By JORDAN BISSSELL, Special to CNN
(CNN)
-- Tanzania is far more than just a spot to climb the world's tallest
freestanding mountain.
The East African
country's stunning wildlife, expansive volcanic crater and intriguing islands
all set it apart as a unique destination. Massive Mount Kilimanjaro just adds
to its allure.
The Indian Ocean laps
Tanzania's eastern edge between Kenya and Mozambique, and the "spice
island" of Zanzibar is 22 miles off the mainland.
Tanzania's sprawling
plains are sparsely populated, by people, at least. About half the world's
dwindling lion population lives in East Africa, estimates indicate.
Here are five ways to experience
Tanzania's splendor.
Roam the Ngorongoro Crater
Sometimes called "Africa's
Garden of Eden," some 25,000 large animals live in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which
stretches across 3,200 square miles of the southeastern Serengeti Plains
adjacent to Serengeti National Park.
The 12-mile-wide Ngorongoro Crater is the area's
crown jewel. The largest unbroken caldera in the world, it is thought to have
formed after an active volcano collapsed about 2.5 million years ago.
Well over a million wildebeest
pass through the area during the annual Great Migration, one of the planet's
most remarkable natural spectacles.
From December to March each
year, wildebeest, zebras and other animals gather near Lake Ndutu on the edge
of the conservation area. From there they move north, eventually ending up in
the Northern Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara in the fall.
Beyond the huge wildebeest
herds, black rhinos, leopards, gazelles and birds thrive here -- as does that
most powerful crowd-pleaser, the lion.
Get to know the lions
You're bound to be on the
lookout for lions in the Serengeti and their conservation deserves a special
mention.
The tawny lion prides dominating
the Ndutu area of the southeastern Serengeti are not your "Lion King"
variety of big fuzzy kittens. These giant creatures are respected among locals
because of their history of asserting dominance when challenged by aggressive
hunters.
In an attempt to discourage the
trend of stalking and killing lions in the Amboseli Ecosystem, conservation
organization Lion Guardians recruits
young Maasai warriors to instead protect the regal creatures.
By naming the lions and
developing relationships by tracking them, members of the guardian program
recognize that animals like local lioness Selenkay can live in peace with their
human neighbors.
Safaris throughout the vast
Serengeti give visitors the rare opportunity to see these majestic cats in
their native territory. The Ndutu Safari Lodge
features 34 cottages with porches facing Lake Ndutu.
Learn about Maasai culture
For the Maasai, one of the last
warrior tribes in the world, cattle are integral to day-to-day life. Besides
providing sustenance in the form of milk, and sometimes meat and blood, cows
are also currency in the region.
The tribes move with their
livestock across northern Tanzania and southern Kenya, constructing villages as
they go. The settlements generally consist of a ring fence that encloses a
group of families, their herds and a collection of mud and dung houses.
Where livestock gathers, so do
big cats hunting for meals. Relations between the Maasai and the lions that
lure tourists by the truckload are tense but evolving.
The Maasai are formidable
opponents strengthened by a nearly 100% protein diet. A staple is amasi, a
lumpy, yogurt-like drink made from fermented milk.
Sample the Spice Islands
The semi-autonomous islands off
the coast of Tanzania exhibit the rich and varied influences that arrived on
their shores.
On the island of Zanzibar,
African, Arab, Indian and European flavors emerge in the cuisine, the homes,
the people and the famous carved doors. Today, 99% of the population is Muslim,
compared with about a third of the mainland population.
Tourism has replaced the spice
and slave trades that shaped the island's history, and delicious street food is
part of the local island experience.
Every night in Stone Town's
Forodhani Gardens, vendors set up stalls selling seafood snacks and the famous
Zanzibar pizza.
Zanzibar pizza is revered as one
of the most delicious foods in the region. With toppings ranging from fresh
meats to juicy mango, the crepe-like pizza carries its flavorful toppings on
the inside almost akin to a burrito. Unlike traditional pizza crust, Zanzibar's
variety has the texture of a pancake. And who doesn't love pancakes?
The various carts are piled with
fresh seafood skewers, African doughnuts called "mandazi" and fried
breads. To wash down all the yumminess, try some honey beer or a mixture of
sugar cane water, ginger and lime juice.
Nearby Pemba Island, also part
of the Zanzibar Archipelago, offers a quieter, unspoiled experience. Known as
"the Green Island" for its lush vegetation, the delicately sweet
fragrance of cloves permeates the air, underlining the "spice island"
moniker. The rolling hills also produce other fragrant crops like mangoes and
coconuts.
Pemba's coast is home to some of
East Africa's best diving. Go snorkeling or diving in the translucent waters to
admire graceful manta rays, stunning live coral and schools of jewel-toned
fish.
Conquer Kilimanjaro
The tallest freestanding
mountain in the world, northeastern Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro draws tourists
because of its relatively accessible trails. While other towering summits
require Spiderman-like agility and climbing skills, conquering Kilimanjaro
primarily demands training, determination and a sturdy walking stick.
Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest
peak at 19,340 feet. Allot a minimum of five or six days of climbing to reach
the top.
As climbers ascend the mountain,
they experience each of Africa's climates, from the tropical heat at the bottom
to the clear iciness at the top of Africa.
The view at the summit, Uhuru
Point, presents a breathtaking picture of the sprawling country below.
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