Tanzania is a beautiful country and offers its tourists countless vacation destinations.  Currently, however, the majority of these tourist destinations have become overly westernized and have begun to lose the true cultural value that makes a trip to Tanzania even more worthwhile. With this in mind, we are opening the Southern and Western parts of Tanzania to tourists who are looking to gain an insight into the cultural lifestyle of Tanzania while still enjoying the lesser-known, but equally amazing destinations of Tanzania.

Many of Tanzania’s most beautiful destinations lie in its Southern and Western regions, but due to the fact that the main international arrival centres are in the North and Eastern parts of Tanzania, these places are often overlooked. Our Cultural and Responsible Tourism program allows guests to see some of Tanzania’s more hidden wonders, including Mbamba Bay on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi), Mikumi National Park, Ruaha National Park, Udzungwa Mountains National Park, and Selous Game Reserve.

In addition to sightseeing, our guests have the opportunity to experience the life and culture of our local village. They explore the village and learn what the local villagers eat, what they do for work, and how they live their everyday lives. We believe that it is important for Westerners to have a perspective of what the rural Tanzanian lifestyle is truly like. With our intimate knowledge of the country, people, and culture, and our wide network of guest houses, monasteries, and convents throughout the area, we will be able to comfortably accommodate and culturally satisfy these more adventurous travelers.

Currently, two organizations are a part of our Cultural and Responsible Tourism program. Gaia Coop operates out of Italy, and One World hosts German and Austrian travelers.

Tours with GAIA COOP (Italy)

Operated by: Giovanni Regiroli

Website: www.gaia-coop.it

E-mail: viaggiresponsabili@gaia-coop.it

Tours with ONE WORLD Reisen mit Sinnen (Germany and Austria)

Operated by: Petra Gehrer

Website: www.reisenmitsinnen.de

E-mail: petra.gehrer@gmx.at or oneworld@reisenmitsinnen.de

Sample Itinerary:

Day 1 – Arrival in Dar es Salaam, Transfer to St. Placidus Guesthouse, Welcome drink after dinner.

Day 2 – Trip by train from Dar es Salaam to Makambako

Day 3 – Transfer by car from Makambako to Hanga Abbey, in the afternoon we will walk to get to know the environment

Day 4 – Tour through workshop and Hanga VTC with Br. Fulgence; in the afternoon participate in the kitchen or workshops

Day 5 – Visit the Abbey of Peramiho, meet the abbot or another german speaking monk for a village tour

Day 6 – Trip to Nakagugu, walk with explanation of plants and lunch

Day 7 – Village tour: houses, cooking, drums, pombe…lunch in the village

Day 8 – Trip by car from Hanga to Iringa

Day 9 – Visit in Isimilia, then by car to Udzungwa, short walk in the park during the afternoon, night in the Lodge in Udzungwa

Day 10 – Hike in Udzungwa National Park with picnic and bath at the waterfalls, transfer to Mikumi National Park for sunset game drive and sleeping at the Genesis Motel.

Day 11 – Morning game drive in Mikumi, transfer to Dar es Salaam for the night

Day 12 – Boat to Zanzibar, 3 nights in a hostel in Stonetown

Day 13 – City tour of Stonetown

Day 14 – Spice tour and swimming at the beach

Day 15 – Transfer to Jambiani or Paje on the East Coast

Day 16 – Bike tour and swimming

Day 17 – Bike tour and swimming

Day 18 – Transfer from East coast to Stonetown, take boat back to Dar es Salaam

Day 19 – Sightseeing and swimming in Bagamoyo, buffet dinner

Day 20 – Morning shopping in Mwenge, after lunch transfer to airport

If you have any questions about either of the tourism programs, please contact the tour operators listed above. If you have further questions about cultural and responsible tourism in Hanga, or if you are interested in leading a tourism program to Tanzania, please contact Br. Theodory Mwenda hanga@peramiho.org or our Guestmaster, Br. Kizito kndunguru@yahoo.com