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Best Tourist Places to Visit in Lindi, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Lindi, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Lindi is a beach town in the southeastern part of Tanzania on the Indian Ocean, situated around 450 kilometers south of the country’s largest city, Dar es Salaam. It comes under the Lindi Region, is located at the gateway of the Lukuledi River, between 9°59′49″ S latitude and 39°42′52″ E longitude. Lindi has all upgraded facilities like post office, bus station, market, airstrip, banks with ATMs, schools, guest houses and an internet cafe. The economy of Lindi is mainly focused on fishing at Lindi Bay and there are also sawmills, owned by Aqeel Traders. Due to its position on the coastline, Lindi draws a large number of tourists during the dry season.

Connectivity to Lindi:

Lindi hosts an airport but flights are limited. The closest major airport to Lindi is Mtwara Airport, is served by Air Tanzania, Precision Air and Tropical Air with scheduled flights from the country’s largest city, Dar es Salaam. The Mtwara Airport is situated around 105 km southeast of the centre of the Lindi town.

Lindi can be reached by buses plying between Dar es Salaam and Mtwara. The local transportation of Lindi is served by minibuses, cars and taxis.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Lindi:

The population of Lindi is dominated by Muslims, mainly migrated people from Muscat and Oman. The town is also home to a substantial number of Indian people.

One can find many upgraded restaurants in Lindi and the most popular one is Jaffery Restaurant, which is frequented by family and friends. There are many traditional as well as modernized options in Lindi, where visitors can bag a wide selection of jewels, handicraft products and leather bags at reasonable rates.

What to do in Lindi?

Fishing
Swimming
Day tours
Shopping

What to see in Lindi?

Lukuledi River:

The Lukuledi River is a river in the southeastern Tanzania, flowing into the Indian Ocean near the Lindi town. Measuring a total length of 160 km, the bank of the river at Lindi is a spot for fishing and many water sport activities.

Selous Game Reserve:

UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Selous Game Reserve is the world’s one of the largest wildlife areas, situated around 150 km west of Lindi. Established in 1922, the reserve houses a large population of animals than any other African game reserves or national parks. The major animal species are elephants, hippopotami, African Wild Dog and Cape buffalo. The reserve covers an area of 54,600 sq. km.

Kilwa Kisiwani:

Kilwa Kisiwani is a historic island town located around 190 km south of Lindi. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated in 1981, holding many popular well preserved historic sites, including the Great Mosque and the Mkutini Palace. It is worth a trip.

List of other places of interest in and around Lindi include:

Kilwa Kivinji
Mikumi National Park
Makumbusho Village Museum
Beaches of Dar es Salaam
Azania Front Lutheran Church
Kilwa Masoko Airport
Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve
Dar Es Salaam Botanical Garden
Benjamin William Mkapa Pension Tower

Ideal time to visit Lindi:

Probably during the months between June and October are best to travel Lindi in Tanzania when the weather remains dry and pleasant.

Where to stay in Lindi?

Lindi houses some nice guest houses that are well versed in offering memorable hospitality services to visitors with a blend of traditional and modern facilities and services like AC, TV, internet, arrangement of vehicle and a large food menu with a wide range of Tanzanian and international dishes. Visitors are also advised to reach nearby cities for more facilitated hotels. Here are some standard hotels in and around Lindi include:

Lindi Beach Resort
Paris Guest House
Kilwa Pakaya Hotel
Fanjove Private Island
Kilwa Beach Lodge
Mwangaza Hideaway
The Retreat Selous
Jimbiza Lodge
Sable Mountain Lodge
Selous Great Water Lodge
Selous River Camp
Selous Mbuyu Safari Camp
Selous Impala Camp
Lake Manze Tented Camp
Sand Rivers Selous

Places to Visit in Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Places to Visit in Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Established in 1960, the Lake Manyara National Park is situated both in Arusha and Manyara regions in the eastern African country, Tanzania. The park features a diverse geographical characteristics like forest, soda lake and arid land and sprawls a total area of 330 sq. km. The park is dominated by the Lake Manyara, a shallow lake, which covers a surface area of 231 sq. km. The Tanzania National Parks Authority administrates the park. The geographical coordinates of Lake Manyara are 3°30′ S 35°50′ E.

Like other national parks and reserves in Tanzania, the Lake Manyara National Park is also a prominent tourist destination, well known for the substantial number of flamingos at the lake and animals like elephants, blue monkeys, hippo, giraffe and lions. Babati to the south and Arusha to the northeast are the nearest cities to Lake Manyara.

How to get Lake Manyara National Park?

The Lake Manyara National Park is well served by the Lake Manyara Airport with scheduled flights from/to Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mwanza, Ruaha, Selous, Seronera, Tarangire, and Zanzibar, catered by Coastal Aviation. The airport is situated few kilometers from the northern boundary of the park.

There are scheduled buses plying between Arusha, Babati and Dar es Salaam throughout the year. Also, many tour operators conduct guided tour to Lake Manyara during the peak season from the different regions of the country.

Food and Shopping in Lake Manyara National Park:

There are many food huts and shops in and around the Lake Manyara National Park that mainly offer traditional Tanzanian products. One can also reach the nearby city Arusha for modern shopping.

Things to do in Lake Manyara National Park:

Bird watching
Hiking
Fishing
Day tours

Places to see in Lake Manyara National Park:

Lake Manyara National Park:

The Lake Manyara National Park itself is an amazing tourist attraction, drawing a large number of animal enthusiasts and bird lovers year round from all around the world. Apart from a large number of animals, the park is home to around 400 species of birds.

Lake Manyara:

The Lake Manyara is the centre of attraction of Lake Manyara National Park and from which the park got its name. Spanning over a surface area of 231 sq. km, the Lake Manyara is a shelter for many large and typical animal species like hippos, impalas, elephants, wildebeests and buffalo. The park is also a heaven for bird enthusiasts, who can see more than 300 migratory birds at the lake including flamingos.

Tarangire National Park:

The Tarangire National Park is located few kilometers southwest of the Manyara National Park, covering a total area of 2,850 km². Established in 1970, the park characterizes miscellaneous geographical features like compact bush, dense grasses and Baobab trees. It is also famous for safari, bird watching, hiking and trekking activities.

List of other places of interest in and around Lake Manyara National Park include:

Arusha National Park
Ngorongoro Crater
Century Cinema
Cultural Heritage Centre Arusha
Meserani Snake Park
Kilimanjaro Golf
Lake Manyara
Bishop’s Cathedral of Arusha
Arusha Clock Tower
The National Natural History Museum
Olduvai Gorge
Mount Kilimanjaro

Best time to visit Lake Manyara National Park:

Throughout the year is best to visit Lake Manyara National Park, particularly from July to October is the ideal season for animal viewing and November to June is the perfect time for bird watching, canoeing and enjoying the beauty of waterfalls.

Accommodation options in Lake Manyara National Park:

Being a renowned tourist destination, the Lake Manyara National Park houses numerous traditional as well as modernized accommodation centres like lodges, guest houses, camping and tent houses. Here is the list of some tourist favor hotels in Lake Manyara National Park:

Marowiwi Green House
Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge
Manyara Ranch Conservancy
Escarpment Luxury Lodge
Manyara Ranch Conservancy
Lake Manyara Serena Lodge
Ol Mesera Safari Camp
Kirurumu Manyara Lodge
Lemala Manyara
Tloma Lodge
Ol Tukai Manyara
Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp
Kirurumu Ngorongoro Camp
Haven Nature Camp and Lodge
Lake Manyara Hotel

Tourist Places to Visit in Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Kilwa Kisiwani is a historical town in the southeastern part of the African country Tanzania, located between 8°57′35″ S latitude and 39°30′46″ E longitude. It was earlier the capital of the influential Medieval sultanate, Kilwa Sultanate. The town of Kilwa Kisiwani falls under the Kilwa District of the Lindi Region, is situated around 330 km south of Tanzania’s largest city, Dar es Salaam.

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, Kilwa Kisiwani is one of the renowned historic tourist destinations in Tanzania, housing many landmark historic structures, including the Great Mosque and the Mkutini Palace.

History of Kilwa Kisiwani:

There are many proved and unproved theories about the origin of the Kilwa Sultanate, although one theory strongly claims the Persian prince of Shiraz, Ali ibn al-Hassan was the founder of Kilwa Sultanate in the 10th century and his family was in reign until 1277. Later Kilwa fell under the rule of the Arab family Abu Moaheb, who left the region with the invasion of Portuguese in 1505. Kilwa Kisiwani also witnessed the rule of the Germans and British from the late 19^th century until Tanzania’s independence.

How to reach Kilwa Kisiwani?

There is an airport, situated within the town premise, with name Kilwa Masoko Airport, connecting Kilwa Kisiwani to Dar es Salaam, Mafia Island, Pemba, Selous, Tanga, Zanzibar and many other Tanzanian destinations, catered by Coastal Aviation.

Kilwa Kisiwani is reachable by bus from the country’s largest city, Dar es Salaam. Trip may take 6 plus hours. Taxis and tuktuks are the convenient options to get around Kilwa Kisiwani.

Food and Shopping in Kilwa Kisiwani:

There are all sorts of shops and restaurants in Kilwa Kisiwani, mainly offering local specialties that are affordable and worth a price. Keep some cash in pocket as most shops in Kilwa don’t accept cards.

Things to do in Kilwa Kisiwani:

Cultural tours
Traditional shopping
Walking

What to see in Kilwa Kisiwani?

Kilwa Kisiwani:

Kilwa Kisiwani itself is an excellent tourist attraction, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 1981. The most famous sites on Kilwa Kisiwani are the Great Mosque and the Mkutini Palace, both of these hold strong historical background that attract tourists from all around the country. The island of Kilwa Kisiwani can be reached by boat from the mainland town Kilwa Masoko.

Selous Game Reserve:

Established in 1922, the Selous Game Reserve is recognized as one of the largest wildlife centres of the globe. Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, the reserve is spread over an area of 54,600 sq. km, home to a substantial number of animals than any other game reserves in Africa. Some larger species include Cape buffalo, elephants, hippopotami and African Wild Dog. The reserve is situated around 40 km from Kilwa Kisiwani.

Kilwa Kivinji:

Kilwa Kivinji is one of the Kilwa towns, well known for its traditional structures that are charming and eye-catching. There are sightseeing options less in number but town has a very pleasant environment. It is worth a trip.

List of other places of interest in and around Kilwa Kisiwani includes:

Mikumi National Park
Kilwa Masoko Airport
Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve
Dar Es Salaam Botanical Garden
Benjamin William Mkapa Pension Tower
Makumbusho Village Museum
Beaches of Dar es Salaam
Azania Front Lutheran Church
Karimjee Hall
Mbudya Island
Askari Monument
National Museum of Tanzania
Wonder Workshop
Zoological Gardens in Dar es Salaam

When to visit Kilwa Kisiwani?

As like most parts of Tanzania, from June to October is the best time to visit Kilwa Kisiwani in Tanzania.

Where to stay in Kilwa Kisiwani?

Being a famous tourist destination, Kilwa Kisiwani holds many well facilitated hotels with upgraded amenities like AC, airport shuttle, TV and food on request service. Here are some nice hotels in and around Kilwa Kisiwani:

Kilwa Pakaya Hotel
Fanjove Private Island
Kilwa Beach Lodge
Mwangaza Hideaway
Kimbilio Lodge
The Retreat Selous
Jimbiza Lodge
Selous Impala Camp
Lake Manze Tented Camp
Sand Rivers Selous
Sable Mountain Lodge
Lindi Beach Resort
Selous Great Water Lodge
Selous River Camp
Selous Mbuyu Safari Camp

Places to Visit in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Places to Visit in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

The Kilimanjaro National Park is one of the important national parks of Tanzania, covering around 1,688 square kilometers area of Kilimanjaro Region in the northeastern part of the country. Moshi is the closest city to the park, situated around 40 km away and Kilimanjaro is located around 75 km Arusha, 400 km from Tanga and 610 km from Dar Es Salam, the largest city of Tanzania. Located at 3°04′ S 37°22′ E, the Kilimanjaro National Park is dominated by the Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain and the world’s highest self supporting peak (5,895 metres).

History of Kilimanjaro National Park:

The history of Kilimanjaro dates back to the early 20^th century during the German colonial period, who declared Mount Kilimanjaro and its adjoining forests as a game reserve. The forest reserve was promoted as a national park in 1973 and the national park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Getting Kilimanjaro National Park:

The national park and its surrounding is served by the Kilimanjaro International Airport with scheduled flights from Istanbul, Nairobi, Arusha, Manyara, Doha, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Addis Ababa and many other global destinations.

Kilimanjaro can be reached through road by bus services from all major cities on the mainland Tanzania, including Arusha, Dar es Salam and Dodoma.

There are many travel agencies in and around Kilimanjaro, offering tours of the park and cars and bikes on rent for local travel.

Food and Shopping in Kilimanjaro National Park:

There are plenty of shops around Kilimanjaro National Park, of which most are traditional options, where visitors can bag a wide range of items ranging from handicraft products to traditional clothes to artworks.

Here are some recommended food corners in Moshi town near Kilimanjaro National Park:

Milan’s Restaurant
Tanzania Coffee Lounge
Pamoja Bar & Cafe
Aroma Coffee Shop

Things to do in Kilimanjaro National Park:

Machame Nkweshoo Cultural Tourism tour
Bless Africa Tours and Safaris
Mountain climbing
Hiking
Trekking

What to see in Kilimanjaro National Park?

Mount Kilimanjaro:

The Mount Kilimanjaro is the first preference of tourists visiting the Kilimanjaro National Park. With an elevation of 5,895 metres, the Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa, featuring 3 volcanic cones, Mawenzi, Shira and Kibo. Trekking and climbing are the popular activities among visitors here.

Waterfalls in Kilimanjaro National Park:

Kilimanjaro National Park is the site of many spectacular waterfalls like Kinukamori waterfalls and Materuni waterfalls, located in Mount Kilimanjaro, where visitors can spot many colorful birds and monkeys.

Lake Chala:

The Lake Chala is one of the volcanic lakes located at the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. There is also a Chagga tribe living at the slopes of Kilimanjaro Mount. Chagga tribe will be a great guide for visitors to explore the local culture.

Olpopongi -Maasai Cultural Village & Museum:

The Olpopongi-Maasai Cultural Village & Museum is a museum of traditional thatched houses in the town of Moshi, situated around 40 km from the border of Kilimanjaro National Park. It is a perfect place to know the significance of Tanzanian ethnicity.

Other places of interest near Kilimanjaro National Park include:

Lake Chala
Mount Kibo
Kikuletwa Hotsprings
Chagga Live Museum
Ndoro Waterfall
Machame Route
Uhuru Peak
Kilimanjaro Climbing and Safari Center
Meru Wellness Retreat
Kilimanjaro Tanzanite Safaris Ltd

When to visit Kilimanjaro National Park?

The best time to visit Kilimanjaro National Park depends on visitors’ interest, though the most popular time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is from December to February.

Where to stay in Kilimanjaro National Park?

Within the Kilimanjaro National Park, camping is the option to stay, if visitors come out of the park, can find dozens of accommodation options, of which most are in the town of Moshi (around 40 km from the park). The major hotels in and around Kilimanjaro National Park are as follows: