Tanzania+HWK

= Traveling To Tanzania = Hyun Woo Kim



//Tanzania, a paradise teeming with wild life, full of game and lurking predators. Tanzania, which must be visited at least once in a lifetime. Tanzania, Tanzania, TANZANIA! - Hyun Woo Kim, whilst researching Tanzania//

= Time to Visit =



Tanzania is a year round destination, meaning that there are no sudden shortages of possible activities if visited during certain times of the year. A thing to note is that roads are a major mode of transport in Tanzania and are often built in poor conditions. When the rainy season arrives, which April and May make up the majority, traveling by these roads become very difficult. For climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, it is best to do so from July to October and from January to March. This is when there is relatively low rainfall; July through October show low temperatures, making it more suitable for outdoor activities, such as climbing. Tanzania is also a year round bird watching destination and claims to have over a 1000 species of wild birds. The best time to visit for bird viewing is from December to February when the northern hemisphere's winter is at its peak and some 160 species of birds migrate south to warmer climates. In terms of game viewing, Tanzania also has a year round viewing as not all animals migrate but instead stay around all year long. Therefore, to make the most out of my limited time in Tanzania, I will stay from December to January. Taking a break from the winter of Korea to enjoy a nice warm weather suitable for t-shirt and shorts will, without a doubt, be enjoyable.

= Transportation =

As I looked at my flight details, I thought the cost seemed too high for a flight to Africa. With repeated efforts on expedia.com, I finally managed to reach a bargain:



//$1,994.30//. Compared to the flight costs of other groups, the price seemed a bit high. However, I decided that it was only logical for the flight to be expensive, as traveling to Tanzania requires many transfers that sometimes take over a day's flight. My journey will begin on Sunday, December 20, 2009. I chose so, for Winter Break starts on the 11th, and I wanted to have some time to pack up my belongings and to, above all, relax a bit and enjoy the end of the first semester with all its final exams. I have set my journey to last for sixteen days, in which I will stay at the Osy Grand Hotel located in Moshi, a town settled on the lower slopes of the Kilimanjaro Mountain.



It is not a freak coincidence that I chose to stay at a hotel located right beneath the great Mount Kilimanjaro; I plan to visit the grand sculpture of nature along with the Chala crater lak e and as well as Lake Manyara Park and Arusha Park. I chose Mount Kilimanjaro because of the stark contrast between its alien nature and the surrounding African landscape. Marked by scorching deserts or bountiful vegetation, Africa always seemed like a dry or wet but ultimately hot place. When I first heard of Mount Kilimanjaro and its snow covered peak, I was amazed. Not only is it the tallest mountain in Africa, it is also the world's tallest free-standing mountain with an elevation of 19,336 feet plus the surrounding elevation of 900 meters. The Chala crater lake is conveniently located on the mountain and is characterized by the breathtakingly clear water it contains within its steep crater walls. Lake Manyara Park has the highest density of elephants in East Africa with at least seven elephants per square kilometer. The variety of vegetation and species of birds is extensive with the local species of tree climbing lions and giraffes varied as well. Arusha Park is another popular safari destination. It contains the Ngurodoto Crater, a crater two kilometers in diameter, enormous in comparison to any other, if there even are, in the Korean peninsula.



As a means of transportation, I will be paying for a rental car throughout my visit. Luckily, the Tanzanian government allows foreigners, mainly from Asia and other regions of Africa, to travel up to three months without visa -- a lucky save for my already depleting cache of 4000 dollars.

= Language =

In Tanzania, English is the official language, and the national language is Swahili, also called Kiswahili. Although English is widely spoken and understood, knowing a basic set of Swahili vocabulary will greatly aid communication in rural areas where local life may not be so English-orientated. Greetings are crucial in East Africa -- Tanzania included --, and it is simply rude to start a conversation without a basic greeting.

Here is a list of key expressions in Swahili:


 * Hello = //Jambo//
 * Goodbye = //Kwa heri// (sg), //Kwa herini// (pl)
 * Thank you = //Asante//
 * Yes = //Ndiyo//
 * No = //Hapana//
 * Okay = //Sawa//
 * I don’t understand = //Sielewi//
 * Can you help me? = //Tafadhali, naomba msaada?//
 * I’m from = //Natokea//
 * My name is = //Jina langu ni//
 * Do you speak English? = //Unasema kiingereza?//
 * Where is the = //Ni wapi//
 * Airport = //Unwanja wa ndege//
 * Bus stop = //bas stendi//
 * Taxi stand = //stendi ya teksi//
 * How much is the fare? = //Nauli ni kiasi gani?//
 * Hotel = //hoteli//
 * Room = //chumba//
 * Water = //Maji//
 * Food = //Chakula//
 * Today = //Leo//
 * Tomorrow - //Kesho//

= Itinerary =

Day 1
//Sunday, December 20, 2009//

Pack enough belongings to last for two weeks. Bring __10__ t-shirts, __7__ shorts, __2__ jackets suitable for climbing along with __2__ long pants, __3__ long sleeved shirts, appropriate footwear including a sneaker, __12__ boxers, __14__ pairs of socks, a pair of sunglasses, sunscreen lotion and video camera. Arrive at the Incheon International Airport a good hour or so before departure at 5:25 p.m. Exchange portion of money from dollars to Tanzanian shillings for safety reasons. Buy provisions, nuts which have high calories, for overnight journeys. Be sure to bring some books to read during long hours in between transfers.

//Money Left: $206.59//

Day 2
//Monday, December 21, 2009//

Arrive in the Kilimanjaro International Airport at 1:55 p.m. Check out my rental car, drive to Moshi, check-in, go to Panda Chinese, a Chinese restaurant, to eat for less than $10. Come back and rest.

//Money Left: $196.48//

Day 3
//Tuesday, December 22, 2009//

Eat breakfast and set out to become accustomed to the local area. Walk around the town of Moshi, take pictures. Eat an early dinner in the evening at El Rancho, an Indian restaurant. Costs are less than $10. Head back to hotel to rest and pack early for the hike to Mount Kilimanjaro tomorrow.

//Money Left; $186.48//

Day 4
//Wednesday, December 23, 2009//

Start for Mount Kilimanjaro the next day. Eat breakfast at hotel, pack anything that I forgot to include, and ride to the Kilimanjaro International Airport to meet Ryan, my friend from Ghana, at 2 p.m. Drive to Mount Kilimanjaro from there, a hour's drive away. To avoid altitude sickness stay at Kilimanjaro for five days. Hire cook for 12 dollars per day. Choose moderate trekking route and set out slowly to increase chances of reaching the summit. Settle at pre-established campsite, set up tent brought by Ryan, and rest.

//Money Left: $174.48//

Day 5
//Thursday, December 24, 2009//

Continue hike while taking memorable pictures. Eat breakfast, lunch, and supper. Settle at next campsite and rest for the day.

//Money Left: $162.48//

Day 6
//Friday, December 25, 2009//

Wake up to make a silent wish for good ol' Christmas. Continue climbing. Take memorable pictures. Close in on summit. Eat breakfast, lunch, and supper. Reach next campsite to end the day's hike.

//Money Left: $150.48//

Day 7
//Saturday, December 26, 2009//

Reach summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Take awe inspiring pictures to prove to family members back home of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Start heading down and along the way visit well-known landmarks, including the Chala crater lake on the southeastern slopes. Take photos; eat breakfast, lunch, and supper. Hike back down resettle at previous campsite. Rest for day.

//Money Left: $138.48//

Day 8
//Sunday, December 27, 2009//

Quicken pace as lungs are now capable of working under conditions with lesser oxygen. Take finishing shots of the landscape. Finish the hike to Mount Kilimanjaro in the evening after eating an early supper. Ride back to Kilimanjaro airport for an hour to drop Ryan off for a 7:30 p.m. flight. Exchange farewells and head back to hotel around 8 p.m. Take out worn cloths to be put into a laundry bag. Sleep.

//Money Left: $126.48//

Day 9
//Monday, December 28, 2009//

Wake up late. Eat breakfast. Recuperate from the hiking to Mount Kilimanjaro. Visit local stores to learn more about local customs and lifestyles. Eat an early lunch at the Coffee Shop, which sells western food such as sausages and sandwiches. Costs are less than $10. Go back to hotel to prepare for the trip to Lake Manyara Park.

//Money Left: $116.48//

Day 10
//Tuesday, December 29, 2009//

Eat breakfast at hotel and head out at 10 a.m. Drive a two hour ride to Lake Manyara Park and find a suitable campsite. Eat simple; consume packaged high calorie meal. Hire a guide for $20 to just observe wildlife. Take pictures of wild birds, exotic plants, and possible elephants. Eat the remaining portion of the energy inducing food and ride back to Moshi. Arrive at night, check in, go to room.

//Money Left: $96.48//

Day 11
//Wednesday, December 30, 2009//

Breakfast in the morning and walk through the streets. Learn more of the local customs and living conditions. Eat lunch at Panda Chinese: cycling through popular tourist restaurants. Head back to hotel to sort out clean from dirty clothes. End of day.

//Money Left: $86.48//

Day 12
//Thursday, December 31, 2009//

Eat breakfast; ride to Arusha town. The drive is an hour and thirty minutes long. Eat lunch at a Khan's Barbeque, a famous restaurant which is famous for its grilled meat. Price is less than $10. Drive again for about an hour and a half to Lake Manyara Park for the cultural component. Join a group tour to learn about the history of the Park. Cost is $13. Begin to head back to hotel at 5 p.m. Arrive at hotel after two hours. Go to the El Rancho for a quick Indian themed dinner. Cost is less than $10. Go to hotel to rest.

//Money Left: $53.48//

Day 13
//Friday, January 1, 2009//

Wake up to eat a big breakfast. Get into walking outfit again to visit the Arusha National Park. Less than an hour drive away from Moshi. After arriving around 11 a.m., find a group guide to cut down on prices: $14. Notable for activities such as walking through safaris as predators are mainly nonexistent. Around 4 p.m., head back to Moshi; time to buy souvenirs! Local shops sell Tanzanian kanga, a woman’s skirt that often has a message on the print. Buy two for $9.99 dollars each for my mom and my sister, although it is highly likely that the kangas will by worn by neither of them. Head back to hotel to sleep.

//Money Left: $19.50//

Day 14
//Saturday, January 2, 2009//

Wake up and eat breakfast. Go to the Coffee Shop to settle down and read. Eat lunch, $9, at 3 p.m. and head back to hotel. Begin packing so to leave tomorrow. Sleep early for the long flight and the numerous transfers in between.

//Money Left: $10.50//

Day 15
//Sunday, January 3, 2009//

Wake up to eat breakfast. Eat the last meal at the Coffee Shop; the place has the best food after all. The cost is $10. Come back to hotel at 1 p.m. and check out. Ride to the Kilimanjaro International Airport, which is a bit more than an hour's ride away, return the rental car at the designated 3 p.m. and wait for the departure at 3:50 p.m. Arrive at Mombassa, read book for some time, and leave again to Addis Ababa, arriving at 7:45 p.m.

//Money Left: $0.50//

Day 16
//Monday, January 4, 2009//

Continue to read the book or catch a quick nap. Depart at 12:25 a.m. to Bangkok, and, after a nine hour flight, arrive in China. With the remaining 50 cents, buy as much drink and/or food possible. Sleep with an alarm set to pass time for the next flight to arrive. Wash face, brush teeth in the bathroom, and carry out the basic procedures when nature calls. At 10:45 p.m. get on the plane headed to the Incheon International Airport. After a five hour flight, touch down back home in Incheon, South Korea. Reflect upon the importance of flight costs; if they had been a dollar or two lower, getting an extra meal at the airport would not have been a problem.

//Money Left: $0.00 //

= Map of Journey =



= Works Cited =

//**1**//. "Airport transfers Moshi Arusha Kilimanjaro International Airport| Airport taxi Kilimanjaro| Airport Transfers Tanzania Kilidove Tours and Safaris Ltd Tanzania airport transfers from Moshi, Arusha Kilimanjaro airport and personal private transfers." //Kilidove Tours and Safaris Ltd Tanzania//. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .


 * //2//**. "Birding Safari Arusha Birding Tours, Birdwatching Arusha Safaris Tanzania Accommodation." //Tanzania Safaris | Tanzania Birding Safari, Birdwatching in Tanzania| Birds Tour Africa//. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .


 * //3//**. "Safaris.com - Tanzania Travel Tips." //Safaris.com - Africa Safari Specialists//. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2009. .


 * //4//**. "Tanzania Safari Travel Tips, Resources, Articles and Advise - By AfriChoice." //AfriChoice Tours & Travel LTD - Affordable African Wildlife Safaris To Kenya & Tanzania//. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2009. .


 * //5//**. "Tanzanian Travel Tips." //Takims Holidays Tours and Safaris Ltd. Tanzanian Safari Outfitter, Safaris, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kenya//. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2009. .


 * //6//**. "When to Go to Tanzania | African Safari Travel | Go 2 Africa." //African Safari Travel | Go 2 Africa | Africa Travel & Safaris//. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2009. .


 * //7//**. Zijlma, Anouk. "Swahili Basics for Travelers - Useful Swahili Phrases for Travel to East Africa." //Africa Travel//. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2009. .


 * //8//**. "tanzania weather, tanzania weather charts." //African Safari, Safari Holidays//. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .