Tourism in Tanzania Helping In the Community

Below is the storey of Stambuli; community development is needed to help more street children like Stambuli. Safaris help to fund projects to rehabilitate these children. Ensure the company you choose for a safari in Tanzania help with community projects. Make tourism responsible.

Stambuli grew up on the streets of Arusha in northern Tanzania. From the age of eight he smoked marijuana and drank home brewed alcohol. To survive he became a thief, stealing papaya from neighbours trees when he was hungry; as he grew he moved on to stealing bicycles and even the odd spot of prostitution to get a good meal and a dry roof over his head for the night. When he had money he would play cards and gamble down by the village stream, and together with friends smoke and drink until the money was gone.

When money was needed again he would walk into town and steal a bicycle and as he got older and became a strong 15 year old standing 6 feeg1inch in his bare feet he became more adept and intimidating with his thievery. Eventually, at the age of 16 he began to work mornings at the bus terminal offering to carry bags and earn a few shillings for himself. He would sit in the dust at the side of the road, waiting with the other boys for the next bust to arrive; because of his size and growing up on the streets he managed to push his way to the front of the competition and get work.

Stambuli's father had abandoned him whilst he was still in his mother womb. Stambuli would talk affectionately of his father who lived by the coast close to Tanga Bay. He had never seen his father but told his friends 'one day I will travel and meet my father'.

Not all the money would go on drugs and booze. He would give to his mother who was a widow and was raising her granddaughter, Grace. Graces father was Stambuli's brother. Graces father was a small time drug dealer. He had murdered a man and regularly beat his wife. This man was the main male role model in Stambuli's life.

Stambuli's brother was eventually arrested for the murder and put in prison. After a year in prison he committed suicide. Stambuli would visit his brother every week and remembers the day he arrived to be told his brother was dead and then given his brothers body. Grace the child to the marriage was then abandoned as the mother fled to Dar es Salaam.

Stambuli was left the contents of his brother's house but he was not allowed to keep them. Elders of the village deemed Stambuli unfit to have anything of his own and they took the belongings from the house for themselves. All was taken from the house except for Grace; Stambuli took Grace to his Mother and she cared for the child and Stambuli went to work at the bus Station to earn money for food. There was no room for Stambuli and he would sleep next to the river or occasionally at a friend's house.

On his seventeenth birthday disaster struck. Whilst at work at the busy bus terminal someone accused Stambuli of taking a passengers bag from a bus. He was arrested and sentenced to four months imprisonment.

Stambuli's greatest fear was to go to prison where his brother had died.

As he started his sentence in the nearby prison he realised how alone he was. Abandoned by his friends his Mother visited him every two days. These visits were distressing for his mother plus as she couldn't afford to take the bus; she must walk the eight miles every day. Stambuli told her, on her second visit, to please not visit and to save her money and strength to grow and sell spinach and to look after Grace.

Prison life is not easy in East Africa and here in this place Stambuli would reflect and face the future. The rest of this storey is told in the next article Stambuli's Storey.

About the Author

Community and cultural news and travel can be seen at http://betheladventure.co.uk and Information on Tanzania and Community projects can be sourced at http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk - change peoples lives and choose to support responsible tourism.

Lake Victoria the Beaches and the Culture

After a long hard day being a tourist, after driving and walking in the hot equatorial sun head back to the hotel. What is needed to finish the day off and relax is not to sit in the hotel for your dinner, however nice the food and surrounding. You are on Safari and have probably traveled long and hard to get to see Africa proper. No; the hotel/lodge restaurant will just no do! Head to the beach in front of the hotel and relax on the sands of Lake Victoria and listening to traditional African music. Chefs from the hotel will cook on the beach whilst you relax and drink in the magic of this region.

A leisurely dinner stretching into the evening as the warm waters of the lake and the balmy African evening along with the traditional music will seduce you into loving Africa; life will never be the same; you have been warned.

This region of Tanzania has a rich culture, if you are lucky the young people of the area will come down to the beach to dance to the music. In Africa it is not the beat but the rhythms of the music that is important. A word of warning do not be tempted to attend any of the tired performances created for the tourists, but choose a place on the beach that the locals visit. If you want safe and neatly choreographed then I would surest Disney World as the better option. And if you feel the urge join in with the dancing. It is unforgettable.

If later in the evening the mellow story telling around a campfire and gazing at the night sky and stars of the Equator is just to boring for you - then "Bukoba Beach" is a great place to go and there are many discotheques in Bukoba town centre.

Cultural tours are a must whilst in Tanzania and by far the best way to do this is to discover the local culture on foot or by bicycle. This is a chance to get in contact with the local people in their daily life - don't miss it. A tour operator will gladly hire out an experienced English-speaking guide to bring Bukoba to life. You can set the pace and set the distance, physical exertion and amount of cultural enrichment you are able to assimilate in a day! The secret is don't try to do too much, the less you do the more enriching the experience.

Go fishing with Local fishermen. How more cultural can you get? Experience the local life of fishermen by joining them in their work; fishing. Maybe go out in a small wooden canoe and try to see who can catch the most Tilapia or Nile perch. At the end of the day someone can prepare your catch and cook your days spoils; nothing better than to eat fresh fish on the beach you have caught yourself. An organized trip will cost about US$15 - and if your fisherman is good - slip him a couple dollars tip.

Possibly the area's [not so best-kept] secrets is the caveman rock paintings close to Bukoba town plus one of the first religious shrines built in East Africa [as with all tourist information take all statistics with a pinch of salt. L.A.V.I.B.O.G.A.M. is the Lake Victoria Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants. This place is a fabulous project to preserve and protect the traditional plant life and their use within the region.

Karobela or Kabaranda Beach - take a hike along this remote area to experience culture and panoramas. Pass through banana plantations, forest and wild ending up at a spectacular viewpoint; looking across Lake Victoria. Then, with your guide leading the way, climb down to a fantastic secluded beach. Rest here and watch the birds or the local fisher folk perform their daily activities. If arrangements are made in advance join them in and try to catch your supper.

About the Author

See the Tanzania information page at http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk or for more specialized safari information see http://www.betheladventure.co.uk use responsible tourism to change lives.

How to travel to Bukoba From Within East Africa

Bukoba is fast becoming an area of Tanzania to visit; however it is easier to access from Uganda and Kenya than it is from Arusha or Dar es Salaam. Below are a few options for travel to this area from within East Africa.

If you travel from Uganda and land at Entebbe airport (EBB) then travel the short distance to Kampala, where you can get a bus to Bukoba; this journey takes about 5-6 hours. Dolphin Bus Company has a bus to Bukoba every day and the ticket should cost less than US$10 per person.

You can also travel trough Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar or Nairobi. Fly to Mwanza with Precision Air or Costal Aviation - the flights leave at noon and it is about a three hour flight and then get a connecting flight to Bukoba. From Dar es Salaam there are four flights everyday to and from Mwanza. Bukoba airport is on Aerodrome Road near the lake. However, be warned that the cost will be well in excess of US$200 per person from Dar to Bukoba.

Precision air agent office in Bukoba: Ms. Rose Kajilita, Tel: +255 28 2220545 E-mail: bkmachinery@twiga.com

Precision air office in Dar es Salaam: Tel: +255 22 2130800 Fax: +255 22 2113036 E-mail: information@precisionairtz.com Website: www.precisionairtz.com

There are two boats between Mwanza and Bukoba. The night ferry and the fastboat. The Night Ferry leaves Bukoba on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9.30 pm (after the horn sounds twice) and arrives in Mwanza the next morning around 8 am.

From Mwanza on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at about 9 pm and arrives in Bukoba the next morning around 8 am, the boat stops first at Kemondo Bay, so make sure you don't get off too early. Book tickets in advance (at the Bukoba tourist centre, Kiroyera Tours or at the harbor) it is essential to book in advance as tickets quickly become sold-out. I must say that I do not recommend the Nigh Ferry for tourists as the boat can become overcrowded and there have been several tragic accidents in recent years.

Ferry between Bukoba and MwanzaBukoba - Mwanza Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday Departure time 21.30 hours Boarding from 20.00 hours Arrival time 6.30 hours The harbor is about 3km out of Bukoba town on custom road. The ferry makes a stop in Kemondo Bay an hour after departure from Bukoba Port

Mwanza - Bukoba Every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday Departure time 22.00 hours Boarding from 20.00 hours Arrival time 6.00 hours Mwanza Harbor is in the north of Mwanza. The ferry makes a stop in Kemondo before arrives in Bukoba Port.

Prices for First Class [cabin]are about US$25, Second Class [seat] US$19 and Third US$17

The fast boat between Mwanza and Bukoba leaves daily. Bukoba - Mwanza, departure 10:00, arrival Mwanza 14:00 Mwanza - Bukoba, departure 14:00, arrival Bukoba 18:00 The price is about US$35 per person.

Trains for this route again are not recommended. The Train from Dar goes only as far as Mwanza. The journey by rail takes two days and is notoriously unreliable. Not recommended.

Book busses at the tourist center Bukoba, Kiroyera Tours (+255 28-2220203) or at the bus stand.

The bus stand is in the centre of Bukoba town. Jaguar/ Gateway / Dolphin Bus Services (+255 744786364) runs from Bukoba to Kampala everyday at 7.00 am (US$10). A bus from Kampala to Bukoba runs everyday at 11.00 am.

Tawfiq Executive Falcon (+255 28-2221683) runs every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to Nairobi (US$28) and Dar es Salaam (US$45).

Tashrif (+255 282220427) have a bus that does the central line to Dar on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Bukoba via Kahama , Nzega, Singida, Dodoma, Morogoro, to Dar es Salaam (TsUS$35).

Scandinavia runs from Kampala to Arusha and Dar es Salaam, via Nairobi. You can board it from Kampala through Jaquar Bus Services. All Scandinavia booking can be done through Kiroyera Tours.

See the Tanzania information page at http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk or for more specialized safari information see http://www.betheladventure.co.uk use responsible tourism to change lives.

About the Author

See the Tanzania information page at http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk or for more specialized safari information see http://www.betheladventure.co.uk use responsible tourism to change lives.