian diplomacy and international relations. The coastal city of Bagamoyo was both an important trading port and crux for both the slave trade and ivory caravans on their way to Zanzibar. Bagamoyo is now a center for dhow sailboat building. Moshi, the coffee-producing hub of the country, lies nestled at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. If their timing is right, visitors may pass through during one of Moshi’s lively seasonal coffee auctions. Cultural tourism operators can arrange short hikes and day-trips to tribes and villages, and also tours of nearby crops and coffee farms. The southern highlands city of Iringa is a base for regional agriculture and production. Iringa overlooks the Little Ruaha River and is a popular stop for visitors en route to Ruaha National Park. Visitors on their way to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater pass through the town of Karatu, which offers ﬁne views of the northern highlands. The cities of Mwanza and Musoma border the shores of Lake Victoria. Mwanza is Soak up some local color while en route to natural destinations the major Tanzanian port on Lake Victoria and a center of economic importance in the region. Musoma’s colorful port and vibrant weekday market make it a pleasant stop for travelers passing through the region. Other towns and cities worth a look are the port cities of Kigoma and Tanga; the agricultural centers of Mbeya and Morogoro, and the town of Mtwara, offering excellent diving due to its proximity to Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park. Tanzania Travel Specialist • Travel Agent Magazine 9

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - November 26, 2007

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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