Graduation Picnic at Saanane Island National Park

It has been forever since the last time I posted. The good news is am well and ready to take you through the unforgettable Tanzania. I have gone through the valley of death and the mountains of life metaphoric and literally. I experienced a lot in life during the time I was away from this enjoyable hobby of mine. Lets get started with a graduation picnic that happened at Saanane Island National Park .

My friend had her Masters degree in Education and she had no idea on how to celebrate this amazing milestone. I came up the idea of 'Graduation picnic'. She intended to have few friends and family members to join her. After pitching my idea to her about Saanane Island National Park she agreed right away.  We started planning it and this is how amazingly things turned out

And here is a video when we were having sparkling wine aka champagne in the boat like the rich ones. Best part!

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Top 16 seasonal activities and outings you don't wanna miss in Tanzania.

Tanzania the land of Mountain Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti and Zanzibar. Yes it is an authentic wonderland, full of Natural blessings and friendly people. Do you know the seasonal activities and outings that are worthy while participating? Here are the top 16 that you should consider while in Tanzania. This will help you mix your safaristrip to the parks and games and end your experience by getting to know the local in the process during the events and activities. This emphasis our previous post on how to get to the climax of enjoyment when in Tanzania via tourism activities and sports.

1. Sauti za busara

Sauti za Busara, East Africa’s No. 1 festival brings people together in celebration of the richness and variety of African music. It takes place in Stone Town Zanzibar.  Centered within the ancient walls of The Old Fort, the main stage hosts three nights of non-stop live music, with the main program continuing Friday ‘til Sunday with performances from 5pm until 1am. Sauti za Busara features local and international artists across Africa and some other parts of the world. The month of the festival is mainly February where you got to celebrate Valentine's day. Named as among Africa's 10 best music festival by MSN AFRICA

2. Yatch Club Fishing Competition

Joining Dar es Salaam Yacht Club or Tanga Yatch Club is a simple matter, and you do not have to be a sailor to join, but it helps to enjoy the place. There are also the possibilities of fishing, scuba diving, swimming, sail boarding & kayaking. The sport fishing competition is on October in Tanga and monthly for Dar es salaam.

3. Swahili Fashion Week

Swahili Fashion Week is now THE platform for fashion and accessory designers from Swahili speaking countries and the African continent to showcase their talent, market their creativity and network with clientele and the international fashion industry. This is all aimed at emphasizing to the region that fashion is an income generating creative industry, meanwhile promoting a "Made in Africa" concept. It currently is the biggest and largest annual fashion event in the whole of East and Central Africa. This fashion week showcases on December.

4. Kilimanjaro Marathon

The Kilimanjaro marathon is run out of the town of Moshi, at the foot of this iconic mountain. This professionally organized IAAF approved race consists of a full marathon, half marathon and fun run. Set up by the organizers to grow sport and promote tourism in Tanzania, these races attract over 3200 runners from over 50 countries, and numbers are growing yearly.

Known as one of the most scenic races in the world, with Kilimanjaro's white peak looking over the runners as they run through both urban areas and rural farmland and villages, this is a must on all runners’ wish lists. March is the month of the competition. You register on February and race on March.

5. Fiesta

Fiesta Tanzania is the annual celebration of Bongo flava music, the festival brings in local flavor from local artists to international arts worldwide from such as Lil Kim, Ludacris, Ricky Ross and many others, you name them. Its evolves from the regional level and finally its gets to down town Dar es salaam to wind up the event. The finalizing festival happens on September most of times at Leaders Club ground.

6. Nyama Choma Competition (Meat Roasting)

It involves various cities and town such as Dar es salaam, Arusha, Mwanza and others. It’s a competition of roasting meat where the top five bars with the best roasted meat gets into regional final. Leaders Club grounds kinondoni gathers winners from Dar es salaam and there is where the fun at, you will enjoy the sweet aroma and the meat itself. It’s very delicious, March is its season. 

7. Miss Tanzania

Re-presenters for Miss World from Tanzania are prepared and nurtured here. It is among the very popular red carpet event in the country. The show acclaims International audience since it's prepared in an international manner. It features high performance from the pea-gentry themselves and from local and international artists. The event is carried on November.

8. Canoe Competition.

 Do you love water sports? Mwanza  got you covered on this. Come and compete in the largest lake in Africa, the lake Victoria canoe competition. If you have got the skills and the speed why not participating? Date and month of the competition is on October.

9. Goat Race.

It is the best for family day out, here there is a lot of family entertainment, kids corner and family picnic area. While the goats have to race you got to rest and enjoy the race. It is 13 years old now and it is held at Msasani Peninsula, on June. 

10. Miss Utalii (Tourism) Tanzania

The Pageants aims at promotion of tourism, culture and Investment of the world and the Nations, it also aims at promotion of Education, Health, Environments, Unite and Peace among Nations. Come and see the authentic beauties of Tanzania and at the same time enjoying the colorful event and meet new friends.

11. Rock City Marathon

Aims at promoting local tourism in Tanzania, but foreigners are warmly welcome to compete. This competition takes place in Mwanza, the home of Saa Nane Island National Park, the Lake Victoria and were the famous Nile Perch and Tilapia fish are much found. You will enjoy the magnificent rocky scenery and Tilapia for dinner. It’s Amazing. The marathon is mainly on October.

12. Tanzania Premier League.

It was started in 1965, the league consists of 14 teams playing a double round-robin. There are so many merging stars from Tanzania football so surely don't want to miss watching them kicking it like Messi and Ronaldo. The league takes off on September.

13. Wildebeest Migrations

The best time to see the migration is usually between June and August when the wildebeest congregate and prepare to cross the Grumeti River. However the route and timing of the migration is unpredictable so visitors must plan carefully to be assured of seeing the spectacle.
During the early wet season (December to April) the animals are found on the short grass plains around Lake Ndutu, the Moru Kopjes, the Gol Mountains and Seronera in the south of the park.

14. Darts Championship

This is for those who like indoor sports, its Darts Championship. Join the huge number of participating players from several regions across the country. Simply find a club in your region register and your already in the game.

15. Kili Music Awards

Here comes the Grammy Awards for Tanzania, its Kili Music Awards. This is a special night to honor the best musicians or artists in the country and across East Africa. Have you heard the sweet melodies from Tanzania? Its your chance to find out what Music means in Tanzania. All genres are included from coastal music known as Taarab to Bongo flava and so many more. The event is mostly held on April or May.

16. Mount Kilimanjaro hiking

There are so many reasons to climb to the roof of Africa, you name them. Here is the best season to hike to this 5895m standing mountain. Due to Mount Kilimanjaro's proximity to the equator, this region does not experience the extremes of winter and summer weather, but rather dry and wet seasons. Therefore, the best time to climb Kilimanjaro tends to be the warmest and driest months (see Kilimanjaro weather).

Additional  Activities and Outings In Tanzania from comments.

i. Whale shark watching
Whale shark season - October to March, Mafia Island. They are heavily present during that time in the Mafia Channel, outside the Marine Park on the West side. 

Do you know any seasonal activities and outing that you wish  to be included here? Please just add it to the comment box and will pull it here.

Worthy reading: How to reach climax enjoyment when in Tanzania via tourism activities and sports.

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2011 Young Global Leader Susan Mashibe is the princess from Saa Nane Island National Park.

Exclusive Story.

Did you know that Susan Mashabe's great grand father Mzee Saa Nane Chawandi was the sole owner of the now Saa Nane Island National Park?

This is according to Suzan's testimony and Amazing Tanzania Tours.

It is confirmed that Saa Nane Island brought Susan Mashibe into her present spotlight life. You probably must be wondering what is Saa Nane Island and what has it got to do with her? And who is Susan Mashibe anyway?

Let us take it from here:

Saa Nane Island National Park is a small wildlife sanctuary of only 0.5km sq size. It is situated on rocky Island in Lake Victoria. It is described as the first national park in the city. It will only take you 15 minutes through a boat ride to get there if you are in Mwanza City Center.

It is a home to Impala, rock hyrax, vervet monkeys, wild cats, claw-less otters and many other wild animals.

Saa Nane Island National Park

It was named after the Mzee Saa Nane Chiwandi who was the owner of the Island. In 1964 it became the first ever zoo in Tanzania.

Read more about Saa Nane Island National Park here: Amazing Tanzania Tours.

Who is Susan Mashibe

Young Tanzanian woman who is Biz Av Enthusiast as how she describes her self @iMashibe. She is the Founder and Executive Director of VIA Aviation & World Economic Forum 2011 Young Global Leader. Isn't she amazing! She is featured on Forbes as Emerging Global Women Entrepreneur, not to mention women4Africa, Women'sForum and many others.

CEO of  VIA Aviation Miss Susan Mashibe

My first if not early encounter was when she appeared as the cover girl on Fema Magazine.

The coordination between Saa Nane and Suzan Mashibe is that, This young Iron woman's ancestors happened to live there. It is her roots.

She claims that her Great grand father Mr. or Mzee Saa Nane lived there and her mother was born there as well. It was so until when Tanzania decided to take the island and make it the first ever zoo in 1964. 

The conversation I personally had with her on tweeter says it all.

@karibubongo it is Sanane. After my late maternal great grandfather Mzee Sanane. My mother grew up there. Govt took the island in 1962.
— Susan Mashibe (@iMashibe) February 1, 2013 

— Susan Mashibe (@iMashibe) February 1, 2013

Sorry to your babu @imashibe
— John Lema (@KaribuBongo) February 1, 2013

She disclosed via direct message on tweeter that " glad to hear that. I am also very happy that you tweeted about Sanane Island. That is where my roots are from. I am a Sanane upande wa mama".

My personal view of the scenario pushes me to say that Tanzania (Tanapa) should think of making this young global leader the Official Ambassador of Saa Nane National Park. She is worthy it! 

Suzan Mashibe Complete Profile: ZoomInfo
Linked in profile : Suzan Mashibe

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Serengeti, the world greatest wildlife show (watch the mystery wildebeest migration).

A million wildebeest... each one driven by the same ancient rhythm, fulfilling its instinctive role in the inescapable cycle of life: a frenzied three-week bout of territorial conquests and mating; survival of the fittest as 40km (25 mile) long columns plunge through crocodile-infested waters on the annual exodus north; replenishing the species in a brief population explosion that produces more than 8,000 calves daily before the 1,000 km (600 mile) pilgrimage begins again.

Tanzania's oldest and most popular national park, also a world heritage site and recently proclaimed a 7th world wide wonder, the Serengeti is famed for its annual migration, when some six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson's gazelle join the wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing. Yet even when the migration is quiet, the Serengeti offers arguably the most scintillating game-viewing in Africa: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and thousands upon thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant’s gazelle.

The spectacle of predator versus prey dominates Tanzania’s greatest park. Golden-maned lion prides feast on the abundance of plain grazers. Solitary leopards haunt the acacia trees lining the Seronera River, while a high density of cheetahs prowls the southeastern plains. Almost uniquely, all three African jackal species occur here, alongside the spotted hyena and a host of more elusive small predators, ranging from the insectivorous aardwolf to the beautiful serval cat.

But there is more to Serengeti than large mammals. Gaudy agama lizards and rock hyraxes scuffle around the surfaces of the park’s isolated granite koppies. A full 100 varieties of dung beetle have been recorded, as have 500-plus bird species, ranging from the outsized ostrich and bizarre secretary bird of the open grassland, to the black eagles that soar effortlessly above the Lobo Hills. 

As enduring as the game-viewing is the liberating sense of space that characterises the Serengeti Plains, stretching across sunburnt savannah to a shimmering golden horizon at the end of the earth. Yet, after the rains, this golden expanse of grass is transformed into an endless green carpet flecked with wildflowers. And there are also wooded hills and towering termite mounds, rivers lined with fig trees and acacia woodland stained orange by dust.

Popular the Serengeti might be, but it remains so vast that you may be the only human audience when a pride of lions masterminds a siege, focussed unswervingly on its next meal.

About Serengeti 
Size: 14,763 sq km (5,700 sq miles).
Location: 335km (208 miles) from Arusha, stretching north to Kenya and bordering Lake Victoria to the west.

Getting there
Scheduled and charter flights from Arusha, Lake Manyara and Mwanza.
Drive from Arusha, Lake Manyara, Tarangire or Ngorongoro Crater.

What to do
Hot air balloon safaris, walking safari, picnicking, game drives, bush lunch/dinner can be arranged with hotels/tour operators.  Maasai rock paintings and musical rocks.

Visit neighbouring Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano and Lake Natron's flamingos.

When to go
To follow the wildebeest migration, December-July. To see predators, June-October.

Accommodation
Four lodges, six luxury tented camps and camp sites scattered through the park; one new lodge will be opened next season (Bilila Lodge); one luxury camp, a lodge and two tented camps just outside.

More info on accomodation

NOTE
The route and timing of the wildebeest migration is unpredictable. Allow at least three days to be assured of seeing them on your visit - longer if you want to see the main predators as well.

Source: Tanapa

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Zanzibar's ten best places to be, see, and things to do.

'AUTHENTIC WONDER'.

It is well know that it is real overwhelming to choose places to be, things to see and do when your on tour. Zanzibar can be very dramatic if you can't find your way to the very best that it can offer. That is why you need knowledge about the very intriguing places that worth being and take part. Karibu Bongo is dedicated to inform you on the ten best places, things to see and do while in Zanzibar to have a lifetime experience.

With the help from Zanzibar Travel and Tourism directory 2012/2013, we proudly announce the ten Zanzibar's best.


10.  Festivals! - Sauti za Busara, ZIFF, Jahazi & Mwaka Kogwa
Get into the groove at one of the the Zanzibar's three largest annual festivals - Sauti za Busara (Sounds of  Wisdom). the Music festival takes place in February, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds in celebration of African music. Sauti za Busara is the fusion of old and new, classic and contemporary like historic Zanzibar itself. The festival is a magical meeting place, a melting casserole of diverse cultures, styles and visions - where town meets country, young greets ild. The ZIFF Festival of the Dhow Countries, East Africa's largest cultural event and takes place each June/July. It is a hotbed of activities, with cinema, music, performing arts, literature and exhibitions across the island. Mwaka Kogwa, also in July, celebrates Shirazi new year in Style and is not to be missed.

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Saadani National Park is where the beach meets the bush.

'Beautiful Country, Feel the Friendship.'

Saadani National Park

Palm trees sway in a cooling oceanic breeze. White sand and blue water sparkle alluringly beneath the tropical sun. Traditional dhows sail slowly past, propelled by billowing white sails, while Swahili fishermen cast their nets below a brilliant red sunrise.
Saadani is where the beach meets the bush. The only wildlife sanctuary in East Africa to boast an Indian Ocean beachfront, it possesses all the attributes that make Tanzania’s tropical coastline and islands so popular with European sun-worshippers. Yet it is also the one place where those idle hours of sunbathing might be interrupted by an elephant strolling past, or a lion coming to drink at the nearby waterhole!

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Zanzibar: Beautiful Island of Africa. (Get to know something)

'Beautiful Country, Feel the Friendship'.

FACTS ON ZANZIBAR
Zanzibar is an island partner within the United Republic of Tanzania, located in the Indian Ocean about 35 km off the coast of mainland Tanzania at six degrees south of the Equator. Zanzibar is made up of many islands, the main two being Unguja (sometimes called Zanzibar) and Pemba. The land is divided into three main areas, the plantation area, the coral rag area and the indigenous forests. The highest point is 390 feet above sea level. The population is estimated at around 1 Million, including Pemba and Mafia islands.

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