Belinda Mkony's shares her recipe for a summer salad
Faysal’s blog
Sound and vision
The best new releases in books, film and music
The Air Tanzania mobile app
Twiga is published by:
Land & Marine Publications (Tanzania) Ltd 5th floor, Josam House Plot Number 16, Mikocheni Area
Along Coca-Cola Road, Dar es Salaam
Tel: +255 686 118 816 www.landmarine.com
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10 Gladness Kifaluyka
One of the stars of new reality show
The Mommy Club talks to Twiga
16 Meet the Wanderwomen
Kilimanjaro’s only all-women owned and guided tour agency
20 Chumbe Island
Protected coral reef offers some of best snorkelling in East Africa
24 Rejuvenate in Jozi
The spa escapes to indulge in
28 My Nairobi
Content creator Adam Maina on how to get to the heart of Kenya's capital
32 The ghosts of Zanzibar
Where to seek out the spooky stories of Stone Town
37 Vegan in Arusha
Five plant-based restaurants you need to try in the safari city
45 Shafina Jaffer
Interview with Tanzanian artist
Read Twiga online: qrs.ly/qdbooco
Editor: Mark Edwards markedwards@landmarine.com
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49 Gateway to Zanzibar
Air Tanzania is opening up the islands to international travel
53 The secret Swahili coast
Escape the crowds to find the other Stone Town and much more
61 Washa!
Interior design start-up creating unique handmade lamps and lights
66 Serengeti walking safaris
Don't just watch the wilderness, become a part of it
70 Sonia Hanspaul
The woman behind Tanzania's leading medical concierge service
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EDITOR’S NOTE
In this issue of Twiga we celebrate some extraordinary mothers in all their diverse roles and contributions. We have an interview with Gladness Kifaluyka, who is one of the stars of The Mommy Club – a reality TV show that takes an unscripted and unfiltered peek into the lives of six high-powered 'mum bosses' in Dar es Salaam. Gladness is an award-winning comedienne, actress, producer and businesswoman, but as she makes clear in the very entertaining interview, family comes first. "I didn't become a mother for applause. I became a mother for love. And love wins over lights and cameras every time."
Inside Twiga you'll also meet The Wanderwomen of Kilimanjaro. A team of mostly single mums who support their families as guides and porters on climbs to the top of Africa's highest peak – carrying 18kg of provisions on their heads every step of the way.
Hard-working and amazing mums like these are the backbone of so many Tanzanian families. Let's hear it for the mamas!
markedwards@landmarine.com
Connecting Africa, elevating excellence
Welcome aboard Air Tanzania, where every journey becomes an extraordinary experience. As you settle into your seat with this edition of Twiga, you’re not just embarking on a flight – you’re joining a movement that’s reshaping African aviation.
Our vision extends far beyond transportation. We’re building connections across Africa, one destination at a time. This year has marked unprecedented expansion as we welcomed Kinshasa, the vibrant capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to our growing international network. But we’re just getting started. Lagos awaits –Nigeria’s economic powerhouse will soon be within reach, opening new corridors between East and West Africa. Meanwhile, our domestic network continues to flourish with enhanced connectivity across all 13 destinations, ensuring Tanzania’s hidden gems are never out of reach.
For those seeking the sublime, our new seamless connections between Zanzibar and both Johannesburg and Entebbe make it easier than ever to reach this island paradise. Step from cosmopolitan cityscapes directly into the spice-scented air of Stone Town, where crystal-clear waters meet centuries of Swahili culture.
Excellence extends beyond our destinations to every aspect of your journey. Our intuitive booking app streamlines your travel planning, while our state-of-the-art cabin features ensure your time in the air is as rewarding as your destination. From premium entertainment systems to high-speed Wi-Fi, we’ve created an environment where productivity and relaxation work hand in hand.
Twiga Miles – Your Gateway to More
Your loyalty deserves recognition. Our Twiga Miles frequent flyer programme turns every journey into valuable rewards. Earn miles not just on flights, but through our carefully selected partners across hotels, restaurants, and lifestyle services. From priority boarding and lounge access to complimentary upgrades and exclusive experiences, Twiga Miles ensures your commitment to Air Tanzania opens doors to exceptional privileges.
As we fly together today, know that you are part of something special – a carrier that doesn’t just connect destinations, but connects people to possibilities.
Thank you for choosing Air Tanzania, the Wings of Kilimanjaro. The sky is no longer the limit; it’s your pathway to the extraordinary.
Eng. Peter Rudolf Ulanga Managing Director & CEO
Air Tanzania
Kuwaunganisha Waafrika, Kuinua Ubora
Karibu tena kwenye toleo la Twiga, jarida rasmi la Kampuni ya ndege Tanzania (ATCL). Katika ukurasa huu wa awali, hatukukaribishi tu kusafiri nasi bali tunakukaribisha kuwa sehemu ya safari ya mabadiliko ya anga barani Afrika.
Katika toleo hili, tunaangazia hatua kubwa zinazochukuliwa na Air Tanzania katika kuimarisha mtandao wake wa safari. Kuongezwa kwa Kinshasa kwenye orodha ya safari zetu kimataifa ni ushahidi tosha wa dhamira ya kuziunganisha nchi za Afrika kwa namna bora zaidi. Na hivi karibuni, Lagos kitovu cha uchumi wa Nigeria itaunganishwa moja kwa moja kwenye mtandao wetu wa safari, ikifungua njia mpya kati ya Afrika Mashariki na Afrika Magharibi.
Ndani ya nchi, mtandao wetu umeendelea kukua kwa kasi, tukitoa huduma katika vituo 13 kwa ufanisi na urahisi zaidi.
Safari za moja kwa moja kati ya Zanzibar na miji kama Johannesburg na Entebbe zinaifanya safari ya kwenda visiwani kuwa rahisi na ya kuvutia zaidi kwa wasafiri wetu.
Moja kwa moja kutoka kwenye mandhari ya miji ya kisasa hadi kwenye hewa yenye harufu ya viungo kwenye Mji Mkongwe, ambako maji safi ya bahari hukutana na karne za utamaduni wa Kiswahili.
Thamani na ubora katika kila kituo chetu imevuka mipaka hadi kwenye huduma ndani na nje ya ndege zetu. Programu tumizi ya kisasa inayorahisisha kupanga safari yako, huduma bora hewani, Wi-Fi ya kasi, na mfumo wa burudani wa hali ya juu. Hakika safari yako inakuwa ya kustarehesha, yenye tija, na yenye kukumbukwa.
Twiga Miles – Mlango Wako wa Fursa Zaidi
Twiga Miles inazidi kuwa sehemu muhimu ya safari zako. Kupitia mpango huu, unapata fursa ya kunufaika na ofa za kipekee, huduma za kipaumbele, mapumziko ya kifahari, na zawadi mbalimbali kutoka kwa washirika wetu.
Tunaposafiri pamoja leo tambua wewe ni sehemu ya kumbukumbu maalumu ya ndege mbayo siyo tu inaunganisha safari bali inayofunmgua fursa kwa watu
Tunapokukaribisha katika kurasa za toleo hili, tunakualika kutazama mbali zaidi, si tu kwenye ramani ya safari, bali kwenye hadithi ya maendeleo, mafanikio, na uwezeshaji wa Waafrika kupitia anga letu.
Asante kwa kuchagua Air Tanzania na karibu kwenye ukurasa mpya wa safari yako.
Eng. Peter Rudolf Ulanga
Mkurugenzi Mtendaji na Afisa Mkuu
Air Tanzania
At the heart of innovation and progress
Engineer Peter Ulanga, chief executive officer of Air Tanzania and a proud graduate of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), returned to his alma mater recently.
He delivered an inspiring address during this year’s UDSM Research and
Innovation Week. He revealed how digital transformation, powered by technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), is reshaping industries, including the airline sector.
Mr Ulanga took over the running of Air Tanzania in November 9, 2024, promising
an unwavering dedication to innovation with a strong emphasis on incorporating new technologies.
As he noted in his speech, a true leader drives change through innovation and smart technology.
FOUR REASONS TO FLY WITH US TO KINSHASA
Air Tanzania has launched its first direct flights to Kinshasa, the capital of Democratic Republic of Congo. The Dar es Salaam –Kinshasa route will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday using our Airbus A220-300 aircraft. To celebrate this four-times-weekly service, here’s four reasons why you should be visiting the beating heart of Congo.
1. The roots of rumba Kinshasa’s music scene is one of the most influential in all of Africa. The city is the cradle of Congolese rumba, which is now known around the world and was even added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage in 2021. Impromptu music performances abound here and the energetic nightlife scene spurs the city’s passion for music and dance.
2. Wildlife attractions
The only place in the world bonobos can be found in the wild is the forests south of the Congo River. DRC is a big country and that’s more than 500km from Kinshasa, but just outside the capital there is the Lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary where you orphaned bonobos are given a safe home. Visitors
can see the apes in their semi-wild habitat and get a guided tour.
3. Cultural capital
Explore the rich history of DRC at the National Museum of the Democratic Republic of the Congo or vist the home of the DRC’s legislature at the Palais du Peuple. To view local art head to Symphonie des Arts.
4. River trips
Kinshasa sits on the south bank of the River Congo. For spectacular views of Africa’s second-longest river take a stroll along Avenue des Nations Unies or dine at rooftop restaurant Majestic River. You can also take a day cruise on the Congo or take a longer expedition to Mbandaka located near the confluence of the Congo and Ruki rivers.
Adopt Child Care Centre in Zanzibar – invest in early childhood
BUILD THE FUTURE
The early years of a child’s life are a powerful window of opportunity. Yet for many children in Zanzibar, this promise remains unmet.
While the foundations of lifelong health, learning, and wellbeing are built before the age of five, thousands of children across Zanzibar continue to miss out on essential Child Care Centre services. Particularly underserved children aged 2 to 5, those too old for infant health programs and too young for formal schooling. This critical gap leaves them vulnerable, stunting
their potential before it’s even had a chance to grow.
To address this, Save the Children Tanzania, in partnership with the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, has launched an innovative and scalable solution:
Adopt a Child Care Centre
This public-private partnership calls upon visionary businesses, philanthropists, faith-based organizations, diaspora members, and individuals to sponsor and sustain Child Care Centres across Zanzibar. These centres serve as safe, nurturing
These centres serve as safe, nurturing spaces where children can learn through play, receive nutritious meals, access early health screening, and benefit from the care of trained professionals
spaces where children can learn through play, receive nutritious meals, access early health screening, and benefit from the care of trained professionals all aligned with the globally recognized Nurturing Care Framework.
Why it matters
Adopting a Child Care Centre is not simply about funding a facility, it’s about transforming lives. These centres:
• Create opportunity for children from low-income families to thrive;
• Enable mothers, especially those from vulnerable households to engage in livelihoods while their children are cared for;
• Offer local employment for trained caregivers;
• Foster a generation of healthy, educated, and empowered youth ready to contribute to their communities.
Child Care Centres nurture vulnerable children
Save the Children ensures each centre is designed to meet comprehensive quality standards and reflects the needs and strengths of the local community. Whether established within bustling market spaces or village centres, every adopted facility becomes a symbol of hope, dignity, and shared progress.
What partners can expect
As a partner in the Adopt a Child Care Centre initiative you receive a customized recognition package:
• Branding and Naming rights on center infrastructure
• National media exposure and recognition for corporate or philanthropic leadership
• Impact stories and personalized reports showing the real-world difference your support makes
• Invitations to exclusive donor events and center visits
• Alignment with national development priorities and Sustainable Development Goals.
Your Invitation to Partner
Whether you are a company seeking meaningful corporate social responsibility (CSR) opportunities, a diaspora member looking to give back, or an institution committed to social impact this initiative offers a powerful, practical way to invest in Tanzania’s future. With promising early results, we’re seeing opportunities to expand across mainland Tanzania and invite partners to join us on this journey!
Scan the QR code to view available centres and explore specific needs
Join us in placing Child Care Centre at the heart of national progress. Together, we can ensure that every child regardless of background, gets the strong start they deserve. Adopt a Centre. Change a Life. Inspire a Nation.
The care centres become an important part of local communities
MOMMY CLUB TANZANIA
‘NOTHING
WAS SCRIPTED… THE PRODUCERS DIDN’T NEED TO WRITE DRAMA –
THEY JUST NEEDED TO HIT RECORD’
he Mommy Club Tanzania offers an exclusive look into the glamorous, dynamic, and sometimes dramatic lives of powerhouse mothers in Dar es Salaam.
The reality show is the latest offshoot of record-breaking franchise The Mommy Club available on screening service Showmax. The franchise started out capturing the lives of five power moms in Johannesburg, but now the format has reached Tanzania’s commercial capital.
Unscripted, unfiltered and unforgettable, The Mommy Club Tanzania follows five influential mothers as they balance the demands of parenting, prestige, and power.
The Mommy Club includes actress, musician, and entrepreneur Rose Ndauka; actress, businesswoman, and brand ambassador Marry Mtemi; award-winning actress and comedian Gladness Kifaluyka; multi-award-winning actress, humanitarian, and brand ambassador Riyama Ally; and
actress, entrepreneur, and fashion industry mogul Mwanahamisi Mziray.
Here, Gladness – who was named Best Female Comedian in Tanzania in 2022 and 2023 – talks exclusively to Twiga about opening her life up to the cameras.
Q. How do you maintain your beauty while being a busy working mom?
A: Honestly? I think beauty starts from the heart – from being present, even when life pulls you in every direction. Of course, I take care of myself: skincare, a bit of glam when needed. But my glow mostly comes from purpose – knowing I’ve packed my kids’ school bags in the morning, called home to check what they’ve eaten, and rushed through traffic just to catch their little faces before bedtime. That kind of beauty? No makeup can match it
Q. Can the pressure to be a perfect mother be stressful?
A: Very. Society paints this picture of the “perfect mom” — always available, never tired, always smiling. But let’s be real: some days, I cry in
the car before I walk into the house. Some days, I miss bedtime. And the guilt? It’s real. But I’ve learned perfection isn’t the goal – presence is. As long as my kids know I love them, I’ve already won.
Q. Can you explain The Mommy Show Tanzania to us? Did the cameras have full access to your life?
A: Moms Club Tanzania is not just a show, it’s a mirror. It reflects what real moms go through, behind the filters and Facebook photos. We opened up our lives, our hearts, our messes. It’s all there. No masks.
Q. This is a question often asked about reality shows like yours, but how real is the show? Is it scripted, or are you simply told to be yourselves?
A: Let me say this loud: Nothing was scripted. We were simply told to show up and be us. That means the emotions were real. The laughter was real. Even the fights? Painfully real. The producers didn’t need to write drama – they just needed to hit “record” while real women tried to balance
Super mommy: Gladness
motherhood, work, and their personal lives under one roof.
Q. The cameras capture moments of conflict among cast members, even physical fights. Why did it get so heated?
A: Parenting is personal. So when opinions clash – on how to raise kids, discipline, marriage, careers – things can explode. Add cameras and high emotions, and sometimes, yes, things get heated. One moment
we’re bonding over motherhood, the next... someone says something that cuts deep. But every fight was born out of passion, not hate.
Q. Despite those confrontations, did you find any similarities between you and the other cast members? Which cast member did you connect with the most?
A: Absolutely. Beneath all the differences, we all share one core truth – we love our children more
than anything. That’s the thread that connects us. I connected most with Rose Ndauka – we had similar routines, similar struggles. Sometimes we’d call each other at midnight just to vent about school fees or picky eaters. It’s a bond beyond the cameras.
Q. For you, does family come before fame?
Of course, I take care of myself: skincare, a bit of glam when needed. But my glow mostly comes from purpose.
A. Every Single Time. Listen, I can miss a gig, delay a shoot – but if my son calls crying from home, I’m gone. I don’t care who’s watching. I didn’t become a mother for applause. I became a mother for love. And love wins over lights and cameras, every time.
Q. What does your family think about you being on the show?
A: At first, they were nervous. Exposing personal life to the world? That’s not easy. But they’ve seen the impact — how the show is helping other mothers, how it’s creating honest conversations. My boys are still too young to fully understand, but one day I’ll show them the episodes and say, “Mama was doing this for you.”
Q. Do you face any criticism— online or otherwise—about being a working mom? If so, how do you respond to it?
A: Of course. Some people still believe a mother’s place is only in the kitchen or with the kids 24/7. But I don’t let that noise shake me. Being a working mom doesn’t mean I love my children any less – it means I’m showing them how to dream big. I respond by showing up, by balancing as best I can, and by praying they grow up proud of the woman I am.
Family comes first: Gladness says her children take priority in her busy life
‘IN DAR WE GET THINGS DONE , THEN MAKE SURE THERE’S TIME FOR
LAUGHTER AND MUSIC’
Mkuki Bgoya, general director of the Dar es Salaam-based publishing house Mkuki Na Nyota, faces the Twiga questions.
Q. Where is home for you?
A: Home is any place with a good book within reach, strong coffee brewing, and lively conversation. However, the salty air of Dar es Salaam always pulls me back.
Q. What is your earliest memory of Dar es Salaam?
A: Strolling through the neighbourhoods of Dar city centre drinking madafu, snacking on ‘mix’ and cassava crisps, while listening to loud dansi rhythms drifting through neighbours’ windows. Also, playing hide and seek among the shelves of TPH Bookshop’s.
Q. What was your first job?
A: Packing boxes and designing graphics on 1980s Apple Macintosh computers at Mkuki na Nyota during school holidays.
Q. Where would you suggest for a first date in Dar es Salaam?
A: Sunday morning croissants and cappuccinos at Orchid Café in the City Centre.
Mid-morning book browsing at TPH Bookshop followed by Babu’s Zanzibar Mix off Kisutu Street, and maybe a stop at Sno-Cream for a salted caramel sundae.
Afternoon at the Rangi Gallery to catch an exhibition, then a quick espresso at The Ridge Café or Studio Café.
Evening sundowner at Lido for some Aperol Spritzes while people-watching during golden hour.
Q. How would you describe the personality of a typical Dar resident?
A: Resourceful, chatty, and quietly ambitious. We get things done, then make sure there’s time for laughter and music.
Q. Which shops do you regularly visit?
A: I don’t shop much as I get older, but I love Womencraft, MadeByKwetu, Art & Frame, and TPH Bookshop.
Q. What’s the best meal you’ve had here?
A: I’m a foodie so this would be a long list, but I’ll mention the last meal I really enjoyed Pizza Delicata at Lido. Hands down the best pizza in Dar!
Q. What is your transport of choice in the city and why?
A: ‘Chaurembo’, my Land Rover 90, because she makes me feel alive. She’s a tractor with a few basic creature comforts and can handle nonsense from any daladala!
Q. Favourite hotel?
A: The Overhang: it’s secluded, with
stellar service and unforgettable ocean views. Also, it’s a stone’s throw from the city, which makes it accessible luxury.
Q. Classy restaurant meal or picnic on the beach?
A: Picnic on the beach! Fresh mango, grilled tuna and chips, and the sound of the waves.
Q. If you could change anything about the city, what would it be?
A: More public libraries and green parks. Also, more pavements to safely walk on because it can get really dangerous to get to places on foot.
Q. What is your favourite building in the city?
A: The Old Boma. Little known fact: my dad, Walter Bgoya, saved that building just days before it was scheduled for demolition by filing a
court injunction against the Nyerere government at that time. That’s why we can still witness this piece of history standing today.
Q. Where do you like to escape to in Tanzania when you need to relax?
A: Bagamoyo for quick access to slow living, Miseni Retreat for nature and solitude, Zanzibar for Swahili magic and coastal architecture.
Q. What are you working on at the moment?
A: I’m a publisher, so a lot of exciting book projects are at different publication stages. We also organise literary events at Alliance Française and run a monthly children’s book club called ‘Little Champs’.
Q. Who is your biggest Tanzanian inspiration?
A: Mwalimu Nyerere: proof that words, culture, and language can contribute significantly towards crafting a nation’s consciousness.
Q. Can you let us in on a secret about Dar es Salaam?
A: The best ‘Zanzibar’ mix is to be found on Kisutu Street. Get there early – it sells out by 5pm.
Go on the heritage and liberation tours run by Mejah (Afriroots) or Ben (DARCH) to discover our city’s glorious history.
Q. What do you miss most about Tanzania when you are away?
A: The easy smiles, the moonlit Indian Ocean, and the melodic mix of Kiswahili and English floating through a crowded café. Home.
Mkuki Bgoya showcases Swahili literature in the book releases of his publishing house, Mkuki Na Nyota
THE WANDERWOMEN OF KILI M ANJARO
The guides, chefs and porters of Kilimanjaro’s only all-women owned and guided tour agency are climbing mountains and changing lives. Mark Edwards reports.
Eliakeney ‘Ekeney’ Njau was one of the first women mountain guides on Mount Kilimanjaro. She has now climbed Africa’s highest peak more than 100 times, using that experience to lead visitors from around the world to achieve the bucket-list feat.
Repeatedly conquering the 5,895metre dormant volcano has not been Ekeney’s only challenge. Mountain climbing in Tanzania is a competitive and male-dominated profession. From her beginnings as a porter aged 19 to establishing herself as a guide, Ekeney has had to deal with prejudice within the local community.
“She has faced discouragement, humiliation and even sexual harassment,” says Julie Mantey, a German climber who first met Ekeney, now aged 32, when they took on Mt Kilimanjaro together in 2021. Julie had
requested a female guide and credits Ekeney’s “warm support and incredible positive attitude” in getting her to the top. The pair bonded on the climb and struck up a plan for a female-focused tour agency.
In December 2022 Kilimanjaro Wanderwomen Tours – the only all-women owned and guided tour
agency in the region – was born.
The agency now has a growing team of porters, cooks and guides. These women, like Ekeney, come from local Chagga communities in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. The Wanderwomen set-up has brought each team member a source of income and independence. It is
The Wanderwomen team and clients on top of Mount Kilimanjaro
also empowering for visiting female climbers from all over the world who share in the sisterhood on their Kilimanjaro journey.
The agency ensures its team members are paid above the going rate and are supported during their climbs with quality, tested equipment and three nutritious meals a day. Still, it is a demanding job. The Chagga women may live in villages located at altitudes between 800 and 1,800 metres and work hard in their farms and homes, but that does not guarantee they can cope with the reduced oxygen levels of Kilimanjaro’s higher zones. Ekeney, as head mountain guide, trains new recruits in building endurance and agility at altitude. They are also taught to recognise the signs of mountain sickness (the team carries first-aid kits and oxygen bottles on every tourist climb).
Mountain mamas
These acclimatisation strategies prime the Wanderwomen team to not only regularly scale Mount Kilimanjaro on foot, but also handle the cycling tours to the summit the agency also offers. These six-day bike rides are a serious challenge. Many clients have had to rely on the porters’ reserves of energy to push or carry their bikes to the summit on
the final rocky climb from base camp. Porters also have to cope with the rarified air while carrying supplies. The Wanderwomen team limit the maximum weight its porters can carry to 18kg, rather than the industry standard 20kg. Julia says: “It may not seem like a big difference, but if you ever tried to carry 20kg on your head or shoulders up a mountain for several days in a row, you will be happy for each gram you don’t have to carry.”
The women’s work does not end when they come back down from the mountain. Often there is a pile of laundry and other unattended chores to greet them at their homes
in the village. Gender roles are strictly demarcated within Chagga society and tasks such as getting water, farming, cooking, and laundry are traditionally seen as women’s work. Julie says these entrenched beliefs are slowly easing and that there are Chagga men who support their wives, daughters and sisters in leading their own lives. However, most of the Wanderwomen are single mothers who have to juggle many responsibilities away from the climbing.
Team spirit
It seems like a hard life, but there is a camaraderie within the team that overrides the adversity. “The
The team's guides and porters always climb with a smile
Kilimanjaro Wanderwomen also offer cycling trips to Africa's highest point
Climbers are impressed by how physically and mentally strong our porters and guides are – how they always have a smile on their faces even when conditions are hard.
Wanderwomen live a vivid sisterhood,” Julie says. “They encourage each other when work on the mountain or life in general feels too hard. Many are friends or even come from same families. They keep in touch between tours and help each other in everyday life. Sometimes they share their income to support each other in times of need.”
Sisterhood 'safe space'
Tourists who climb with the Wanderwomen get to share in this sisterhood. Many female climbers want to take on Mount Kilimanjaro led by an all-women support team and Julie says Kilimanjaro Wanderwomen Tours is working with travel agencies that specialise in women’s group travels.
“We create a ‘safe space’ for our female clients,” Julie says. “Some women may feel unsettled [climbing with men] for personal or cultural reasons. With us they are able to ‘let their hair down. We also make female clients feel comfortable and facilitate their Kilimanjaro climb. The team consists of women who know about specific female challenges such as
hygiene on the mountain, having periods, or where to go for a wee when there is no tree or rock to hide behind.”
Conquering Kilimanjaro with an all-women team can make the sense of achievement even sweeter. “Many clients feel emotionally connected to our team,” Julie says. “They are impressed by how physically and mentally strong our porters and guides are – how they always have a smile on their faces even when conditions are hard. An all-female team is special. On the mountain clients will barely see any other female porters working for other companies.”
There are opportunities to strengthen those ties between clients and crew after the climb. Kilimanjaro Wanderwoman Tours offers day trips to the Chagga village of Machame. This is where Ekeney lives and her family and friends are part of the welcome party for guests. Julie says there are plans in place to offer guests overnight stays in the village. A building on land owned by Ekeney’s family is to be turned into a guest house. “In this way we can even create jobs for those, who
cannot work on the mountain,”
Julie says.
Ekeney and her team are challenging and changing societal norms and gender stereotypes in the region. They are proving that women can do the same jobs as the men on the mountain and, as Julie adds, they do it with “endurance, willpower, joy and pride”.
To find out more about the team behind Kilimanjaro Wanderwoman Tours and to book your own mountain adventure, visit www.kilimanjarowanderwomen.com
The team celebrate another successful summit
THE
CORAL REEFS
OF CHUMBE ISLAND
Chumbe Island’s protected coral reef is both a sanctuary for marine life and one of the best snorkelling experiences in East Africa.
Embrace the bustle at Mumbai's markets
Just a short distance from Zanzibar’s main island Unguja lies an island devoted to an extraordinary conservation mission. For over 30 years, Chumbe Island has been managed and protected by Chumbe Island Coral Park (CHICOP). The coral reef on the west side of the small island remains one of the most pristine in East Africa – making it a truly exceptional spot for snorkelling.
Chumbe Island’s coral reef sanctuary is the world’s first privately managed Marine Protected Area (MPA). It is recognised internationally for its high standards in biodiversity conservation and responsible marine management. Decades of protection have allowed the reef to thrive, offering a rare opportunity to witness marine life as it should be –diverse, vibrant, and flourishing.
Beyond the coral reef sanctuary, Chumbe is home to a forest reserve, home to the elusive Aider’s duiker and an incredible population of the largest land invertebrate in the world – the coconut crab. Nestled in among the forest is an award-winning eco-lodge, comprising seven sustainably designed bungalows. The island is a biodiversity hotspot with rare and endangered species on land and underwater, offering an ideal escape for those who cherish wildlife and seek an exclusive island experience grounded in nature.
A reef with remarkable resilience
While coral reefs around the world are increasingly threatened by human activity and climate change, the reef at Chumbe Island remains remarkably healthy. Due to its protection from destructive fishing practices, it boasts exceptionally dense coral cover, with over 59 different types of hard corals identified here. The coral park includes a reef crest extending for nearly 1.5 km, as well as a mosaic of different habitats such as seagrass meadows and intertidal rock pools, all providing excellent habitat for resident species to feed,
seek shelter and call home.
Thanks to long-standing protection, fish populations here are both abundant and healthy. By being kept intact and healthy, the coral ecosystem has been given the chance to adapt naturally to rising sea temperatures, the greatest threat to coral reefs worldwide.
CHICOP strictly controls visitor numbers and maintains conservation efforts, including regular reef monitoring and patrolling. For conservation reasons, scuba diving is not permitted in the marine park –the reef is shallow however, making it perfect for snorkelling where you can see everything the park has to offer.
Chumbe has earned recognition as a leading example of how coral reefs can remain resilient in the face of climate change, offering valuable insights for conservation science worldwide.
Guided snorkelling for all abilities
Snorkelling at Chumbe Island is an immersive, educational experience guided by expert park rangers. Their deep knowledge of the reef means they can point out species you might easily miss on your own. Many of these species are documented in underwater identification guides, which guests are welcome to browse through after their snorkelling trip. Snorkelling gear for all ages and sizes is provided on the island, and buoyancy tubes and life jackets are available. Whether you’re an advanced snorkeller, a complete beginner, or not a strong swimmer, you’ll be in good hands thanks to our skilled and supportive rangers. Guests are kindly asked to wear reef-safe sunscreen to protect this delicate ecosystem.
Planning your visit
As a protected area in which no foreign boats are allowed, access to Chumbe Island is limited and must be arranged through Chumbe Island Coral Park. The boat departs from Mbweni, just a 10-minute drive from Zanzibar’s capital, Stone Town. From there, it’s only a short 20-minute journey with the Chumbe speedboat to reach the island.
Chumbe Island's coral reef is the world's first privately managed Marine Protection Area
The protected reef abounds with marine life such as the blue-spotted ribbontail ray
THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO EXPERIENCE CHUMBE:
Overnight stays or day trips. Overnight guests are accommodated in an eco-designed bungalow and enjoy full-board Zanzibari Swahili inspired dining. There is time to explore the reef and nature reserve at your leisure. All activities, such as guided snorkelling, forest walk, coconut crab walk and more are included in the full-board stay.
The day-trip package includes guided snorkelling, a forest walk, a lighthouse climb, lunch, and boat transfers. Day Trips can be confirmed four days in advance. Every visit supports Chumbe’s vital conservation and environmental education programmes for local communities.
BOOK HERE:
https://chumbeisland.com/ (direct website bookings possible) Contact us: book@chumbeisland. com +255 777 413 232 (WhatsApp and phone calls)
For more information about Chumbe Island’s conservation efforts & the Big Five: https://chumbeisland.com/conservation/ https://chumbeisland.com/chumbe-big-five/
MEET THE CHUMBE ‘BIG FIVE’
Chumbe Island’s underwater world is teeming with life, and during your snorkelling adventure, you might be lucky enough to encounter the ‘Big Five’ of the reef - species that play vital roles in the marine ecosystem.
Blacktip reef sharks Chumbe is the only place in Zanzibar where you have a high chance of spotting these shy sharks while snorkelling. They are indicators of reef health and are completely non-aggressive. During low tide, they can even be seen from the shore or at the island’s Shark View Point.
Brown-marbled grouper These gentle giants can grow up to one metre in length and weigh over 20 kg. They feed on smaller fish and invertebrates and are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ‘Red List’ of threatened species.
Sea turtles Both hawksbill and green sea turtles are commonly seen in Chumbe’s reef. The hawksbill is critically endangered by IUCN while the green turtle faces threats from exploitation elsewhere. On Chumbe, they find a sanctuary, safe from predators and human interference.
Blue-Spotted Stingrays Easily recognisable by their beautiful blue spots, these elegant creatures grow up to 35 cm in width and are the most commonly sighted of the Big Five. They feed from the ground where they often hide under corals or in the sand.
Dolphins Three species frequent the waters around Chumbe: spinner, Indo-Pacific bottlenose, and humpback dolphins. They’re often seen from the shore or during the boat ride to the island.
While there is no guarantee to meet all of the Big Five during snorkelling, each snorkel brings a new adventure, making every visit unique. From July to October, you might even spot humpback whales migrating past the island.
Visitors can reach Chumbe Island by boat from Unguja
REJUVENATE IN JOZI: THE BEST SPA ESCAPES IN JOHANNESBURG
From a serene mountain sanctuary to an exotic Balinese-style experience – find your ideal escape here.
Kloofzicht Spa at Kloofzicht Lodge
Nestled within the foothills of the Zwartkops Mountains, Kloofzicht Spa is the perfect place to get spoiled. Just a 40-minute drive from Joburg, this serene sanctuary is located in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site that is renowned for its significant fossil finds. The spa overlooks six tranquil fly-fishing dams and the lower reaches of beautiful winding river the Blaauwbank Spruit, which meanders through the Zwartkops Gorge, creating a picture-perfect escape from the city.
Treatments include skin and body therapies, tailor-made packages, a range of facials, tips and toes treatments, deluxe rituals, tension-relieving massages, and specialised grooming services for men. Kloofzicht Spa offers both overnight and group packages, as well as special couple’s retreats. Guests over the age of 16 are welcome.
You’ll leave feeling: Pampered, relaxed, and refreshed. Best for: Nature-infused relaxation, romantic getaways, and bridal pampering
Address: R374, Kromdraai Road, Muldersdrift, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA
Contact: +27 (0) 11 317 0640
Email: spa@kloofzicht.co.za
Kloofzicht Spa at Kloofzicht Lodge
Fairlawns Spa at Fairlawns Boutique Hotel
This award-winning destination in the upscale suburb of Morningside, Sandton, offers lush gardens, a heated plunge pool, spa baths, a Chinese daybed, and a pod swing. The Asian-inspired décor, calming water features, and soothing natural sounds transport you straight to the tranquil spirit of Bali.
Among a range of treatments, signature experiences include The Royal Bali Ritual – a head-to-toe journey that leaves you completely renewed. Especially curated for couples are the Romantic Sunset Retreat and Celebrate Togetherness. Male guests can enjoy The Executive Men’s Journey package. Most packages also include a breakfast or healthy lunch.
You’ll leave feeling: Rejuvenated, relaxed, and restored.
Best for: Luxury seekers, romantic getaways, and a holistic wellness experience
Address: 1 Alma Road, Morningside, Sandton, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA
Contact: +27 (0)11 808 7300
Email: spa@fairlawns.co.za
Woodlands Spa, Muldersdrift
Another award-winning spa, this hidden gem can be found on a quiet bend in the Crocodile River in the heart of rural Muldersdrift. Treatments here take an holistic approach with alternative therapies to alleviate mental and physical fatigue. Guests are offered om circle sessions, quartz crystal massages, acupuncture, reflexology, and other deep spiritual practices, as well as detoxifying and traditional spa therapies. Built around
nature, the spa offers a truly tranquil experience.
The beautiful riverside treatment rooms provide a serene atmosphere connected with nature. The spa also features an infrared sauna, flotation tanks, and a plant-based café.
You’ll leave feeling: Relaxed, healed, and connected to yourself. Best for: Day escapes, peaceful spa moments, and holistic therapies
Address: 29 Driefontein Road (R114), Muldersdrift, Krugersdorp, 1739, Gauteng, SA
Contact: 010 597 7732
Email: info@woodlandsspa.co.za
Fairlawns Spa at
Fairlawns Boutique Hotel Woodlands Spa, Muldersdrift
Oxford Healthcare Retreat
This boutique wellness retreat is ideal for guests who are feeling stressed, burnt out, and in need of help and healing. Situated in the suburban area of Melrose North – just ten minutes from Sandton in northern Joburg – this luxurious guest house offers comprehensive therapies and activities including psychotherapy sessions, private yoga, flotation therapy, reflexology, reiki, and craniosacral therapies.
There are multi-day packages that focus on detoxing or revitalising. There is a two-day retreat aimed at couples while a seven-day ‘Ultimate Wellness Retreat’ for a real reset.
Facilities include tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, beautiful gardens, a yoga studio, and a restaurant.
You’ll leave feeling: De-stressed, rejuvenated, and healed.
Best for: A luxury wellness escape, de-stressing, and holistic healing
Address: 16 Porter Avenue, Melrose, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2196, SA
Contact: +27 79 038 0079
Email:
info@oxfordhealthcareretreat.co.za
The Royal Spa at The Palace
Set within the stunning Palace of the Lost City – one of South Africa’s most sought-after five-star hotels – this luxury spa offers an indulgent experience that promises to leave guests feeling like royalty. Tucked away among botanical gardens and trickling streams, the spa offers one-of-a-kind therapies that restore and revive the body, mind, and spirit. The interior is as magnificent as the Palace itself with dramatic backdrops and elegant fittings.
Therapies include massage, stone therapy, anti-cellulite cupping treatment, and more. Facilities include a Himalayan Crystal Sauna, tranquil botanical gardens, and hydrotherapy rooms.
You’ll leave feeling: spoilt, pampered, and replenished.
Best for: Feeling like royalty, restoring balance, and feeling revived
Address: Ground Floor, The Palace of the Lost City, Sun City Resort, R556, Pilanesberg Area, North West Province, 0316, SA
Contact: +27 14 557 4337
Email: frontdesk@royalspathepalace.co.za
‘NAIROBI
ISN’T JUST A PLACE, IT’S A PRESENCE’
QWe thought we’d get the inside story on the vibrant Kenyan capital from someone who knows it well. Adam Maina is a purpose-driven travel influencer and lifestyle creator who is redefining African luxury travel and lifestyle content. He tells Twiga about the people, places and personality that make his hometown so special.
Which part of Nairobi do you live in? Why did you choose there?
I live in the lush, leafy suburb of Rosslyn. It’s where Nairobi exhales. Think birdsong in the morning, winding roads, and just enough privacy to dream loud. It gives me space to create and recharge.
Q: Where is your favourite place to start the day in Nairobi?
Java House. Always Java. There’s something beautifully Kenyan about walking into a branch of this local coffee chain. It is like a daily reset with the city’s heartbeat. Their coffee? Deep, rich, and familiar. And don’t
get me started on that croissant with extra butter. It’s not just breakfast, it’s therapy.
Q: As a travel influencer, what are some of the Nairobi attractions you have recently recommended to your followers?
So, everyone knows Nairobi National Park is the go-to answer, but the twist now? Night game drives. Some city hotels are offering them, and it is pure magic. Imagine lions under moonlight with the skyline behind you. Also, Ngong Hills in the evening is the ultimate mix of breeze, views, and that dramatic sky that makes you believe again.
Q: Which shops do you rely on in the city?
I live on Greenspoon. Kenya’s online gem. Their fresh juices are elite, their delivery smooth, and the quality?
Chef’s kiss. For fashion, I go bold with Kitu Kali because Kenyan creativity deserves the runway. Sarit Centre is my everything mall. Grocery run, spa moment, quick sushi fix. It’s a city within the city.
Q: Who is your Nairobi icon?
Larry Madowo [Kenyan reporter, broadcaster, writer and news anchor] No question. He’s brave, grounded, and refreshingly bold. He embodies the modern Kenyan. Sharp, global,
Content creator and Nairobian Adam Maina
and unapologetically local. Larry isn’t just reporting the story, he is the story of where Kenya is heading.
Q: How would you spend the perfect lazy Sunday in the city? Start with a chill breakfast at Paparotti. Those brunches are sinful in the best way. Then take a scenic drive to Brackenhurst in Tigoni. That place slows time. I’d do a peaceful walk, queue up my favourite playlist, and end the day with some good comfort food like their wood-fired pizza.
Q: How would you describe the character of a typical Nairobi resident?
Nairobians are a cocktail of hustle, humour, and style. We know how to laugh through chaos, dress like we own stock in Zara, and still haggle for parking change. Nairobians survive, thrive, and shine, sometimes all in one Uber ride.
Q: What do you miss most about the city when you are away?
Kenyans always say: “Why would you even move from Kenya?” And it hits different when you’re far from Nairobi. This city emancipates joy, chaos, and creativity in equal measure. I miss the accents, the roadside drama, the music on every corner. Nairobi isn’t just a place, it’s a presence.
Q: When you are hungry, what is your favourite local delicacy to sample?
With the launch of our flights to Nairobi we thought we’d get the inside story on the vibrant Kenyan capital from someone who knows it well. Adam Maina is a purposedriven travel influencer and lifestyle creator who’s redefining African luxury travel and lifestyle content. He speaks to Zebra Stripes about what makes his hometown so special.
Nyama choma, No forks, no pretence. And if you bring me proper Kikuyu mukimo [traditional Kenyan side dish of mashed potatoes and green vegetables] soft and green with some charred meat on the side, we’re officially friends. That combo? It’s comfort, heritage, and home on one plate.
Q: Where is your favourite place to escape into nature in the city?
Not quite in the city, but my escape is the Nairobi to Naivasha Viewpoint. You see the Rift Valley stretch before you, Mt Longonot peeking through the clouds, and Lake Naivasha shimmering in the distance. Add a few coffee stops, a roadside chat or two, and you’ve got peace served scenic.
The mind-bending Museum of Illusions
Q: Can you offer any advice on how to successfully use the city’s matatu mini-bus network?
Matatus are Nairobi’s version of a party bus meets rollercoaster. I love their vibe, just don’t expect silence. Pro tip: Always ask the conductor where it’s going, sit close to the exit if you’re not sure of your stage, and don’t be shy. Nairobians will help you if you look lost.
Q: Where would you recommend visiting to see the real Nairobi?
Right now, the art scene in Ngara. It’s turning Nairobi into a Bokaap-style explosion of colour and creativity. You still feel the heartbeat of the city in Kibera and the everyday hustle of Eastleigh, but Ngara is where the new Nairobi is painting itself bold.
Q: Where do you go to find joy in the city?
Westlands, hands down. There’s always something new. A rooftop bar,
a themed restaurant, or a hotel with a secret garden. It’s where Nairobi unwinds.
Q: What is your favourite building in the city?
The Global Trader Center (GTC). It’s not just a building, it’s Nairobi’s vision board. Sleek, sky-high, and proudly urban. The ‘I Love NBO’ inscription on the side is the city’s heli-selfie spot. Every New Year’s fireworks display from there feels like a promise. And the way it stands right next to the Expressway, it’s literally watching Nairobi race into the future.
Q: Nairobi has a thriving underground arts scene. Where are some of the best places to view art for emerging local artists?
Beyond the classics like Kuona Trust and Circle Art, I’m loving the Museum of Illusions. It’s playful, quirky, and perfect for creatives. Glass studio Kitengela Glass is also a must.
Q: If you are up for a late night, where do you go in Nairobi to party?
Let’s talk about the Kiambu Road stretch to Northern Bypass. Habanos is the current hot spot. Music, crowd, and vibe are unmatched. Bla Bla Nairobi is for when you want premium vibes with zero guesswork. And of course, K1 is eternal. It’s like Nairobi’s cool cousin that never ages.
To keep up with Adam's adventures and travel recommendations, visit his Instagram page @adammaina
A must-visit: Kitengela Glass
THE GHOSTS OF ZANZIBAR
Jal Patel reveals where to seek out the spooky stories of Stone Town and Zanzibar.
With its rich yet troubled past, Zanzibar supports plenty of stories of unquiet spirits. Locals hand down tales of strange hauntings, happenings, and apparitions in the ancient buildings and narrow streets of the islands’ historic centre, Stone Town. Many Zanzibar elders still advise, “Usipite hapo usiku, roho bado zipo” (Don’t pass there at night, the spirits are still there).
Zanzibar is known for ghost stories handed down through the centuries. These tales live on amid the ruins, remnants of its troubled past. There are plenty of supposedly haunted places to visit or even stay the night for a potentially thrilling or terrifying experience.
Those with a penchant for the paranormal can sign up for a Zanzibar Ghost Tour. These typically start when Stone Town is shrouded in darkness and led by a lantern-holding guide who reveals a series of haunting hot spots. Some are entertaining while others are truly spine-chilling. Here are some supernatural stand-outs to look out for.
The Lady in Black
A woman in flowing black clothes has been spotted in several locations such as Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Victoria Gardens, and the High Court. This Lady in Black is said to run away when people recite verses from the Qu’ran.
Dunga Palace
This palace was once the home of the last king of the Shirazi – a group of Persian-speaking merchants who migrated to East Africa. He died in 1865 and was soon followed to the grace by his son. With the bloodline gone the palace was left to crumble. Excavations carried out between 1910 and 1914 revealed human skeletons and a set of carved wooden ceremonial drums within the ruins.
Recently much of the old walls have been restored and it is now a tourist site. Some visitors have reported seeing apparitions that stand at the end of the room, and guests would be paralyzed with fear.
The Mbweni Ruins
Just 8 km from Stone Town is a site that holds the remnants of the St. Mary’s School for Freed Slave Girls. It is believed to be haunted by the ghost of the school’s headmistress, Caroline Thackeray, who lived in Zanzibar for 49 years and died in 1926. Caroline is said to still wander the site.
House of Wonders (Beit-al-Ajaib)
Locals whisper that this landmark building – it was the first of its kind on the islands to have electricity and an elevator – is haunted by Swahili slaves and royals. Locals and tourists alike have witnessed eerie activities, from flickering lights (even during blackouts, which are common in Tanzania), to apparitions going up the stairs but disappearing when reaching the top.
The Slave Market
It may not come as much of a surprise that ghostly activity has been
recorded in a place so emotionally charged with its tragic past. It is said to be one of the most haunted places in Zanzibar. What was once one of the world’s last open slave markets now houses the Christ Church Cathedral. Many visitors to the church have reported experiencing sudden chills, whispers, the sound of chains clinking, and a sudden sadness that makes them rush out of the building.
Tippu Tip House
It is said that the spirit of the infamous Zanzibari slave trader and ivory merchant Tippu Tip still wanders his one-time residence. The building in Stone Town’s Shangani neighbourhood was once a symbol of power, wealth, and cruelty. After the revolution it was turned into a block of flats. Locals say that a tall man in a flowing Arab robe can sometimes be seen from one of its windows staring silently out to sea. People have heard shouting, chains dragging, and doors banging. Even night guards refuse to stay there at night such is its haunted heritage.
Victoria Gardens
Between the House of Wonders and the ocean you’ll find these tree-lined gardens. Quiet during the day, locals have claimed to see shadowy figures dart between the trees after dark, even under the streetlights. There is also a bench that is supposed to be cursed. Anyone who sits on it is said to be consumed by an intense sadness or to feel that there is a ghostly presence sitting next to them. The gardens are now the setting for the famous Forodhani street food market each evening.
Zanzibar Ghost Tours starts at 8pm and end at around 11pm. Tours include pick-up and drop-off service from Stone Town hotels. Only English-speaking guides are available. For more information or to request a booking, visit amozanzibartours.com
(Above) Zanzibar's slave trade legacy is linked to many of the archipelago's most chilling stories
MAKING MEALS AND MEMORIES with the Mamas of Zanzibar
Women-run culinary experience reveals the taste and traditions of the island that most visitors never see.
Bububu is a small village with a beautiful beach on the central west coast of Zanzibar. It is located only 10km north of Stone Town, but it is a world away from the historic port’s concentration of tourist attractions. “This is the real Zanzibar,” says Maskat Shineni Abdullah.
Bububu is where you’ll find Mamas of Zanzibar, a hands-on culinary experience, founded by Maskat, in which guests get to create authentic Swahili cuisine from scratch with the help of a talented team of local women.
This cooking and tasting of traditional dishes goes beyond experiencing new flavours to providing an insight into the Zanzibar’s rich heritage of customs shaped by African, Arab, Indian and Persian influences
Women tour guides are rare in Zanzibar, but Maskat believes they have an unmatched understanding of Swahili values, social structures, and daily life. “There’s no better way to connect with Zanzibar than through its women, its stories, and its flavours,” she says.
In 2021, when a newly divorced
Maskat relocated to Bububu with her three young children, she was struck by the warm welcome the women of the village gave her. Now many of these women are part of Mamas of Zanzibar and now guests get to experience this Swahili sisterhood, and the women’s love of sharing their stories and their skills.
There are now around 20 mamas in the team. All are excellent cooks. Preparing food for their families is a daily ritual that is a bridge between past and present.
“These women are the keepers of family recipes passed down through generations,” Maskat says.
“Mamas of Zanzibar gives us the opportunity to share these culinary traditions with the world and bring travellers from around the globe into our homes to learn from us, to cook with us, and to experience the magic of Zanzibar through our food.”
Be a Zanzibari for a day
The Mamas of Zanzibar tours go deep into local life. Guests get to be a Zanzibari for the day. They are given traditional loose-fitting clothes to wear before
accompanying the mamas to the Bububu food markets. Everyone knows the mamas here so you’ll have access all areas. Guests are taught how to recognise the freshest locally farmed fruit and vegetables, choose the best of the seafood catch of the day, and select the spices that will bring out the flavours Swahili-style. Then it’s back to Maskat’s home in the village for the cooking and eating.
The Mamas of Zanzibar team welcome guests to Bububu
Culinary secrets
Meals are created from scratch from these organic ingredients revealing the culinary secrets that locals hold dear. This includes the coconut milk – made by grating the flesh of a fresh coconut, soaking it in hot water, and then straining the liquid – which is the base of Mamas of Zanzibar favourites such as plantains in coconut sauce and ‘vipopo’, a delicate
dessert of mini sweet dumplings. This is true Swahili food – cooked in clay pots over an open fire – and not to be found on the usual tourist culinary trail. Maskat mentions ‘makapushi’, a dumpling cooked in cassava flour, that you “won’t see on menus in local hotels”. Other local specialities include ‘makopa’, a dish of cassava with fish, and ‘mchuzi kwa papa’, a dried coconut shark stew.
Taste of Zanzibar
The rich flavour of Zanzibar cuisine owes much to the wide variety of spices that have been cultivated on the archipelago for more than a thousand years. The Mamas show guests how the careful combination of spices can create unique flavour profiles. Maskat has also recently collaborated with Zanzibar-based, German-run company Four Spices on a ‘Taste of Zanzibar’ line of
The Mamas show guests how the careful combination of spices can create unique flavour profiles
TO BOOK
spice blends sourced from farms and co-operatives on the island. The range includes turmeric, a key ingredient in the Mamas’ fish curry – a favourite among tour guests. For those visitors who want to recreate the dish at home, the recipe is printed on the side of the tin. The spices are available to buy as souvenirs on the tours of from the Mamas of Zanzibar website.
All of the proceeds from sales of the spices, as with the tours, goes to the local community.
To book a culinary experience with Mamas of Zanzibar or buy from the ‘Taste of Zanzibar’ spice range , visit www.mamasofzanzibar.com
The spices are also for sale at selected hotels and stores on Unguja, including Memories of Zanzibar in Shangani, Stone Town; The Mora Zanzibar hotel in Matemwe; and Zuri Zanzibar in Kendwa.
The mamas prepare traditional Zanzibari meals from scratch
VEGAN IN ARUSHA
PLANT-BASED RESTAURANTS YOU NEED
TO TRY
Arusha might be known for its carnivore culture, but Ziada Abeid uncovers some dining options that are mouthwatering and meat-free.
“Where do you even find vegan food in Arusha?” a friend once asked me. The question got my investigative gears turning. Arusha is firmly rooted in meat culture. Stroll down any street or peek into most local eateries, and you’ll be greeted by the smoky aroma of nyama choma (grilled meat). Vegan options can feel rare. But with a bit of curiosity and a lot of appetite, I searched and found stand-out pockets of plant-powered restaurants waiting to be discovered. Here are my five favourites.
1. FIVE CHUTNEYS
Just a stone’s throw from Soko Kuu market, Five Chutneys is a sensory escape into India’s vegan street food culture. As soon as you enter, the aroma of sizzling spices welcomes you while walls adorned with traditional Indian brass tiffins whisper stories of India.
The menu is rich with flavourful vegan dishes, the most popular being the Masala Dosa, a crisp rice pancake stuffed with spiced potatoes, served with coconut chutney and lentil stew. With over 37 vegan options and 23 gluten-free choices, this is Arusha’s top-ranked vegan eatery on TripAdvisor.
What sets it apart even more? Seniors aged 75 and above can dine for free, a thoughtful touch rooted in Indian hospitality. A second location can be found in Karatu, near the Ngorongoro gate, making it a perfect pit stop en route to the crater.
Location: Near Soko Kuu Market, Arusha
Contact: +255 783 505 505
2. AMBER’S RESTAURANT
Tucked away beside the busy Impala Roundabout, Amber’s Restaurant fuses Indian, Indo-Chinese, and international cuisine, and it does so with finesse. This isn’t just a curry house; it’s a multicultural kitchen and one of the few spots where diversity on the menu meets a thoughtful approach to vegan diets.
The open kitchen layout offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse as chefs prepare crowd favourites like mixed vegetable curry and chilli mushrooms using fresh, local ingredients. Its Bhindi Masala and Vegetable Manchurian are equally popular with vegan diners.
The staff are accommodating and happy to tailor meals to meet dietary requirements, meaning almost any dish can be veganised upon request.
Amber’s is loved for its laid-back vibe and versatile menu, perfect for anyone who craves spice and substance in vegan choices.
For something a little different, Spices and Herbs along Simeon Road brings you the warmth and comfort of Ethiopian cuisine. The country’s food scene is heavily influenced by religious fasting periods where animal products are not consumed so it is very vegan friendly. The restaurant’s menu is predominantly plant-based with injera, the signature sour flatbread, the base for a colourful array of vegan stews, from spiced lentils to garlicky greens.
The Beyaynetu platter, a traditional selection of vegan dishes served atop injera, is a must. Add in Shiro Wot (chickpea stew), and you’ve got a meal that’s soulful, healthy, and satisfying. Each meal is filling, nutritious, and full of layered flavours that showcase the richness of Ethiopian spices.
Ethiopian food lovers will appreciate the authenticity, while newcomers will find it an eye-opening culinary journey.
Location: Simeon Road, Arusha
Contact: +255 782 313 161
4. CHINESE WHISPERS
Upstairs in the lively Njiro Complex, Chinese Whispers offers a welcoming escape into savoury, authentic Chinese cuisine with a surprisingly extensive range of vegan options.
Topping the vegan favourites list is home-style tofu, stir-fried to perfection in soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. Another hit is the Szechuan-style eggplant, which combines sweet, sour, and spicy elements beautifully.
With a cosy and modern ambience, warm wooden décor, and large windows that allow natural light to flood in during the day, Chinese Whispers is highly rated as the best vegan-friendly restaurant in Arusha on TripAdvisor. It's a go-to spot for those craving Chinese comfort food with a plant-based twist after a day exploring the city.
Location: Second Floor, Njiro Complex, Arusha
Contact: +255 688 969 666
Whether you’re passing through on a safari, climbing Kilimanjaro, or on a business layover, these five vegan-friendly spots are more than just a surprise, they’re a delight. So next time you're in town, follow your fork and explore Arusha one veggie plate at a time.
5. LEBANESE ON THE GO
Just downstairs from Chinese Whispers in Njiro Complex is Lebanese on the Go, a newcomer that’s already making waves with its vibrant Middle Eastern dishes. Everything here is bold, fresh, fast, and full of flavour.
Although the menu is not vegan per se, it has ample vegan choices. The star of the show is the falafel dish, crispy, golden, and served with pita, hummus, and a refreshing lemon vinaigrette salad. Other must-tries include Babaghanouj and Batata Harra (spicy potatoes), and Mujaddara, a comforting blend of lentils and rice topped with caramelised onions.
The minimalist décor, fast service, and delicious bites make it ideal for a nourishing grab-and-go lunch between meetings or excursions.
Lebanese on the Go is one of those places where the food speaks loudly and the language is flavour.
Location: Ground Floor, Njiro Complex, Arusha
Contact: +255 740 311 616
WHALE SHARKS by numbers
3,000
The number of teeth an average whale shark has. If this makes you think twice about swimming next to one, be assured each tooth is tiny and only suitable for sifting plankton. They even have teeth on their eyes.
Whale sharks can live a long time. They have no predators, except man, but can be injured accidentally by large shipping vessels.
19,000kg
The weight of an average adult whale shark. The largest will weigh 20,000kg. That’s 20 tonnes. For all their size, they are surprisingly graceful in the water.
150 years
Swimming with whale sharks is one of the wildest adventures Indian Ocean paradise the Mafia archipelago offers. The rich coral reefs here are a food factory for these gentle giants. Let’s check out some facts and figures on the world’s largest fish.
18.8 metres
The length of the largest recorded whale shark. That’s about the length of two dala dalas.
300
The number of babies a female whale shark can produce at one time. Females are ovoviviparous and produce eggs that hatch inside them. They give birth to live young and can produce around 300 babies at a time.
20 kg
Whale sharks have prodigious appetites. Don’t worry, humans are not on the menu. Instead, these sharks are plankton patrollers, needing to filter-feed around 20kg of the drifting, microscopic organisms in a single day to survive!
20,142 kilometres
The longest tracked whale shark migration (from the eastern Pacific to the western Indo-Pacific). Whale sharks navigate by detecting the Earth’s magnetic field (a sort of sixth sense or inbuilt GPS) to find their way back to favourite feeding grounds. That’s how they keep returning to Mafia.
A JOURNEY TOWARD HOPE
Rebuilding Hanang with Resilience and Heart
In December 2023, Hanang District in northern Tanzania was devastated by deadly mudslides triggered by El Niño rains. leaving 89 people dead and over 5,600 displaced. While Save the Children led an emergency response to address immediate needs, it was through a powerful partnership with those affected that the community began to chart a new path forward.
Launched in September 2024, the project titled, “A Nexus Approach Towards Building Resilient Communities in Hanang District,” set out to transform post-disaster recovery into long-term resilience. The project tackled the interlinked challenges of deforestation, indoor air pollution, women’s economic exclusion, and the lack of youth engagement in climate adaptation.
What Save the Children did
The project linked energy, environment, and economic opportunity:
1. Transitioning to Clean Cooking 500 energy-efficient cookstoves were distributed across Gendabi,
Ganana, and Katesh wards. These were targeted to women engaged in newly formed community groups, trained on clean cooking, indoor air pollution, and environmental protection.
2. Greening Schools, Empowering Students
Over 5,000 students across six schools participated in the Generation Hope Campaign—a flagship component that ignited youth-led environmental action. Activities included tree planting (15,000 trees), school nursery creation, disaster preparedness workshops, and the launch of student-led climate clubs. Notably, children trained through this campaign went on to participate in the Tanzania Mini COP, co-authoring and presenting a Children’s Climate Statement that outlined their lived experiences and hopes for a greener future.
3. Investing in Women’s Leadership 150 women were mobilized through women’s groups, with 50 receiving
advanced training in financial literacy, business planning, clean energy value chains, and marketing. Equipping many to become peer educators and entrepreneurs to sustain and scale clean cooking in their communities.
By combining environmental restoration, health, and livelihood initiatives, the project activated children, empowered women, and
Clean energy cookstoves being handed out
engaged communities in co-owning the recovery process.
Our Reach and Impact
The project delivered tangible, measurable change for people, the planet, and future generations.
• Health & Environment: 2,500 people from 500 households now cook with 70% less firewood, reducing indoor smoke and respiratory risks, especially for women and children.
• Climate Impact: The community is projected to avoid 1,195 tons of CO₂ emissions annually.
• Economic Gains: Households save an estimated $150/year on fuel. With cleaner stoves and less time spent collecting wood. With less time spent collecting wood, women and girls gain back over 91,000 hours annually, freeing time for education and income-generating activities.
• Youth Engagement: Over 5,013 children became active
environmental stewards through school clubs, climate education, and peer-led community campaigns.
• Women's Empowerment: 150 women trained; 50 equipped to pursue climate-smart microenterprises and mentor others.
This wasn’t just recovery, it was transformation, with women and children at the center.
Our Partnership with Government and the Community
The project was co-designed and co-delivered with the Hanang District Council, ward leaders, and local schools. Community Development Officers helped form and train women's groups, while school leadership integrated climate education into routine activities.
Sustainability and Way Foward
Every component of the SNF project was built for long-term sustainability:
The project activated children, empowered women, and engaged communities in coowning the recovery process
• Environmental clubs are leading ongoing tree care and school greening.
• Women’s groups continue to meet, save collectively, and serve as clean energy ambassadors.
• Cookstove adoption is maintained through community support, training, and awareness.
• Local leaders and institutions are continuing education, reforestation, and advocacy efforts initiated during the project.
By investing in people, systems, and nature, this project laid a durable foundation that goes far beyondthe project’s lifespan. It is a model of resilience, where children and women are not just participants but leaders.
Scan here to watch the short documentary
500 of the cookstoves were distributed in Gendabi, Ganana and Katesh wards.
“I ASKED THE UNIVERSE WHAT I SHOULD DO WITH MY LIFE.
‘PAINT’”
Artist Shafina Jaffer is known for her use of bark cloth – a traditional material made from the inner bark of the African mutuba tree – as a canvas for her paintings. Spirituality, ecology, and artistic tradition converge in her work, which has been exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery, in the UK, and the Venice Biennale while her painting ‘Take Me Away’ was projected onto Windsor Castle for the coronation of UK monarch King Charles III. Jal Patel meets the talented Tanzanian.
Q: Your work bridges ecology, mysticism, and traditional art forms. How did that unique intersection come to life?
Shafina Jaffer: It began with a question – what is the purpose of art in today’s world? For me, it cannot be separated from care for the Earth, care for our inner voice, and care for one another. I was raised between Dar es Salaam, Dubai, and Karachi, and I was always surrounded by different expressions of faith, architecture, and beauty. But it wasn’t until later - after completing my studies at the Royal College of Art, and specialist training at Oxford University, Slade School of Fine Art, UCL and the Kings
Shafina Jaffer
Foundation of Traditional Arts, in the UK – that I began to merge those elements into a single practice. One night I asked the universe: What am I meant to do with my life? A voice came: “Paint.” That’s when everything changed. My work became a prayer. A pilgrimage.
Q: Why did you choose to paint on bark cloth?
SJ: Bark cloth is sacred to me. It’s harvested without harming the tree, which then regenerates. That alone is a metaphor for how we should live –take, but do not take too much. The material breathes; it carries ancestral energy. Painting on it is slower, more intentional. It forces me to listen. I also grind my own pigments from natural sources – saffron, turmeric, malachite, charcoal, even soils from my own garden. This is a small way of aligning my process with the Earth’s rhythms and rejecting the synthetic, fast-paced, disposable culture we’ve grown accustomed to.
Q: Your ‘Global Conference of the Birds’ series reimagines a 12th-century Sufi poem. Why this poem, and why now?
SJ: Farid al-Din Attar’s ‘Conference of the Birds’ is a masterpiece of mystical literature. It focuses on a group of birds who embark on a spiritual journey to find their king, the Simurgh. Each bird represents a human flaw – pride, fear, greed, self-doubt—and each makes an excuse. As I read it, I realised: these birds are us.
And in today’s world, they’re also literal. Many birds I paint are endangered or extinct. The excuses we make - to not act on climate change, to not listen, to not care - are costing us more than we know.
So, in my series, these birds are on a second journey – not just for enlightenment, but for survival. Even the flightless birds are willing to try. It’s a metaphor for our collective moment: will we wake up?
Q: Can you speak about your visual language of geometry, sacred symbols, and Islamic aesthetics?
SJ: I draw deeply from Islamic metaphysics, particularly sacred geometry and calligraphy. Geometry, to me, is the visual language of the unseen. It speaks of unity, of divine order. I often incorporate mandalas, hexagons, or symbolic planetary alignments to suggest that the cosmos is not random. There is beauty, even in the brokenness. The hoopoe, a recurring bird in my work, is the guide in Attar’s poem. She is the mystic messenger – the one who calls others to the path. I often paint her with a golden sphere above her head, representing divine guidance. She is small, yet luminous. That’s a message I hold dear:
leadership is not about size, but inner strength and light.
Q: Your work was featured in King Charles III’s Coronation, that’s a huge achievement. Tell us about that experience.
SJ: Yes, my painting ‘Take Me Away’ was selected by the BBC and Buckingham Palace and projected onto Windsor Castle and the stage during the Coronation Concert (in 2023). It was surreal, humbling, and affirming. The piece reflected the themes of the cosmos, transition, and hope, which I believe align with the King’s values on sustainability.
That same year, I was shortlisted for the Hyundai Award for Excellence in Sustainability and Creative Practice. These recognitions encourage me to continue exploring the link between sacred beauty and ecological urgency.
Q: What do you hope viewers take away from your work?
SJ: I want them to pause. To feel. To ask: What kind of life am I building? If my life were a painting, a song, or a building – what would it look like? Would it welcome others? Would it be aligned with the Divine? With the planet?
At the end of Attar’s poem, the birds don’t find a king – they find themselves. That is the message. The sacred is not elsewhere. It is within. My paintings are not answers. They are mirrors.
Q: What keeps you creating?
SJ: A quiet voice. The same one that once said: “Paint.” It keeps whispering. And I keep listening.
Shafina Jaffer’s ‘Global Conference of the Birds’ is a travelling exhibition which will move to major cities around the world. It will be at the World Trade Centre in Dubai from July 20 to July 27.
Shafina Jaffer works with bark cloth as the canvas for her paintings
AIR TANZANIA IS THE INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY TO ZANZIBAR
Zanzibar is world-famous for its white sand beaches, coral reefs, bountiful spices, and diverse culture. Air Tanzania is helping bring the world to this paradisical archipelago. Now passengers from Johannesburg and Entebbe can connect directly with Zanzibar adding to our established routes linking Guangzhou and Dubai with the Spice Island. Here’s some ideas on what to do when you arrive in largest island Unguja.
Stone Town
This historic harbour town is just a short drive from Zanzibar International Airport. Once you arrive take a guided tour of the winding streets of this Unesco World Heritage Site to soak up the centuries of Swahili culture. Grand merchant homes with their iconic carved wooden doors reflect the town’s former prominence as a coastal trading hub. There are also imposing architectural vestiges of the Omani rule the House of Wonders and the Sultan’s Palace that oversaw this boom. A sobering reminder of the suffering and abuse that underpinned the archipelago’s commercial growth can be found next to the Anglican Cathedral of Christ Church where a memorial marks the former location of one of the world’s last open slave markets. For more delving into the past, check out museums dedicated to Stone Town’s most famous exiles. The Princess Salme Museum reveals the story of the intelligent and rebellious daughter of Said bin Sultan, who escaped overseas when her pregnancy and relationship with a German schoolteacher in Stone Town was exposed. Just a few streets away you’ll also find a museum that traces the story of Farrokh Bulsara, who grew up in
Stone Town, but fled to England with his family in 1964 to escape the violence of the revolution. In his new home he changed his name to Freddie Mercury and fronted the rock band Queen, becoming in his sadly short life one of the music world’s biggest stars.
Stone Town food
Swahili food fuses African, Arabic, Persian, Indian, and European culinary traditions. Stone Town is a great place to sample this cosmopolitan cuisine. The rooftop ‘tea houses’ deserve special mention not only for their excellent food, but the views they offer diners across Stone Town’s unique skyline of mosque minarets and towering homes. However, if you want to get a taste of what the locals eat, sample the street food. You’ll find vendors across the city selling snacks such as mishkaki meat skewers, spicy samosas and doughnut-like mandazi. For the biggest choice, head to Forodhani Market by the harbour. Vendors set up as the sun is setting and for the rest of the evening the market is a bustling foodie’s paradise. Coffee-lovers who want an authentic Swahili cuppa should head to the outdoor Jaws Corner square where locals chat and
Zanzibar is a diver's dream. The coral reefs teem with colourful life and the water is clear and warm. The best time for diving here is generally between mid-February and April.
play board games while sipping on super strong Zanzibar black coffee chased with a chunk of kashata – a local peanut brittle.
Spice tours
A key contingent of Swahili food is spices. Cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon, chili, and black pepper have thrived in the fertile
Spices infuse Swahili cuisine with its rich flavours
soils here for centuries. Many of these old farms remain and organised tours reveal why spices mean so much to Zanzibar’s people, history and economy. Visitors get to pick, smell and taste a variety of fruits and spices straight from the trees.
Island trips
If you are after a day-trip castaway experience there are secluded islands you can escape to. A short dhow ride from Stone Town will get you to Changuu Island – named after the Swahili for a species of fish which is abundant in the surrounding waters. The 200-metre-wide strip of sand and coral rag forest is also known as ‘Prison Island’ as building work on a jail began here in the 1890s after Zanzibar became a British protectorate. The idea was soon abandoned and today the only island inmates are a population of giant Aladabra tortoises who have had protected status here since they were gifted to Zanzibar by the British governor of Seychelles. For day-trippers the island is fringed with pristine coral reefs that provide excellent opportunities to snorkel or dive. The Changuu Island excursion can be coupled with a trip to a nearby sand bank for a romantic private picnic.
Diving
Zanzibar is a diver’s dream. The coral reefs teem with colourful life and the water here is clear and warm. The best time for diving here is generally between mid-February and April, and then again from October to mid-December, with calm seas and good visibility. Excellent dive sites for beginners with typically calm conditions can be found near coastal villages such as Paje, Bwejuu and Dongwe. Diving trips on the north-east of the island head to Mnemba island, which is part of marine conservation area and one of the few places to see whale sharks as well as dolphins, reef sharks and even humpback whales during their migratory season.
Kizimkazi dolphins
For more marine adventures we can connect guests with Zanzibar’s south coast and Kizimkazi, which is known as the ‘Dolphins Village’. Here there is the chance to board an ocean-going dhow and set out into the Menay Bay Conservation Area in search of dolphins. The motorless dhow can pass as close as 10 to 20 metres from the dolphins and ensure their safety and comfort. Guests have
sometimes been lucky enough to swim and snorkel with these beautiful animals. The boat trip takes approximately two hours and includes snorkelling on the pristine coral reef and lunch. Kizimkazi is also home to one of Zanzibar’s newest tourist attractions – a natural cave in which you can swim with sea turtles.
Jozani Forest
For wildlife adventures on land head to Jozani Forest, a 50 sq km national park that is home to endemic species such as the Zanzibar red colobus monkey, the critically endangered Zanzibar leopard (??surely extinct??), and the Zanzibar servaline genet, which was first discovered here just 20 years ago. A guided tour will reveal the local flora and its medicinal uses while there will be a chance to explore the park’s mangrove forest by boardwalk or boat.
Dolphins are regular off-shore visitors to Zanzibar's islands
THE SECRET SWAHILI COAST
Zanzibar is not the only place you’ll find a ‘Stone Town’ on the Indian Ocean coast. The Tanzanian Tourist Board (TTB) reveals a rarely visited but rewarding stretch of Tanzania that includes port towns rich in Swahili history, and the only national park on the East African coast.
Saadani National Park
Saadani National Park is where beach meets bush. East Africa's only coastal game reserve encompasses a 20km stretch of Indian Ocean coastline as well as 1,100 sq km of mangrove swamps, jungle, and savanna beyond the beach.
Gazetted in 2005, the national park ensures these unique environments – from coral reef to coastal forest – and the wildlife they support is protected. Game drives will reveal thriving populations of elephant, buffalo, and giraffe. The park is also home to lions, leopards and varieties of antelope. Unlike many national parks, human communities live within its boundaries so there are plenty of opportunities for visitors to experience local life from the Maasai roaming the savannah to the fishing villages on the coast. The beaches here are a breeding site for endangered green turtles and elephants, lions and other wild animals have been known to wander the sands here. The coastline also provides the perfect spot for respite and relaxation after wildlife adventures inland with the park’s beachside lodge offering food and accommodation along with water sports options. Truly, a safari option like no other.
Must-try experience: The mangrove-lined Wami River is the lifeblood of the park. There are opportunities for unforgettable river safaris that reveal the largest population of crocodiles in Tanzania as well as a huge variety of marine and riverine birds.
Pangani
Stone Town in Zanzibar may grab the spotlight when it comes to historic Swahili ports, but Pangani also has a storied trading past going back centuries. It was once among the largest ports between Bagamoyo and Mombasa and sadly a major stop for slave-trading caravans from Lake Tanganyika and an export point for ivory. In the old part of town, near the Pangani River, merchant homes and colonial era buildings are crumbling architectural reminders of these times.
Unlike in Stone Town, though, the ancient streets do not still pulse with crowds of tourists. Travellers that make it as far as Pangani discover a non-commercial seaside experience with the crowd-free serenity serving to bring the beauty of the white beaches, palm trees and crystalline ocean here into sharper focus. Wander the endless white sands, take a trip with a local fisherman on a ngalawa (a traditional wooden
double-outrigged canoe) for a picnic on a sand bar or go snorkelling among the pristine coral reefs of the marine reserve that rings offshore island Maziwe. It is also possible to take a motorised dhow across to Unguja.
Must-try experience: An hour’s drive north of Pangani are the Tongoni Ruins, the remains of a 15th century coral stone mosque and tombs that are the most extensive of their kind on the East African coast.
Bagamoyo
There are more opportunities to step back in time and experience a beach break steeped in Swahili culture in Bagamoyo. The town was once one of the most important trading ports on the East African coast. As also the case on Unguja, the historic centre of Bagamoyo is known as Stone Town – or ‘Mji Mkongwe’ in Swahili – because of its ancient, still extant buildings that were constructed out of local coral rock, a local sedimentary stone made from compressed coral and shells. Among the centre’s tightly packed streets you’ll find once opulent homes featuring carved wooden doors that flaunted their former owners’ trading prestige and wealth. Striking buildings from Bagamoyo’s colonial past – it was the headquarters of German East Africa from 1886–1891 – can also still be found, including Liku House,
A serene seaside experience in Pangani
Giraffe are among the most commonly spotted wildlife in Saadani National Park
which served as the German administrative headquarters, the German customs house on the beach, and the Old Boma, which was renovated between 2010 and 2014 and now contains a museum detailing the town’s complex past. There is still a bustle about Bagamoyo today. The fish market, situated on the site of the old slave market, is a hive of activity during daily auctions of the fresh catch each afternoon. On the beach you’ll find dhow builders hard at work using skills passed down through generations.
Must-try experience: Bagamoyo is at the heart of cultural preservation in Tanzania. It was on the outskirts of the town that the Zawose family set up their musical commune playing and preserving the unique music of the Wagogo tribe from central Tanzania. Generations of the family have found musical fame around the world, but many local performances take place at the Bagamoyo Arts and Cultural Institute, which was set up to pass on the artistic traditions of the country to a new generation of students through programmes in music, dance, drama
The fish market, situated on the site of the old slave market, is a hive of activity during daily auctions of the fresh catch each afternoon
and art. Attending a concert here is an unforgettable insight into the artistic soul of Tanzania.
Tanga
This northernmost port city in Tanzania was considered of strategic importance during colonial times and was initially considered as the capital of German East Africa. However, it was to become overshadowed by Dar es Salaam’s rise as the country’s commercial capital and largest port. In recent years, significant investments in infrastructure improvements have boosted Tanga port’s capacity and it now serves as a primary entry point for goods destined for the northern regions of Tanzania, including Arusha, Kilimanjaro, and Manyara. Tourism is still underdeveloped but that means those that venture here have the region’s flawless white sand beaches almost to themselves. The coastline includes the Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park, a protected stretch of the Indian Ocean where some of the world’s rarest and most mysterious underwater life such as the seagrass-grazing
dugong and the prehistoric coelacanth fish have been recorded. The park is a popular destination for snorkellers and divers to see its coral reefs, colourful fish, and sea turtles. Within the park, Tanga Bay is home to Toten Island, with its ruined mosques and German colonial buildings. Inland, you can explore the limestone Amboni Caves, which are filled with stalagmites and stalactites and of great spiritual significance to locals.
Must-try experience: The journey north does not have to end at Tanga. The town is the gateway to inland adventures in the Usambara Mountains. This biodiversity hotspot is a picturesque, lush landscape of forests and cliffs that is home to numerous endemic species like the Usambara eagle-owl and African violet. Rivers that begin in these peaks supply water to Tanga.
Leopards are among the big cats to be found in Saadani Nation al Park
Cooking with Belinda Mkony
A SUMMER SALAD WITH A DRESSING TO DIE FOR
Twiga cookery columnist Belinda Mkony shares her recipe for a crispy onion and baby potato salad with jammy bacon, gem lettuce and the ultimate dressing.
Ingredients
Salad base
• 3 heads little gem lettuce, quartered
• 250g tomatoes
• 3 to 4 radishes, halved or sliced
• Half a cucumber, deseeded and sliced
• 2 spring onions, thinly sliced (for frying)
• Large handful of fresh dill, plus extra to garnish
• Small handful of flat-leaf parsley (optional)
• 1kg baby potatoes
• Good olive oil for roasting and frying
• Flaky salt and cracked black pepper to taste
• Goat cheese
• 1 packet of bacon
• Half a teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar
The ultimate dressing
• 3 tablespoons crispy onion olive oil (from frying the spring onions)
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon wholegrain mustard
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Splash of tomato roasting juices (optional but delicious)
• Salt and pepper to season
This summer salad is the perfect balance of crisp, creamy, tangy, and fresh. Warm smashed potatoes, jammy bacon, crunchy lettuce, and golden onions, all brought together with a dreamy onion-honeymustard dressing. It’s rustic, rich, and effortlessly elegant. It’s also a great dish to assemble in super quick time in front of the family.
Method
Step 1: Roast & Toast
1. Preheat your oven to 240°C / 220°C fan / 475°F
2. Boil baby potatoes in salted water for 15 minutes until fork-tender. Drain and transfer to a lined tray.
3. Gently smash each potato with a mug or glass – don’t flatten completely.
4. Scatter yellow and red peppers around the potatoes.
5. Drizzle generously with olive oil, season well.
6. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and craggy, and the peppers have charred.
7. Fry up your bacon with some oil, add honey, nutmeg, and balsamic vinegar
Step 2: Spring onion magic
1. Fry thinly onion onions in olive oil on medium heat until deep golden and crispy.
2. Drain on paper towels, season with salt while hot.
3. Reserve 3 tablespoons of the oil for your dressing.
Step 3: Whisk the ultimate dressing
In a bowl, combine:
• Crispy onion oil
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Red wine vinegar
• Wholegrain mustard
• Honey
• Grated garlic
• Lemon zest
• Optional: a splash of tomato juices
• Flaky salt and pepper to taste. Whisk until glossy.
Step 4: Fresh Cuts
• Slice the radishes and cucumber.
• Prepare your dill and parsley – ready to tear.
Assembly
Arrange Little Gem quarters on a large platter, cut-side up.
Spoon the dressing generously into the lettuce folds.
Tuck in your jammy bacon with roasted peppers and crispy smashed potatoes. Add cucumbers and radishes – let them tumble naturally.
Tear in the fresh dill.
Top with crispy spring onions.
Finish with extra lemon zest, a final drizzle of dressing, flaky sea salt, cracked pepper, and a flourish of dill and crumble goat cheese.
Serving suggestion
Serve warm or at room temperature with a chilled glass of white wine and sunshine if you can manage it. It’s hearty enough for lunch, dazzling enough for dinner parties.
FOLLOW BELINDA
To keep up with her latest recipes and events, visit Fork.Ur.Munchies on Instagram
All images courtesy of Belinda Mkony / Cooking with Belinda Mkony
Foreign footprints: Tanzania in a globalised era
Blogger and content creator
Faysal Alao runs his own Arusha-based tour company
All Day In Africa. In each issue of Twiga he shares his take on life in Tanzania.
As a Tanzanian tour operator and frequent traveller, I’ve watched my country quietly transform. On the winding paths of Arusha, the beaches of Zanzibar, and even in my neighbourhood café, I now often find myself surrounded by people from all corners of the world. Some came for safari and stayed for love. Others arrived chasing sunshine, simplicity, or purpose. These foreign footprints are now part of our story.
There’s beauty in that. Many have brought investment, opened small businesses, volunteered in schools, or supported local conservation projects. I’ve had the privilege of guiding guests who return not just to see wildlife, but to reconnect with the people they’ve come to care about. In moments like those, you realise globalisation isn’t just a concept, it’s human.
But with change also comes quiet tension. I’ve met young locals priced out of their neighbourhoods or unsure where they fit in a shifting economy. I’ve heard elders wonder if tradition is being diluted. These aren’t complaints, they’re reflections. Honest ones.
I don’t believe the answer lies in resisting change, but in shaping it together. Tanzania’s strength has always been its warmth.
I remember one traveller from Germany who returned to Arusha every year just to visit the same Maasai family he met on a cultural tour. He didn’t come with grand plans – just respect, kindness, and curiosity. That’s when I knew: the most meaningful footprints aren’t the ones that leave a mark on the land, but the ones that connect hearts.
Sound and vision
Mark Edwards rounds up the latest releases to stream, screen and read
MUSIC REVIEWS
LADY JAYDEE
Silver
Lady Jaydee has been a mainstay of Tanzania’s twist on r‘n’b and hip-hop, Bongo Flava, for more than two decades. Since her debut album, ‘Binti’, came out in 2003, the Shinyanga-born singer has released 10 albums. Such prolificity is evident in her latest album, ‘Silver’, which has 25 tracks. Among them are acapella renditions that showcase Lady Jaydee’s powerful, soulful voice, as well as collaborations with East African artists Fid Q, Rapcha, Frida Amani, and Wakazi. Longtime fans will be glad to know the singer’s ability to tell compelling stories through her music is as strong as ever in empowerment anthems such as ‘Mwanamke Imara’ and ‘Bwana Angu’.
FILM REVIEWS
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE THE FINAL RECKONING
The eighth instalment of the blockbuster franchise has the ageless Tom Cruise once again playing the remorseless field agent Ethan Hunt. This time Hunt and the Impossible Missions Force are tasked with preventing the Entity, a rogue AI, from unleashing global destruction against humanity. It’s a mission that requires some death-defying feats, including Cruise – and it is the 62-year-old, not a stunt man – dangling from an upside-down plane. Is it really the end? If so, this adrenaline-charged film is a great way to go out.
BOOK REVIEWS
ABDULRAZAK GURNAH
Theft
In 2021, Gurnah became the first Tanzanian to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. ‘Theft’ is his first released work since winning the prestigious award. Despite fleeing Zanzibar at age 18 for a life in the UK where he carved his career in writing and academia, Gurnah’s fictional work regularly explores his memories of his homeland. ‘Theft’ is no different. It is a coming-ofage tale set between post-colonial Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam that follows the lives of three teenagers into adulthood. Gurnah’s prose is exquisite, confident and teasing as he leads his three protagonists to a conclusion that pulses with peril. A must-read.
Rebo Tchulo is a rising star in Kinshasa. She stands out for her blend of hip-hop, r&b with traditional rumba, and because she is a woman in the vibrant yet male-dominated world of Congolese music. Her 2021 single ‘Pepele’ gained more one million views on YouTube within four months and led to her being named Best Female Artist in Central Africa at that year’s AFRIMA Awards. This year has seen Rebo take another step up by signing to major label Def Jam Africa. The first fruit of this collaboration is the slinky and sensual single ‘Antidote’. Rebo is one to watch.
JANANI: THE LAST STAND
This powerful Ugandan film was named Best Feature Film at this year’s Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF). Directed by Matt Bish, Janani immortalises the courageous stand of Archbishop Janani Luwum against the oppressive regime of dictator Idi Amin. Luwum was the archbishop of the Church of Uganda from 1974 to 1977 and one of the most influential leaders of the modern church in Africa. He stood for justice and freedom for the people despite knowing it would cost him his life. The success of the film in reflecting that legacy owes much to the strength and quality of Peter Odeke in the title role. The Ugandan stage and TV star was also rewarded at ZIFF, winning Best Actor.
OLUFUNKE BANKOLE
The Edge of Water
Nigerian American Bankole is a graduate of Harvard Law School. Edge of Water is her first novel and follows young Nigerian dreamer Amina as she leaves her hometown of Ibadan to start a new life in New Orleans in the US. Amina’s mother agrees to the move even though she has had a divination that foretells danger for her daughter in America. The book fuses fact with fiction. Amina’s New Orleans is hit by a major storm – Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005 – and her dream life is shattered. The novel explores themes of love, longing, heartbreak, family, and the courage it takes to pursue one's dreams.
Lilian Hipolyte is the executive director of Dar es Salaam creative community Nafasi Arts Space. In her latest column she reveals how women artists are becoming agents of change through their thoughtprovoking work.
Art you can feel: why immersive experiences are the future
Let’s be real, just hanging a painting on the wall doesn’t cut it anymore. In a world where audiences are more digitally fluent than ever, and smartphones offer surreal realities at the touch of a screen, audiences are craving more than just “look, but don’t touch.” They want to feel something. Literally.
In response, museums and galleries around the world are embracing immersive experiences to remain relevant. These experiences go beyond the visual, incorporating sound, touch, scent, and movement to awaken the senses and deepen engagement.
A striking example is the Costume Institute at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, which in May unveiled 250 rarely displayed costumes within a gallery space adorned with 17thcentury embroidery recreations; inviting visitors to not just look, but touch. Closer to home, Nafasi Art Space’s June 2025 screening of Fright Night by the Nafasi Film Club was paired with a multi-sensory visual art exhibition that left audiences stunned and inspired.
To thrive in this landscape, Tanzanian artists and curators must push beyond their creative comfort zones. Immersive storytelling, multi-sensory installations, and interactive formats are no longer novelties, they are expectations.
At the forefront of this movement, Nafasi Art Space offers expertise in curating bold, unforgettable experiences that fuse art, culture, and sensation. Whether you're an artist, collector, or event organizer, we’re ready to craft something extraordinary with you.
Reach out to us at info@nafasiartspace.org and let’s create the future of cultural experience together.
TUNE IN TO NEW BESPOKE LIGHTING START-UP TURN ON,
Washa! is a switched-on Tanzanian collective of artisans designing one-of-a-kind handmade lamps and lights. Mark Edwards finds out how its bespoke collection is a sustainable as it is striking.
Calvin Babu’s first job on graduating with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering was at an architects’ studio in Dar es Salaam. He had not been there long before he had what could aptly be called a light bulb moment. “When it came to finishing projects, there was always a challenge in sourcing fittings,” he says. “Getting light fittings that met exactly what the client wanted was especially hard. I saw a gap in the market to be a reliable vendor for such fittings.”
With digital design one of his strengths, Calvin began sketching ideas on his laptop for one-of-a-kind lampshades and pendant lights that were modern in look yet retained a lineage to Tanzania’s cultural and crafting heritage. He built the first prototypes in his bedroom but found his novice crafting skills often fell short of the design ideal. A small team of adept artisans were brought in to help and after a year of “brainstorming and experimentation” they had a collection of lamps to show potential clients.
Large-scale projects
The response was positive enough that in February 2023 the start-up Washa! – the Swahili word means ‘turn on’ in English with both languages employing the dual meaning of illumination and excitement – was born with operations upscaled to a studio in Dar’s Mbezi Beach and staff numbers expanding to 10 key personnel. The start-up has already attracted an impressive list of customers that have commissioned Washa! to create striking and sustainable lamps to set the mood in offices, homes, restaurants, lodges and hotels across Tanzania.
Recent large-scale projects have included a 300-room residency in Zanzibar that Washa! kitted out with overhead lighting and table lamps. “This is a proud accomplishment,” says Babu. “The scale of these recent
The scale of these recent projects is testimony to the quality of the work we are doing
projects is testimony to the quality of the work we are doing. We put a lot of thought into our designs and our clients appreciate that they are original, one-off creations.”
Design process
As the start-up’s creative director, Babu says he “comes up with the original ideas”, but then the team of artisans – headed by lead welder Vicent Ernest, lead beader Donata Jonah along with weavers Pius Vicent and Michael Simba – have their input. “From my concepts the finished product might be quite different. It is a collaboration,” he adds.
The design process is often interweaved with inspiration from Tanzanian traditional culture. Examples include pendant lamps with a thick, tumbling fringe of rattan canes which echo of the skirts worn by dancers of the Haya people in Bukoba. “We tiered the lengths of the rattan to create a shimmering quality as if the lamp was itself dancing,” says Babu. The team has also just completed a series of oversized lamps patterned with colourful and intricate beading that owes much to Maasai culture. Other designs have echoes of Makonde ivory work and the artistry of Iringa basket weaving.
Materials are predominantly natural and locally sourced. The team target regenerative options such as the mwarubaini or neem tree that takes just three years to grow to maturity. “It has a very nice patina with no knots, and ages to an
The lamps and lights from Washa! are handcrafted using sustainably sourced local materials
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The Mora Zanzibar offers stunning suites, each featuring a private terrace or balcony. Indulge in ultimate comfort with a king-sized bed and a mini-bar, stocked with a selection of drinks daily. Guest have the luxury of six swimming pools to choose from as well as four exceptional restaurants. For more details, visit: www.themora.com
A swelling list of satisfied clients is growing demand for Washa! lamps by word of mouth
attractive ruddy colour,” says Babu. “It is also naturally pest resistant owing to its bug-repelling sour fruit.” Similarly eco-friendly are sea glass washed up on the beaches of Dar and coconut shells the team rescue for use in beading and decoration. “We are always looking for more sustainable materials to make use of,” says Babu. “We then take the material, take our concepts and work with it.”
Learning curve
A swelling list of satisfied clients is growing demand for Washa! lamps by word of mouth. Babu foresees increasing staff levels to meet the uptick in orders and says the focus will be on opening out employment to youth and the elderly.
While the start-up’s first year of business has been encouraging, Babu admits it has been a steep learning curve. There have been challenges with power outages in the
neighbourhood that have held up production as deadlines loomed and sharing skills among the team has also taken time. Then there has been the occasionally lengthy trial and error process of design experimentation. Babu recalls a series of nest lights moulded out of papier maché – a crafting technique unfamiliar to the entire team – that took time to perfect. “Getting the right consistency was a game of inches, but ultimately we and the client were happy with the results,” he says. Those elements of experimentation are key to Washa!’s mission to provide one-of-a-kind lighting. Whether the client is a large-scale hotel or an individual looking to illuminate their home, they will end up with a unique, inherently Tanzanian product.
For more information on the work of Washa!, visit its Instagram page @washa.tz
WHY A SAFARI DIFFERENT SIDE TO THE
Lucy Hills from Arusha-based tour company African Environments champions the immersive experience of exploring the Serengeti on foot.
TSerengeti on foot. No engines. No crowds. Just the rustle of grass, the distant call of a hornbill, and the slow realisation that you’re no longer just observing the wilderness – you’re part of it.
African Environments offer a rare experience: private walking safaris deep within the untouched corners of the Serengeti. Whether it’s a family adventure or a group of friends looking for something extraordinary,
guides, and the rhythm of the wild.
A year-round invitation to explore
While the dry season from June to October brings crisp mornings, golden light, and wildlife clustering around permanent water sources, each season offers something uniquely beautiful.
The green season (November to May) transforms the plains into a lush paradise – wildflowers bloom, skies shift dramatically with passing storms, and the bush teems with young animals.
Walking safaris are an intimate way to take in the wonders of the Serengeti
Migratory birds arrive in dazzling numbers, and the air feels freshly washed and alive. Even during the short rains, walking is both comfortable and magical, with cooler days, minimal dust, and a refreshing sense of renewal in the air.
Walk with purpose
A walking safari is not about checking boxes or rushing from sight to sight. It’s about presence. Accompanied by an armed park ranger and one of our highly experienced walking guides, you’ll learn to read the bush through sound, scent, and signs – paw prints in the sand, trampled grass, claw marks on bark. From quietly observing elephants at a distance to spotting the shimmer of a lizard sunning on a rock, each moment feels vivid and unscripted.
Wilderness all to yourself
Private mobile camps are set in remote, wild areas where you are the only guests for miles.
Thoughtfully designed for comfort and minimal impact, these camps offer en-suite tents, hot bucket showers, and chef-prepared meals served under a canopy of stars.
Evenings are spent around the campfire with a chilled drink in hand, listening to the night come alive. There are no time limits here. No competing vehicles. Just space, stillness, and the freedom to move slowly and deeply through the landscape.
There are no time limits here. No competing vehicles. Just space, stillness, and the freedom to move slowly and deeply through the landscape.
Blocks of local Tanzanian farm cheese for sale at the market
Photo by Jal Patel
Evenings are spent around the campfire after the day's wildlife experiences
Conservation through connection
By walking instead of driving, and by operating in underutilized areas of the Serengeti, this minimises impact and helps distribute the benefits of tourism more sustainably.
More than that, walking creates connection – to the land, to wildlife, and to something ancient and essential within ourselves.
After following the trail of a giraffe through tall grass, or hearing a lion call in the dark from your tent, the
Serengeti stops being a postcard – and becomes something deeply personal.
Time to lace up
The Serengeti is one of the most celebrated wildernesses on the planet. But to truly feel its soul, you have to walk it – step by quiet step,
far from the crowds, in the company of those you know and trust.
So, if you’re ready to leave the road behind and journey into Africa’s wild heart, knowledgeable guides are ready to take you there.
The Serengeti awaits – and it’s yours alone to discover.
African Environments has almost 40 years’ experience in crafting immersive Tanzanian adventures, including Kilimanjaro climbs, national park safaris and cultural visits. The company runs walking safaris in Serengeti, day hikes in the Shira Plateau area of Kilimanjaro and walks with the Maasai in the Ngorongoro Highlands. For more information contact walking@africanenvironments.com
Be a part of the Serengeti with a walking safari
Guiding patients every step of the way to TOP-TIER OVERSEAS TREATMENT
Jal Patel meets with Sonia Hanspaul, founder of medical concierge company Aafrin Medihealth Solutions, to find out about the rise of medical tourism in Tanzania.
Q: What is your expertise, Sonia?
A: I hold a B.Sc. in physiology and pharmacology from the University of Westminster, in London. I also had more than 15 years of volunteer experience in global healthcare advocacy before I founded Aafrin Medihealth Solutions.
Q: What inspired you come up with the idea of medical tourism company in Tanzania?
A: My inspiration came from my personal family health challenges, including my father’s spine surgery and my mother's successful cancer treatment in India. My own journey in medical tourism motivated me to create a service that prioritises patient comfort, early detection, and ethical healthcare solutions. I realised there was a huge gap in the market and a dire need for it.
Q: What are the core services that Aafrin offers?
A: Health tourism and medical concierge: Tailored healthcare
tourism services designed to meet individual medical and personal needs. The approach is proactive and patient-centric, ensuring comfort and seamless integration of medical and personal requirements.
Preventative care: Emphasis on early detection and intervention to prevent the progression of serious health issues, embodying the essence of preventative care.
Concierge healthcare services: Designed for those unacquainted with medical systems, individuals with hectic lifestyles, or those facing mobility challenges, ensuring convenience and comprehensive support.
Comprehensive medical travel coordination: Assistance in connecting patients to top-tier medical facilities, managing travel logistics, accommodation, and visa processing, ensuring a smooth and transformative healthcare journey.
Q: Can you walk us through the average medical tourism process?
A: We begin with the patient’s personalised consultation, either in person or virtually.
Our team gathers information about the individual’s medical history, current condition, and what the patient is looking for (diagnosis, second opinion, surgery, treatment, etc.).
Once the patient’s needs are assessed, we then plan their medical journey, such as the treatment options and hospitals/clinics (often in India or other trusted locations) will be suggested. We will help the individual choose the right doctor or specialist, based on their condition
and budget. We will coordinate with their medical appointments, hospital admissions, travel arrangements (flights, visas) and accommodation and transport in the destination country.
We provide a “white glove” concierge experience, especially helpful for busy professionals, elderly or mobility-limited patients and those unfamiliar with international healthcare systems. Our support includes 24/7 contact and assistance, translator/interpreter support if needed and post-treatment checkins and follow-ups.
We also offer Preventative Health Programs for people interested in early diagnosis or screening (e.g., cancer, cardiac health), we can schedule preventive health checkups in top-tier hospitals. These packages often include detailed evaluations, imaging, and lab tests in a short visit window.
We will offer the patient full support upon their return and aftercare, in terms of handling their return process and coordinating medical summaries and documentation referrals for local follow-up care in Tanzania or their home country and the ongoing advice or remote consultations with their treating doctors.
What are the challenges of seeking healthcare abroad that your company helps to overcome?
We will coordinate with their medical appointments, hospital admissions, travel arrangements (flights, visas) and accommodation and transport in the destination country.
A: We ensure a seamless medical tourism experience for the patient and their family members. I understand from personal experience how overwhelming and challenging this experience can be. Especially when trying to navigate medical treatments in a foreign country, where often family members are not familiar with India or the language, and do not know where to turn to. When I founded Aafrin Medihealth Solutions in 2023, I saw a gap in private healthcare across Tanzania and neighbouring regions and wanted to bridge this gap by offering personalized, reliable, and timely international medical assistance.
Preventive health check-ups are also available
TRAVEL
From sunglasses that play music and take photos to the ultimate noise-cancelling headphones, here’s our pick of the
RAY-BAN META
Sunglasses
If you’re heading to the Tanzanian sunshine, you’ll need a pair of good sunglasses. Meta sunglasses add some AI along with the usual UV protection. The frames – available in a host of classic Ray-Ban styles – have a built-in 12-meg apixel camera. Simply tap the temple of your glasses to take photos or shoot videos. The glasses also have mini-speakers so you can listen to your favourite track on the move or take calls. Other smart features travellers will appreciate include an integrated real-timer translator that repeats the user’s speech into a chosen language.
Where to buy: meta.com
Price: US$ 399
Image: meta.com
All in all, a solid choice for frequent flyers.
Where to buy: sonos.com
Price: US$ 599
Image: sonos.com
Lost luggage is the travel nightmare we all fear. If you’ve ever been the last one standing at the baggage reclaim belt, you’ll know the feeling of despair that follows. Apple’s AirTag can’t bring your bag any sooner, but you will at least know where it is and be able to trace its return. With the tag in your bag, you can use the Find My app on your iPhone to locate it. Once you are reunited with your luggage, you can pop the AirTag in your backpack or beach bag to keep
KLEARLOOK
Phone holder
Don’t be that person who holds their phone up at eye-level for an entire two-hour flight to watch a movie. Your arms will thank you if you invest in this phone holder. Its adjustable clip means it can be mounted on the tray table attached to the the seat in front of you. The device features adjustable joints and a 360° rotation design so it can be easily positioned at the ideal viewing angle. Foldable and compact, the holder will fit easily in your hand luggage. When your travels are over, it can double up as a desk stand for your phone.
Where to buy: amazon.com
Price: US$ 13
Image: amazon.com
AIRFLY PRO Bluetooth transmitter
If you want your premium headphones to transform the inflight movie into a home cinema experience, you’ll need this cool Bluetooth transmitter. The AirFly Pro will plug into the headphone jack within your seat area, enabling it to link to your own headphones for pristine audio in minutes. Travelling with a friend? The AirFly Pro can connect to two pairs of Bluetooth headphones so you can enjoy the film together. With a 20-plus-hour battery life, it will keep you entertained throughout your flight.
Where to buy: twelvesouth.co.uk
Price: US$ 74
Image: twelvesouth.co.uk
YOUR ULTIMATE TRAVEL COMPANION
Fly
with ease and book your next adventure with the new Air Tanzania mobile app
FEATURES INCLUDE:
• Book a flight
• Change or cancel your flight and purchase extras such as additional baggage allowance
• Check in, view your boarding pass and add it to Apple Wallet.
• View or change your seat.
• Check the latest flight status and receive flight and gate change notifications.
• Join Air Tanzania’s rewards programme Twiga Miles and earn points every time you travel to enjoy premium services
• Book Twiga Miles award tickets.
• Check your Twiga Miles account balance and current tier status.
• Manage your trips, profile and customise your travel preferences.
Download the Air Tanzania App now on Play Store and App Store
Travel information Before take-off
Taking your first flight is certainly exciting, but can also become a source of stress for those who are unfamiliar with the rules, procedures and customs of flying. To prepare yourself for your first flight, it is therefore important to get information on everything you need to do before and during your journey. Here is a useful pre-departure checklist.
1 Before departing, it is important to check the airline’s website for its hand luggage rules: weight, sizes and types of objects you can take on board. For example, as regards liquids, you are advised to carry these in your hand luggage, only in transparent, reseal able, plastic containers, not exceeding 100 ml. If you have connection flights, we advise that you also check the websites of other airlines.
2 Arrive at the airport in advance (at least two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights).
3 Check in online, if possible. If travelling with hand luggage alone, you can check in online and print or download your boarding pass which you must take with you directly to security checks.
4 Set your mobile to flight mode, as well as other devices connected to the internet that you are taking on board. Cabin crew will remind you of this step before take-off. With flight mode set, you can still take photos of your unforgettable journey and you can also enjoy the in-flight entertainment system!
AIR TANZANIA FLEET
BOMBARDIER DASH 8-Q300
Number of aircraft
available: 1
Seat capacity: 56
Number of flight-deck crew: 2
Range: 1,711 km (1,486 Nm)
Typical cruising speed: 271 knots (502 km/hr)
Wingspan: 91 ft 8 in (28 m)
Length: 82 ft 4 in (25 m)
5 To prevent sickness from ruining your first flight on a plane, we advise you to take natural remedies, such as, for example, ginger tablets or gum to chew.
6 Enjoy the view! By choosing a seat near the window, you will see breath-taking landscapes and you can take photos of the exquisite white clouds you will be flying above.
7 Try to take a nap. Sleeping on the plane will make time pass faster and you will arrive at your destination calm and rested.
8 Lastly, especially during take-off and landing, the change in pressure inside the cabin may cause discomfort in your ears. Chew gum or wear earplugs to combat this.
National carrier Air Tanzania is justifiably proud of its revamped six-strong fleet. Here we take a close-up look at our aircraft with technical data and specifications.
DE HAVILLAND CANADA
DASH 8-Q400
Number of aircraft available: 5
Seat capacity: (3 De Havilland Canada) Business Class 6, Economy 70, (1 De Havilland Canada) Business class 10, Economy 68
Number of flight-deck crew: 2
Range: 2,063 km (1,362 Nm)
Typical cruising speed: up to
360 knots
(414 mph or 667 km/hr)
Wingspan: 93 ft 3 in (28.4 m)
Length: 107 ft 9 in (32.8 m)
AIRBUS 220-300 (CS300)
Number of aircraft available: 4
Seat capacity: Business Class 12 and 120 Economy Class
Number of flight-deck crew: 2
Range: 6,112 km (3,300 Nm)
Typical cruising speed: 470 knots (541 mph or 871 km/hr)
Thrust per engine at sea level:
23,300 lbf / 103.6 kN
Wingspan: 115 ft 1 in (35.1 m)
Length: 127 ft (38.7 m)
Interior cabin width: 129 inches (3.28 m)
BOEING 737-MAX 9
Number of aircraft available: 2
Seat capacity: Business Class 16 and 165 Economy Class
Number of flight-deck crew: 2
Range: 6,570 km (3,550 Nm)
Wingspan: 117 ft (35.9 m)
Speed: 853 km/h
Length: 138 ft (42.1 m)
Fuel capacity: 25,800 litres
BOEING 787-8 DREAMLINER
Number of aircraft available: 3
Seat capacity: Business Class 22 and 240 Economy Class
Number of flight-deck crew: 2
Range: 13,621 km (7,355 Nm)
Typical cruising speed: 488 knots (561 mph or 903 km/hr)
Thrust per engine at sea level:
64,000 lbf / 280 kN
Wingspan: 197 ft 3 in (60.12 m)
Length: 186 ft 1 in (56.72 m)
Interior cabin width: 18 ft 0 inch (5.49 m)
FREE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
Air Tanzania has a free allowance for passengers’ baggage across economy and business class. For full details and rates please see our website www.airtanzania.co.tz or contact booking enquiries
+255 748 773 900
Passports and visas
A valid passport or travel document that is valid for at least six months is required to enter the United Republic of Tanzania.
Visitors will also require a valid visa upon arrival. There are a range of visas available depending on the nature and frequency of your visits, but a single entry visa can be obtained on arrival in Tanzania subject to the fulfilment of all immigration requirements. There is a US$ 50 charge for the visa.
Those travelling to Zanzibar require an inbound health insurance policy, which is mandatory for all
BOEING 767-300F CARGO
Number of aircraft available: 1
Seat capacity: N/A
Range: 6,025 km (3,253 Nm)
Typical cruising speed:
488 knots (561 mph or 903 km/hr)
Cargo volume:
438 cubic metres
Cargo weight: 52.7 tonnes
Thrust per engine at sea level:
60,600 lbf / 270 kN
Wingspan: 156 ft 3 in (47.57 m)
Length: 180 ft 3 in (54.94 m)
foreign visitors. The insurance can be purchased in advance online or at check-in when departing for Zanzibar. The insurance is charged at $44 per person.
For a full list of visas available and for countries for which special terms exist, visit the Air Tanzania website.
Check-in
Check in online, if possible. If travelling with hand luggage alone, you can check in online and print or download your boarding pass, which you must take with you directly to security checks. You should check in two hours ahead of your flight time for domestic flights and three hours for international flights.
Family travel
Fares for infants and children
As a general rule, children up to two years old are not required to have their own seat and are allowed to travel on parents’ lap. An infant tickets costs 10 per cent of the regular fare. Depending on the destination, taxes and fees may apply. Please note that only 1 baby per adult is accepted. You can choose to buy a seat for your baby at the reduced rates for children if any children’s rate is applicable.
If your child is older than two years or turns two while you are travelling, you will have to book a separate seat for him or her and book the children fare for the entire journey. If a child travels with an accompanying adult in the same class of cabin, the child should be seated in the same seat row as the accompanying adult. Where this is not possible, the child should be seated no more than one
ECONOMY
seat row or aisle away. Reduced rates apply for children aged two to 11 on most routes, depending on the travel class. Children turning 12 years en route need to be booked as adults for the entire journey.
Expectant mothers
Our priority is always your safety and that of your unborn child.
To avoid unnecessary risks to you and your baby, we recommend that all expectant mothers consult a doctor before booking their ticket and inquire about their fitness to fly the length of the trip they intend to take.
Depending on the stage and circumstances of your pregnancy, you may be required to present certain medical forms before flying. For your own safety and the well-being of your child, Air Tanzania will not accept expectant mothers who are pregnant from their 34th week or beyond.
UMNR (children travelling alone)
If you’re planning for your child to travel alone, we’re here to make sure they enjoy their trip and that they are well taken care of throughout their journey.
When you book our unaccompanied minor service, your child will be received at the originating airport, taken care of during transit and while on board the aircraft. He or she will be handed over to the person designated by the parents/guardians upon arrival at the final destination.
Cost
To avail the unaccompanied minor service, an adult fare needs to be purchased for the child. Please contact us to book the flight and the service.
Infant fare checked baggage allowance
Infants travelling on an infant fare are allowed 10 kg as baggage allowance.
Child fare baggage allowance
Children and infants travelling on a child fare are eligible for the same baggage allowance as adults.
Wheelchairs
If you need wheelchair assistance at the airport, you must advise Air Tanzania of this at the time of booking. You can request wheelchair assistance through our Call Centre or at Air Tanzania Sales offices.
Inflight Wi-Fi
On board Wi-Fi
Enable Wi-Fi on your laptop, tablet or smartphone, and select AirTanzaniaWifi
You will need to launch your web browser, which will display the log-in web portal. From the portal, simply select your preferred price plan.
Portable electronic devices (PEDs)
You can use your e-readers, tablets and smartphones from gate to gate – including taxiing, take-off and landing – without a risk to safety.
Note that on-board Wi-Fi is only available on certain aircraft. Please follow cabin crew instructions at all times.
Zanzibar
Those travelling to Zanzibar require an inbound health insurance policy, which is mandatory for all foreign visitors. The insurance can be purchased in advance online or at check-in when departing for Zanzibar. The insurance is charged at $44 per person.
