Issue 31
YO U R F R E E A I R TA N Z A N I A M AGA ZINE
T R AV E L / TA ST E / TALEN T
Engaruka Adapting to climate change in arid stretch of Great Rift Valley
Twiga A I R TA N Z A N I A Issue 31
Screen saviours Zanzibar's iconic Majestic Cinema is returning
10 YEARS OF TRANSFORMATION The stories that shaped a decade
contents 22
48
52
62
Regulars
Features
6 Foreword 10 Air Tanzania news 47 Competition 60 Faysal’s blog 60 Sound and vision
12 Festive gifts
45 Mikocheni
17 New year celebrations
48 Women-led hotels
The best new releases in books, film and music
61 Arts column 72 My Tanzania Ayeta Anne Wangusa
Tanzanian-made picks
Dar’s neighbourhood of now
Where to welcome in 2027 across our network
22 Return of the Majestic
New look for iconic cinema
29 Property markets in Zanzibar Where to live, where to invest
33 Beginners guide to bao
A historic game of strategy and skill
36 Prawn perfection
New recipe by Belinda Mkony
Stand-out stays to bookmark
52 Photograph Tanzania Capturing Kizimkazi
57 Engaruka Valley
An inspiring conservation story
62 Birds of Tanzania
The country's unsung wildlife
65 Seychelles grandmothers
Keeping Creole traditions alive
70 My Mumbai
Influencer picks city's hidden gems
38 Air Tanzania - 10 YEARS
From one aircraft to 38 destinations
Air Tanzania information
39 Victoria Falls
Statistics on the natural wonder
42 Researchers Rest
Historic home in Arusha
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 Head Office: Land & Marine Publications Ltd 6 The Square, Ipswich Suffolk, IP5 3SL, UK Tel: +44 (0)7714 448059 Email: publishing@landmarine.com
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Read Twiga online: qrs.ly/qdbooco
Editor: Mark Edwards markedwards@landmarine.com Advertising sales: Godfrey S. Urassa Tel: +255 (0) 686 118 816 (WhatsApp) Email: godfreyurassa@landmarine.com Printed by Jamana Printers Ltd, Dar es Salaam
76 Travel information 77 Air Tanzania fleet 78 Air Tanzania destinations 80 Air Tanzania contacts
On behalf of: Call: +255 748 773 900 International customers: +255 748 773 900 Air Tanzania Company Ltd (ATCL) Second floor, ATC House, Ohio Street Dar es Salaam. Email: info@airtanzania.co.tz Office (JNIA) Telephone: +255 222113248
@AirTanzania @airtanzania airtanzania_atcl
For the latest flights, information and to book online, visit:
www.airtanzania.co.tz The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor, or any other organisation associated with this publication. No liability can be accepted for any inaccuracies or omissions. ©2026 Land & Marine Publications Ltd.
CEO foreword
Ten years of transformation. One journey. A bigger horizon. EDITOR’S NOTE The festive season is a time to celebrate traditions, create new memories and look ahead with optimism. In this edition of Twiga, we shine a spotlight on the creativity and warmth that make this time of year so special. Discover our selection of handcrafted festive gift ideas, showcasing the talent of Tanzanian artisans and the rich traditions behind their work. We also explore some of the best places across the Air Tanzania network to welcome the New Year with fireworks, celebrations and unforgettable experiences. Looking to the future, we visit Zanzibar's historic Majestic Cinema, where an ambitious restoration project promises to bring the magic of the big screen back to Stone Town. From all of us at Twiga, happy holidays and safe travels. Mark Edwards markedwards@landmarine.com
www.airtanzania.co.tz Follow us on:
@AirTanzania @airtanzania
It is a great honour to welcome you aboard Air Tanzania as we celebrate a defining milestone: ten years of transformation. A decade ago, we began a journey with a clear ambition: to build a stronger, more capable airline that would connect Tanzania to its people, its opportunities and the wider world. Ten years on, that ambition has evolved into a transformation that reaches far beyond the aircraft we operate or the destinations we serve. That transformation can be felt in every journey. Over the past decade, Air Tanzania has expanded its passenger network, strengthened connectivity across Tanzania, Africa and beyond, and created new possibilities for people to travel, families to reunite, businesses to grow and visitors to experience the very best of Tanzania. Every new connection has represented more than a destination on a map; it has represented an opportunity for people and communities to move forward. Our transformation has also extended into the skies of commerce. The growth of Air Tanzania Cargo and the introduction of our first dedicated freighter, the Boeing 767-300F, have strengthened our ability to connect Tanzania with important markets and support the movement of time-sensitive goods, agricultural produce, pharmaceuticals and other essential cargo. In doing so, we are playing an increasingly important role in connecting Tanzanian businesses to regional and global supply chains. Our growing international network is equally opening new horizons for tourism, trade and investment. In the past year alone, we have extended our reach across the continent with new services to Cape Town, Accra and Lagos, welcomed Seychelles to our map, and increased our Dar es Salaam-Mumbai service to daily flights, deepening the bridge between East Africa and the Indian subcontinent alongside our established link to Guangzhou. With great pride, we have also carried the Tanzanian flag into new regions, launching our first-ever
airtanzania_atcl Air Tanzania ATCL
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Continued on page 8
CEO foreword
service to Europe with direct flights to Moscow and opening a gateway to the Middle East with the start of flights to Muscat. Each of these milestones reflects our confidence in Tanzania's place in the world, and our determination to connect our nation with evergreater ambition. At the same time, we remain just as committed to connecting Tanzania to itself. We have resumed and strengthened our domestic network, restoring service to Geita and introducing convenient new links between Dodoma and Mwanza, Kilimanjaro and Mwanza, and Dar es Salaam and Sumbawanga. These connections bring faster, more reliable travel to communities across the country, ensuring that the benefits of our growth are felt in every region we serve. Yet, when we look back at these ten years, the greatest measure of our transformation is not simply the growth of our network. It is the impact of those connections on people's lives. Behind every take-off is a purpose. Behind every landing is a story. And behind every journey is a customer who has placed their trust in us. That trust is at the heart of Air Tanzania. As we celebrate this milestone, I extend my sincere appreciation to our passengers, employees, partners, stakeholders and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania for being part of this remarkable journey. Your confidence and support have helped shape the airline we are today. As we look to the future, our ambition remains unwavering. We will continue to innovate, strengthen our network, enhance the customer experience and create even greater opportunities for Tanzania to connect with Africa and the world. The momentum of the past decade fills us with confidence that our most inspiring journeys still lie ahead. Ten years have transformed Air Tanzania. The next chapter will transform what is possible. Thank you for flying with us and thank you for being part of our journey.
Eng. Peter Rudolf Ulanga Managing Director & CEO Air Tanzania
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Air Tanzania news
10 reasons to explore Mahé
Air Tanzania's new three-times-weekly flights to Seychelles land at Mahé International Airport. As the largest and most populous island in Seychelles, Mahé is the perfect base from which to explore the archipelago.
Fly with ease and book your next adventure with the Air Tanzania mobile app To book flights or gain more information, visit airtanzania.co.tz or download the Air Tanzania Mobile App at the App Store or Google Play.
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1
Beau Vallon Beach
This broad sweep of white sand is one of the island’s most famous beaches and is renowned for swimming, sunsets, watersports, and a lively atmosphere. It consistently ranks among the island’s top attractions.
2
Morne Seychellois National Park
Covering a significant portion of Mahé, this lush national park protects rainforest, endemic plants, and some of the island’s highest peaks. Hikers are rewarded with spectacular panoramas of the coastline and neighbouring islands.
3
Victoria Market
The colourful market in Victoria, one of the world’s smallest and greenest capitals, is the perfect introduction to everyday Seychellois life. Visitors can browse local fruit, fish, spices, and handicrafts.
4
Anse Intendance
Mahé is blessed with spectacular beaches, but many visitors consider Anse Intendance the jewel in the crown. This stunning stretch of white sand combines dramatic scenery, turquoise water and a wonderfully untamed atmosphere.
5
Takamaka Bay Distillery
The home of the Seychelles' best-known rum brand offers visitors a fascinating insight into local heritage and
the rum-making process, with tastings available as part of the experience.
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Mission Lodge Lookout
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Sainte Anne Marine National Park
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Anse Major
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Seychelles National Botanical Gardens
Perched high above the coast, Mission Lodge offers one of the most celebrated viewpoints on Mahé. Sweeping vistas stretch across forested hills to the Indian Ocean beyond.
Just offshore from Victoria, the calm, crystal-clear waters of this protected marine park are ideal for snorkelling among vibrant coral reefs and tropical fish. Regular boat excursions depart from Mahé to explore the park.
TWIGA MILES BONUS POINTS Passengers can really rack up reward points through our loyalty scheme in the run-up to the festive season. We will double the Twiga miles earned on any domestic or international flights booked during this period. On top of this there are 500 Twiga Miles bonus points to be had if you book through the Air Tanzania Mobile App. Twiga Miles can also be used to secure seating upgrades.
Accessible via a scenic coastal trail, Anse Major combines a rewarding hike with a beautiful, secluded beach.
Located near Victoria, the gardens showcase native and exotic tropical plants and are a great place to learn about the islands’ biodiversity.
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Eden Island Marina
Charter a boat for fishing or island-hopping, or simply admire the luxury yachts moored at one of the Indian Ocean's most prestigious marinas. The surrounding restaurants and bars are also a favourite spot for sunset drinks.
CONTACT CENTRE ATC House, Ohio Street, Dar es Salaam Email: info@airtanzania.co.tz
+255 748 773 900 Tel: +255 22 211 7500 International customers: +255 748 773 900 E-COMMERCE Location: ATC House, Ohio Street. Email: tce-commerce@airtanzania.co.tz
Cocotier Tours / Shutterstock.com
For the latest flights, information and to book online, visit:
www.airtanzania.co.tz Follow us on:
@AirTanzania @airtanzania airtanzania_atcl Air Tanzania ATCL
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Festive gifts
TANZANIAN-MADE FESTIVE GIFTS Looking for a festive gift for a loved one? Jal Patel rounds up a selection of distinctly Tanzanian finds that celebrate local craft and support the work of artisans across the country.
Chocolate Christmas tree Handcrafted by Vikapu Asilia, this woven bag is made by local weavers using water hyacinth (magugu maji) and miruru grass. Available in a rainbow of shades, it is an easy way to add a distinctly Tanzanian touch to any festive outfit.
A sweet festive centrepiece made by local artisan chocolatier Aizhan Burlyubayeva, founder of Choco Jambo. Made with rich Belgian couverture chocolate, it is layered with local dried fruits and caramelised roasted nuts.
Price: TZS 45,000
Price: TZS 50,000
IG: @vikapu_asilia
IG: @chocojambotz
The Vikapu Asilia Pochi
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/ Festive gifts
Kitenge Chair A statement piece handbuilt from Tanzanian-farmed teak hardwood and vibrant kitenge/ankara fabric. Created by Karoli Magero, a Tanzanian self-taught furniture designer at Magero Studio in Dar es Salaam, it brings colour, craft and character into the home. Price: TZS 589,000 IG: @by_magero
Warm holiday glow candles Set the mood, or give the gift of warmth, with these beautiful, handcrafted candles by Ndenengo Magic Enterprises. Made locally, they create a glowing centrepiece for the holiday table and make a thoughtful seasonal gift.
Lovespell festive edition A plant-based Christmas gift set with a fresh floral scent, featuring body milk, body oil, barrier cream, body butter and sugar scrub. It is created by local artisan skincare brand Sugar Berry, by Ismat Alnassir.
Price: TZS 65,000
Price: TZS 120,000
IG: @kiaproductstz
IG: @thesugarberry
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/ Festive Gifts
Swahili kikoy Woven in Tanzania from 100% cotton, these kikoys are finished with a soft towelling backing to create a versatile kikoy towel. Found at Shakir Arusha, they are ideal for the beach, travel, spa days and everyday use. Price: TZS 39,000 IG: @shakir_arusha
Monkey soft toy
Calabash table lamp Transform your space with these handcrafted lampshades by young Tanzanian artist Isaac Munis. Made at his Arusha workshop, Gourd Shades, the lamps use dried calabash shells and a technique known as gourd art, with delicate perforated patterns drilled into each shell to let the warm light escape. Price: TZS 400,000 IG: @gourdshadestz
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Handmade soft toys are designed to bring a smile to any child’s face. These are made by Changamoto ni Matumaini, a Christian rehabilitation centre in Dar es Salaam supporting people in recovery. Each toy is crafted from recycled clothes sourced at local markets, giving festive gifting an added spirit of reuse and community support. Price: TZS 50,000 IG: @changamototz
New Year celebrations
THE TWIGA GUIDE TO AN EPIC
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Ashraf Hamdan / Shutterstock.com
The best places to bring in the New Year across the Air Tanzania network
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Dar es Salaam Coco Beach When it comes to New Year’s Eve in Dar es Salaam, Coco Beach is where the city comes alive. Thousands of revellers gather along the shoreline to enjoy live music, beach parties, food vendors, and a festive atmosphere that lasts late into the night. With the Indian Ocean providing a stunning backdrop, the midnight fireworks create a spectacular start to the year. Why go: Vibrant celebrations featuring midnight ocean fireworks, live music, DJs, and crowded street-style festivities.
T
here’s something magical about New Year’s Eve. Whether you’re counting down beneath dazzling fireworks, dancing until dawn, or raising a toast with strangers who quickly become friends, every destination has its own unique way of welcoming the year ahead. From tropical beaches to glittering skylines and historic squares, here are some of the best places across the Air Tanzania network to celebrate New Year’s Eve in unforgettable style.
Mumbai Marine Drive Mumbai celebrates New Year’s Eve with characteristic energy and excitement. Marine Drive, known as the city’s ‘Queen’s Necklace,’ fills with locals and visitors eager to watch the sea-side festivities. Nearby restaurants, rooftop bars, and clubs host countdown events that keep the city glowing into the night. Why go: Electric atmosphere and beautiful coastal city views.
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/ New Year celebrations
Zanzibar
Olya Solod / Shutterstock.com
Forodhani Gardens, Stone Town Zanzibar combines tropical charm with Swahili culture and nowhere captures that better than Forodhani Gardens. As the evening unfolds, visitors can enjoy local food markets, ocean views, and celebrations around Stone Town’s historic waterfront. Midnight brings a joyful atmosphere as locals and visitors welcome the New Year under the stars. Why go: Historic surroundings, delicious street food, and a truly unique island celebration.
Arusha
Johannesburg
Gran Meliá Arusha Rooftop
Maboneng Precinct
Arusha’s New Year celebrations may be more relaxed than those of larger cities, but they are no less memorable. Rooftop venues and upscale hotels offer stylish countdown parties with views of Mount Meru. The rooftop bars at luxury hotels provide the perfect setting to toast the New Year while overlooking one of East Africa’s most beautiful landscapes.
The revived Maboneng – meaning ‘place of light’ in Sotho – district in Joburg truly lives up to its name on New Year’s Eve with vibrant rooftop celebrations, street-level block parties, and late-night venue grooves along Fox Street. Popular annual options include the festive rooftop garden events and warehouse gatherings that feature local DJs, live music, and panoramic views of the city skyline. The atmosphere is urban, exciting, and distinctly South African.
Why go: Sophisticated celebrations with stunning mountain views.
Why go: Trendy nightlife, live music, and a buzzing city atmosphere.
Guangzhou Canton Tower
windmoon / Shutterstock.com
Fireworks were invented in China and 2,000 years later the country still puts on some of the world’s best aerial pyrotechnic displays. As one of China’s most modern cities, Guangzhou offers dazzling New Year celebrations around Canton Tower. The city’s illuminated skyline provides a stunning setting for fireworks, while riverside promenades and observation decks offer excellent vantage points for taking in the festive atmosphere. Why go: Futuristic cityscape and spectacular nighttime views.
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/ New Year celebrations
Cape Town V&A Waterfront Few places in the world can match Cape Town’s combination of natural beauty and party atmosphere. The V&A Waterfront offers concerts, restaurants, bars, and spectacular fireworks, all set against the iconic backdrop of Table Mountain. Whether you prefer family-friendly entertainment or lively nightlife, there is something for everyone. Why go: World-class scenery and one of Africa’s premier New Year celebrations.
Dubai Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai Dubai’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are legendary. The area surrounding the Burj Khalifa becomes the centre of one of the most watched countdown events on the planet. Spectacular fireworks, light shows, and entertainment draw visitors from around the world, creating a truly unforgettable experience. Why go: Bucket-list fireworks and a world-famous countdown.
Muscat Al Mouj Waterfront For a more elegant and relaxed celebration, head to Al Mouj Waterfront in Muscat. The marina-side setting offers excellent dining, live entertainment, and a family-friendly atmosphere. It is the perfect destination for travellers seeking a sophisticated start to the New Year. Why go: Waterfront luxury with a laid-back Arabian charm.
Moscow Red Square Few countdown locations can rival the grandeur of Moscow’s Red Square. Surrounded by some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, visitors gather in the historic heart of the city to celebrate beneath festive lights and winter skies. The atmosphere is both dramatic and deeply memorable. Why go: Historic significance and one of the world’s most iconic celebration settings.
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Majestic Cinema
The return of the
Zanzibar's iconic Majestic Cinema is being reborn as a cultural hub. Mark Edwards explores how its return reconnects the island with its cinematic past.
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reopen the historic venue by 2028 and return cinema to Stone Town. Guiding me through the transformation is Mark Dearden, who works with historical real estate company Hifadhi Zanzibar and local contractor Yassin and Sons to oversee heritage quality control and develop training programmes in heritage conservation techniques for construction graduates.
Unesco support The project is supported by Unesco and the Zanzibar government, with financial backing from Japan, Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands, though additional funding is being sought. Dearden says the cinema could reopen within two years, provided the remaining funding is secured on schedule. The restoration has been divided into two phases. The first is now underway and is focused on what Dearden describes as “rehabilitating the integrity of the building”. Years of exposure to the elements have taken a heavy toll. Repairing the roof is therefore the main priority. “We are waiting for new roofing sheets to arrive, which offer 50mm of inbuilt insulation,” Dearden says. The
Image: Hifahdhi
U
p until the 1980s, Tanzania had 53 cinemas, more than any African country except South Africa. The historic port city of Stone Town on the island of Zanzibar was home to three of them. Now it has none. The Cine Afrique, with its sweeping Art Deco entrance arch, in the Malindi area is now an office block, while the Empire Cinema in the Darajani neighbourhood has become a supermarket. Only the Majestic Cinema on Vuga Road, at the northern edge of Stone Town’s historic centre, has escaped repurposing. In the 1980s, the building fell into disrepair, with its roof suffering extensive deterioration over time, deterring potential investors for decades. However, on another scorching Stone Town morning in late June 2026, I stand in a hard hat and high-visibility vest on the Majestic’s balcony, looking at preparations to replace the roof as the cinema is restored for audiences of up to 500 people, with films once again projected using modern digital technology. This is early evidence of an ambitious Unesco-supported restoration project that aims to
Image: Hifahdhi
MAJESTIC
insulated roofing sheets should keep rain out, make the interior cooler and more comfortable, and reduce nuisance to the neighbours. A new ceiling based on the original will support the acoustics of the cinema’s state-of-the-art sound system once it is installed.
Rain damage “These sheets are being imported from Turkey and come with prefabricated gutters and flashings to keep water out and secure discharge preventing flooding of the surrounding streets,” Dearden adds. “We have had to repair severe damage to the concrete walls due to the amount of water that has come in and through leakages from failed plumbing,” he says. “There was also a
lot of asbestos in the remains of the original roof, so all of that had to be removed with great care.” Dearden’s role oversees adherence to the strict requirements that accompany heritage conservation. Original materials must be preserved wherever possible, traditional construction techniques prioritised and every intervention carefully documented. “It is imperative we follow proper procedure,” says Dearden. Built on the site of the Royal Cinema Theatre, which opened in 1921 as one of Africa's first cinemas before being destroyed by fire in 1953, the Art Deco Majestic, designed by Zanzibar-born architect Dayalji Pitamber Sachania, was a comparatively modern structure amid the coral-stone buildings that define Stone Town’s historic core, much of which dates from the archipelago’s 19th-century Omani era. Yet restoring a twentieth-century building presents its own challenges. In tropical marine climates, incompatible modern concrete repairs can accelerate decay, making material compatibility crucial.
Image: Hifahdhi
/ Majestic Cinema
The Majestic in its 1950s heyday
Rescuing decaying stock All of the seating has been removed. Most of it has been damaged beyond repair by decades of leaks through the roof, but Dearden says the best-preserved examples will be reupholstered and displayed once the cinema reopens. “We have already removed most of the original assets such as timber doors and fixtures for consolidation and repairs,” Dearden says. “They will then be reinstalled once the concrete repairs are complete. In accordance with the Conservation Management Plan developed by Hifadhi and the consulting team, all items will be documented for final assessment.”
Original artwork on the Majestic's interior walls will be restored where possible
We have already removed most of the original assets such as timber doors and fixtures for consolidation and repairs
A first-floor storeroom beside the entrance to the balcony seating area may yet prove to be one of the restoration’s greatest treasures. Inside are dust-covered 35mm and 16mm film reels stacked in boxes along with faded promotional posters, tickets, programmes and receipts. An archivist is due to arrive shortly to catalogue and assess the fragile collection. “This is a very crucial part of the conservation as there seems to be a vast wealth of material discovered on site,” says Dearden. The cinema’s two original projectors have also been salvaged. Both have been stripped for parts over the years and are no longer operational, but they offer a tangible link to the building’s past. The restored Majestic will feature modern digital projection systems, due to be installed during phase two of the project, which is scheduled to begin in 2027. Dearden says this stage will involve carefully threading new plumbing and electrical systems through the heritage structure, as well as decorative work. “The Majestic was spectacular in its day,” says Dearden. “It will be again.” The restoration will also preserve original signage, including notices directing patrons to the VIP balcony seating. Other aspects of the cinema's operation, such as women-only screenings, offer a glimpse into the
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Image: Hifahdhi
/ Majestic Cinema
social conventions that shaped life in Zanzibar during the Majestic's heyday. Yet despite such distinctions, cinemas remained among the few places where Zanzibaris from different backgrounds gathered beneath the same roof.
Community hub Once the two phases are complete, Dearden tells me the Majestic will serve as a vibrant cultural and community centre rather than a standalone movie theatre. “The idea is to reuse the space as a cinema, a live music venue, a café, a drama space, and as an events venue,” he says. Already, a ground-floor space beside the cinema entrance is serving as a precursor to the Majestic Culture Hub. It functions as an information centre, social gathering place and office space for young people and creatives, while also hosting live taarab music performances, film screenings and discussion nights. Most recently, it was transformed into a pop-up cinema for a touring Japanese Film Festival.
Two of Zanzibar's biggest cultural events – the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) and the pan-African music festival Sauti za Busara – have become key partners of Hifadhi in the restoration of the Majestic. Both hope the revived cinema will serve as an authentic and atmospheric venue for their globally renowned events for years to come. If restoration of the Majestic is completed on schedule, the cinema could serve as the flagship venue for the 2028 Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF). Such a role would be particularly significant at a time when the festival’s traditional historic centrepiece, the early eighteenth-century Old Fort on Stone Town harbour, has been closed for repairs since early 2026. “It has become a critical situation to secure a new venue for the festival since we lost the Old Fort amphitheatre,” says ZIFF director Hatibu Madudu. “Beyond returning the culture of cinema in Zanzibar, the Majestic may also serve as the main venue for the festival – a move that
The Majestic's two original reel-to-reel projectors
would reduce running costs while promising a better environment and facilities for festival-goers.”
Zanzibar's cinematic history
Community hub hope: Martin Mhando, Lorenz Herrmann and Hatibu Madudu
Martin Mhando, the current chairman of ZIFF, believes hosting screenings in the Majestic would reconnect the festival with a venue deeply embedded in Zanzibar's cinematic history. Few people are more closely linked to both institutions. Born in the late 1950s, Mhando grew up during Tanzania's cinema heyday, spending much of his childhood in the three cinemas of his hometown, Tanga, a port city on the mainland coast, lost in the wonders of the big screen. He later became a filmmaker himself: Maangamizi: The Ancient
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One, which he co-directed, was the first Tanzanian film ever to be submitted for an Oscar. Mhando would also become ZIFF's longest-serving director since the festival's founding in 1997.
Film festival Mhando deliberately shaped ZIFF as an inclusive event that aims to bring the magic of the big screen to a cinema-less generation. Schoolchildren attend screenings free of charge and while most in-competition films are shown in the urban centre of Stone Town, ZIFF sets up mobile, open-air pop-up screenings in remote and regional settlements across Unguja and Pemba islands. For Mhando, the restoration is about more than rescuing a historic building. It is about preserving a cultural institution that once sat at the heart of urban life in Zanzibar. “The cinema hall defined Zanzibar in its multicultural structure,” he says. “It was a space where all classes met as human beings.” Mhando points out that audiences arrived from different social and ethnic backgrounds but encountered the same stories, music and stars. Bollywood films shaped romantic imaginations, American productions offered a window into global power and modernity, while popular Italian cinema influenced urban tastes and fashions. At the height of the industry's success, he recalls, new Bollywood releases could arrive in Tanzania within days of opening in India. Some films ran for weeks at a time across multiple cinemas. “That is how closely linked India’s cinema was to Africa,” he says. “That link influenced our cinema appreciation, reading and later production. The melodramatic acting, popular culture base influences came from those times. The Majestic was part of that culture.” Sadly, in the 1980s the heyday of the silver screen had lost its lustre. According to Mhando, the decline was not as simple as changing audience tastes or government
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ownership. He argues that many cinemas remained vibrant throughout the nationalisation era under Julius Nyerere. Instead, he points to the economic liberalisation programmes of the mid-1980s and the collapse of long-established film distribution networks. Mhando argues that structural economic reforms, combined with changing global film markets, made cinemas increasingly difficult to operate profitably. Yet economics alone did not kill Tanzanian and Zanzibar cinemas. The arrival of video technology transformed viewing habits across East Africa. Films that once required a trip to the cinema could suddenly be watched at home. Mhando says: “As video parlours, television and later digital streaming became more widespread, audience numbers dwindled. Tanzania’s emerging film industry increasingly targeted television audiences rather than cinema-goers.”
Image: Hifahdhi
/ Majestic Cinema
Decline of cinema The era marked the rise of Bongo movies – a prolific genre of guerilla filmmaking in Tanzania with low-budget movies shot fast and distributed even faster on DVD. “When Bongo movies came, they went straight to the television screen in the lounge,” Mhando says. For Mhando, restoring the Majestic has become something of a parallel project to building ZIFF itself. Over the years, his efforts to revive the cinema have attracted support from prominent filmmakers, including the British director Nick Broomfield. He is delighted that Unesco and the Zanzibar government have finally committed to the project.
(Above) Salvaged film reels and examples of interior restoration. (Above right) how the newlook Majestic will operate
The cinema hall defined Zanzibar in its multicultural structure. It was a space where all classes met as human beings.
But he is wary of narratives that portray them as the sole rescuers of the Majestic. In his telling, the restoration is the result of years of “cajoling” by cultural organisations determined to return cinema to Stone Town. Following nationalisation, the government assumed ownership of the building but invested little in its upkeep, according to Mhando. Like the former cinemas in Tanga and Dar es Salaam, the Majestic lingered in bureaucratic limbo for decades. Yet stories persisted that a small group of Stone Town film enthusiasts continued to gather there on Friday evenings to watch old films projected on to the cinema’s bare interior wall. Will the faithful who gathered under
/ Majestic Cinema
Stone Town has very few dedicated cultural spaces, so the Majestic offers a rare opportunity. Its main hall is ideally suited for film screenings and live performances, and bringing those activities back into one of Zanzibar's most historic buildings will be a major boost for cultural preservation.” Dutch architect Berend van der Lans, co-founder of the non-profit African Architecture Matters, helped lay the groundwork for Hifadhi in 2012 by adapting Amsterdam's renowned Stadsherstel model – the pioneering public-private partnership for heritage conservation created to rescue neglected historic buildings in the Dutch capital.
Image: Hifahdhi
A unique venue
the Stone Town skies to watch films under a leaking roof at the Majestic be joined by a new generation once the cinema reopens? It remains an open question. Mhando readily admits that cinema culture may have changed irreversibly. “If cinema culture has changed, and we can't flog the dead horse, then let’s be creative and multipurpose the buildings,” Mhando says.
The role of Hifadhi That philosophy eventually became the foundation of the current restoration effort. In 2017, Hifadhi was commissioned to develop a feasibility study for transforming the building into a cultural hub, with the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), Busara Productions and the
(Re)Claim Women’s Space identified as key partners and future users. Additional funding secured in 2020 and 2021 enabled the development of a management and promotional strategy. This work helped pave the way for discussions with the Zanzibar government, culminating in a public-private partnership agreement in late 2023 for the building's redevelopment and management. Lorenz Herrman, the managing director of Busara Promotions, the organisation behind Zanzibar music festivals Sauti za Busara and FuTopia, hopes to have an office outpost at the Majestic and the cinema’s auditorium will host Busara-affiliated live music events. “As project partners, we lend our brand and influence to support the restoration.
Zanzibar-born Dayalji Pitamber Sachania was the architect of the Majestic built in 1953
Van der Lans has since served as a conservation architect and adviser to Hifadhi on restoration projects across Stone Town. For him, the Majestic is an important part of Stone Town's cultural identity and one of the few historic buildings capable of serving a major public function today. He says: “Hifadhi Zanzibar has developed a sustainable management model that is based on a balance between socio-cultural use by ZIFF, Busara and other cultural actors and commercial activities like conferences, wedding parties and other festivities. The hall after all is unique, there is no place with a similar capacity and character in Stone Town.” For decades, the Majestic stood in disrepair, a monument to a vanished age of cinema-going. Soon, if the restoration succeeds, audiences will once again pass through its doors. They may come for films, concerts, festivals or community events, but they will be participating in something larger: the revival of a cultural tradition that shaped generations of Zanzibaris. The Majestic’s second act is not just the story of a building being restored, but of a city rediscovering a forgotten part of itself.
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Property Market
Zanzibar: one island,
MANY MARKETS
windmoon / Shutterstock.com
Unguja may be a single island, but it is far from a single market. With each region offering its own distinct character and attractions, opportunities abound for tourists, entrepreneurs and property investors alike, says Wilhelm Loderer, managing director of the Paje-based property developer Makuti Estate.
T
ake in Zanzibar from above on your Air Tanzania flight and it appears as a tropical paradise of white beaches, turquoise waters and endless palm trees. Yet from the ground, a different picture emerges. Zanzibar is not one destination and certainly not one property market. For travellers, that means no two visits need ever be the same. For entrepreneurs and investors, it means understanding not just Zanzibar, but which Zanzibar they are investing in.
Stone Town Where heritage creates value Every journey through Zanzibar begins in Stone Town, where centuries of Arab, Indian and European influence have created one of East Africa’s most distinctive heritage markets. Historic merchant houses around Forodhani Gardens and the waterfront rarely change hands. Their value lies in preservation rather than expansion. Restoring them requires specialist craftsmanship and
strict heritage approval to preserve coral rag walls, mangrove beams and the city’s unique architectural character. As in many of the world's great historic cities, the challenge is rarely to build something new but to breathe new life into what already exists. Those who successfully restore these remarkable buildings are not simply investing in real estate – they are preserving a piece of Zanzibar.
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/ Property market
Nungwi and Kendwa Zanzibar’s premium coastal resorts Nungwi and Kendwa have evolved from backpacker destinations into Zanzibar’s premier hospitality market. Calmer tidal conditions, luxury resorts and beach clubs continue to attract an international clientele. Yet the region continues to evolve. Areas beyond Kendwa, such as Kidoti, still offer opportunities for carefully planned development. Thanks to the gently rising landscape, many properties enjoy panoramic sea views well beyond the first beachfront row – an increasingly rare advantage on the island. For those who understand these dynamics, the north continues to represent one of Zanzibar's most mature and resilient tourism markets.
Paje and Jambiani The lifestyle market Paje and neighbouring Jambiani have transformed from fishing villages into Zanzibar's leading lifestyle market. Kite surfing, boutique hospitality and an international community have driven land values sharply higher, while large plots near the beach have become increasingly scarce. Yet one of the biggest lessons Paje offers is that premium living is not always found on the beachfront. As tourism has grown, many experienced residents and second-home owners have deliberately chosen locations a few minutes inland, where elevated sites often provide cooling breezes, greater privacy and surprisingly beautiful views. Rather than repeating the high-density development seen in some Mediterranean resorts, Paje has the opportunity to grow in a way that preserves the spacious, tropical lifestyle that first made it so attractive.
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Bwejuu, Dongwe and Michamvi
southwards. Its future potential remains significant, but maintaining infrastructure, public spaces and the relaxed character that first attracted visitors will be key to ensuring sustainable growth.
Quiet coastal luxury Dongwe and the Michamvi Peninsula form Zanzibar's luxury market, with five-star resorts, uncrowded beaches and some of the island’s most valuable beachfront land. Dongwe’s clear waters and peaceful setting have made it one of Zanzibar’s most exclusive destinations. Michamvi offers a different kind of opportunity. Beautiful plots can still be found, but the peninsula rewards careful local knowledge. Mangrove ecosystems, changing topography and exceptionally high spring tides mean that not every waterfront parcel is equally suitable for development. A site that appears perfect on one visit may reveal very different characteristics during the highest tides of the month. Understanding these natural conditions is essential to ensure successful long-term projects. Bwejuu, meanwhile, continues to evolve as tourism expands
(Top) Eco-minded residential development Fumba Town
Kitesurfer on Paje Beach Image: iralgo74 / Shutterstock.com
Matemwe and Kiwengwa Nature meets hospitality Matemwe and Kiwengwa are among Zanzibar’s most established resort markets, where extensive hotel development has made prime beachfront increasingly scarce. From a market perspective, this is no longer an emerging destination but a mature one. Much of the prime beachfront has already been developed, particularly around Matemwe, making large coastal sites increasingly difficult to acquire. As a result, premium beachfront land commands some of Zanzibar's highest prices, reflecting both its scarcity and the continued demand from established hospitality operators.
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Nungwi and Kendwa have evolved from backpacker destinations into Zanzibar’s premier hospitality market. The region demonstrates how long-term tourism investment has created a stable market where quality locations have become increasingly valuable.
projects rather than individual plot ownership. Fumba demonstrates that Zanzibar's future will not be defined only by beaches and resorts.
Fumba
Kizimkazi and Uzi
Planning for tomorrow
The next chapter
Fumba is Zanzibar’s development market. Rather than growing organically, it is being shaped through large-scale master planning, creating a modern urban centre outside Zanzibar City. Large mixed-use projects, including developments such as Fumba Town and Sports City, are reshaping the area. Opportunities for individual investors to acquire prime land have become increasingly limited, as much of the strategically located land has already been assembled by major developers. This reflects the area's evolution from a land market into a development market, where value is increasingly created through long-term planning, infrastructure and professionally managed
Kizimkazi and Uzi form Zanzibar's emerging market. Better infrastructure, including the proposed port and improved links with Dar es Salaam, is drawing new attention to a region long overlooked. The completion of the permanent bridge to Uzi Island has transformed accessibility, replacing what was once a tide-dependent crossing with a year-round connection. Combined with its untouched coastline, mangrove forests and traditional villages, Uzi offers a rare balance between authentic island life and carefully considered future development. Unlike Zanzibar's more established coastal markets, opportunities still exist here at comparatively attractive prices.
Aerial view of Nungwi beach in Zanzibar
Kizimkazi village, Zanzibar
Conclusion The real lesson from Zanzibar is that there is no single Zanzibar market. Success depends on understanding these local differences. Those who take the time to understand the character of each region, its infrastructure, environmental conditions and long-term development trajectory will be best positioned to benefit from one of East Africa’s most diverse and evolving property destinations.
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Bao
A beginner’s guide to
If you’re a gamer feeling digital fatigue, the ancient board game of bao might be the screen break you need: social, challenging, and a living link to the rich traditions of Swahili culture. Zanzibar tour company Makala Travels can guide you into the fascinating world of this historic game of strategy and skill.
W
alk through the winding streets of Zanzibar’s Stone Town and you may hear a distinctive clacking sound coming from a shaded baraza or coffee shop. Look closer and you’ll find players locked in an intense battle of bao – one of the most sophisticated traditional board games in the world. In Swahili, the word bao simply means ‘board’. Over time, the name came to describe not only the carved wooden board itself, but also the strategic game played upon it. Local historians and players trace bao’s origins back to the early Swahili city-states that flourished along the East African coast between the 9th and 14th centuries. Oral traditions suggest it was played
in the courts of Swahili rulers, while accounts from European explorers and Arab sailors in the 1600s and 1700s describe game boards carved into stone steps and even scratched into the ground. As trade networks expanded across the Indian Ocean, bao travelled with merchants, sailors, migrants and religious scholars. During long waits for shifting monsoon winds, dhow crews played on beaches and docks. Islamic scholars gathered around mosque courtyards and baraza benches, using bao as an intellectually stimulating pastime that relied on skill rather than luck. By the peak trading era of the 19th century, driven by the Omani Sultanate moving its capital to
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/ Bao
pieces, players perform an action known as sowing. On your turn, you pick up all the seeds from one pit and drop them one by one into neighbouring pits. If your final seed lands in a pit that already contains seeds, you pick them up and continue sowing. Makala Travels tip: this relay-sowing mechanic can create spectacular chain reactions that loop multiple times around a player’s side of the board.
HOW CAPTURING WORKS
Zanzibar in 1840. bao was played by everyone from labourers and fishermen to wealthy merchants with the rich commissioning professional carvers to craft masterworks from expensive, heavily traded luxury materials like ebony wood and inlaid ivory. Traditional bao boards are still hand-carved in Zanzibar today. Many are made from dense East African indigenous hardwoods such as mninga, mvule, mpingo or mkongo, chosen for their durability and resistance to Zanzibar's tropical climate. The finest boards are often crafted by the same artisans who create Stone Town's famous carved Zanzibar doors. High-end boards feature geometric Swahili patterns, while practical boards used by serious players prioritise smooth seed movement over decoration. The playing pieces are known as kete. Traditionally, they are made from the hard, glossy seeds of the mkomwe bush (fever nut tree) that is found in protected forest reserves and across coastal
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coral rag thickets These smooth grey-green seeds slide beautifully across the board and produce the rhythmic clicking sound that has become synonymous with bao. Makala Travels tip: when mkomwe seeds are unavailable, players turn to tamarind and baobab seeds. The former are preferred as once washed and rubbed smooth by players' hands; they become glossy and work exceptionally well for fast-paced gameplay.
LEARNING THE BASICS At first glance, bao can look intimidating. Fortunately, the fundamentals are straightforward. The board contains 32 pits arranged in four rows of eight. Each player controls the two rows closest to them, creating two territories of 16 pits each. The aim is simple: either clear your opponent's front row of seeds or leave them without a legal move. Rather than moving individual
Two men play bao on a shady baraza in Stone Town
Capturing is where bao becomes truly exciting. If your final seed lands in a pit on your front row opposite an occupied pit on your opponent's front row, you can capture all of those opposing seeds. The captured seeds are immediately brought onto your side and sown back into play, often creating further captures and extended attacks. A skilled player can chain together multiple captures within a single turn, completely transforming the board in a matter of seconds.
BEGINNER TIPS New players often make the same mistakes. The biggest is failing to count ahead. Bao is a game of perfect information with no hidden cards or lucky rolls. Strong players calculate entire chains of moves before touching a single seed. Another common error is chasing small captures too early. Sometimes a tempting capture can leave your own position vulnerable. Patience is often rewarded.
Older players pass down strategies, stories and traditions that connect younger generations with their Swahili heritage.
/ Bao
Finally, pay close attention to your front row. It is your defensive line and losing it means losing the game.
MORE THAN JUST A GAME Nowhere is bao more visible than Jaw’s Corner in Stone Town. This lively courtyard where narrow alleys collide gets its name from the painted mural of a shark on one of its walls. Seated on baraza under the mural locals drink strong black coffee, debate current affairs and challenge each other to games. Visitors will often find crowds gathered around a board, watching players calculate their next move with astonishing speed. The game remains such an important part of Zanzibari identity that it recently received high-profile recognition when Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan visited Jaw's Corner and joined a game, highlighting bao's enduring role in national culture.
Makala Travels tip: Because Jaw's Corner is an authentic, everyday gathering spot for residents, following these local guidelines ensures a respectful interaction: dress modestly; offer a polite greeting like ‘Habari’ (Hello); support this local spot by buying a small cup of bitter, traditional black coffee (kahawa) or spiced ginger tea for a few hundred shillings, and sip it while you observe; ask before taking photos; and watch games in silence. You may even get an invite to play!
Bao (The Bao Association). Major competitions take place during cultural festivals and celebrations such as the Zanzibar Film Festival in June, attracting some of the strongest players from across Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania. At Jaw’s Corner, visitors may find themselves watching genuine bao masters whose skills have been refined over decades of competition.
GRANDMASTERS AND TOURNAMENTS
One of bao's greatest strengths is its ability to bring people together. Children often learn by watching elders play before drawing simple boards in the sand and practising with pebbles, seeds or shells. Older players pass down strategies, stories and traditions that connect younger generations with their Swahili heritage. Far from being a relic of the past, bao continues to attract young Zanzibaris who see it as a test of intelligence, concentration and cultural pride. And if you simply can't put down your phone, there's still a way in. Mobile apps now allow players to learn openings, practise strategies and play digital versions of the game. Yet most enthusiasts agree that nothing compares to sitting across from a real opponent, hearing the seeds clack across a wooden board, and taking part in a tradition that has endured for centuries. For visitors looking to experience a genuine piece of Zanzibar's living culture, few experiences are more rewarding than learning a game of bao.
BRIDGING GENERATIONS
Although many people play casually, bao also has an elite competitive scene. Master-level Bao la Kiswahili is considerably more complex than beginner versions of the game. Professional players study openings, memorise strategic patterns and compete in organised tournaments run by bodies such as the Chama cha Bao is still a popular pastime among a new generation of youths
BAO TOUR A bao tour, including a chance to take on the Stone Town locals in a game, is among the tours organised by Makala Travels that help visitors discover the authentic Zanzibar. For inquiries, bookings or custom itineraries, makalatravels@gmail.com
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Cooking with Belinda Mkony
PRAWN W PERFECTION FROM THE INDIAN OCEAN
hen you are blessed to live by the Indian Ocean, and your fishmonger calls you up practically singing because the king prawns just came in, you don’t waste a moment like that. You grab your cast-iron grill pan, let those prawns get gorgeously charred, then toss them in a spicy garlic lemon butter sauce so good you’ll want to bottle it and put it on absolutely everything. Pile it all onto a plate with rice or crusty bread and watch the whole thing vanish in minutes.
Twiga cookery columnist Belinda Mkony showcases the seafood bounty on her Dar doorstep with her recipe for grilled herby garlic lemon butter king prawns.
Now, if unpeeled prawns make you a little nervous, I get it. They look gnarly, a bit wild, like they might judge you back. But trust me: you have not truly lived until you’ve sucked every last drop of that garlicky, lemony butter straight out of the head. No contest, it's the best part. And leaving the shell on isn’t just for the drama (though it does look impressive); it acts as a natural shield against the pan’s fierce heat, so you end up with a beautiful char outside and impossibly juicy prawn inside. Cook this once, and there’s no going back; you'll be a total convert.
½ kg king prawns, deveined, shell and head on
For the herby garlic butter sauce
2 tablespoon Cajun spice
250 grams unsalted butter
2 tablespoon paprika
5 garlic cloves, diced
1 tablespoon lemon pepper
3 to 4 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoon Cajun spice 1 teaspoon chilli flakes 1 tablespoon coriander stalks Fresh diced dill to sprinkle on top
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Images courtesy of Belinda Mkony
Ingredients
/ Cooking with Belinda Mkony
FOLLOW BELINDA To keep up with her latest recipes and events, visit Fork.Ur.Munchies on Instagram
Method 1. Season the prawns
Build the sauce
Pat the king prawns, deveined, shell and head on, dry with paper towels. In a large bowl, toss them with two tablespoons Cajun spice, two tablespoons paprika, 1 tablespoon lemon pepper, two teaspoons salt, and three tablespoons olive oil until evenly coated. Let them sit for 10 minutes while you prep the sauce.
Stir in 3.5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, two teaspoons Cajun spice (for sauce), one teaspoon chilli flakes, and one tablespoon coriander stalks, finely chopped. Simmer gently for three minutes to let the flavours come together, then remove from heat.
2. Start the garlic butter sauce Melt 250 grams unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add five garlic cloves, diced, and cook, stirring often, until fragrant and just golden; don't let it burn.
3. Heat the cast-iron grill pan Place a cast-iron grill pan over high heat until it's smoking hot. This is key for getting a good char without overcooking the prawns.
4. Grill the prawns Working in batches so you don't crowd the pan, grill the prawns for four minutes per
side, until the shells are charred and the flesh is opaque and pink.
5. Coat and toss Transfer the grilled prawns to a large bowl or straight into the pan with the garlic butter sauce. Toss well so every prawn is glossy and coated.
6. Serve Pile the prawns onto a serving platter, spoon over any extra sauce from the bowl, and sprinkle generously with two tablespoons fresh dill, diced, for sprinkling. Serve immediately with rice or crusty bread.
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Air Tanzania - 10 years
From one aircraft to 38 destinations Charting a transformative decade for Air Tanzania.
I
n 2016, Air Tanzania had one aircraft, four destinations and 107,166 passengers carried during the 2016/17 financial year. A decade later, we operate16 aircraft, serves 38 destinations and carried 1,427,439 passengers in 2025/26. The numbers are striking. But the real story is what happened between them. The turning point came in 2016, when the Government of Tanzania under the late President Dr John Pombe Magufuli embarked on a drive to revitalise the national airline. The arrival of two new Dash 8-Q400 aircraft that year became an early, visible signal of a bigger ambition: strengthening air connectivity to support tourism, trade and Tanzania’s links with the world. Under President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, that journey has continued through further investment, network expansion and the growth of cargo and international operations.
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First Tanzania, then the world Today, Air Tanzania connects 18 destinations within Tanzania, bringing commercial centres, tourism gateways and regional communities closer together. For passengers, that can mean turning a long journey into a short flight, for businesses reaching markets faster and for families simply getting home sooner. Across Africa, the network reaches cities including Nairobi, Johannesburg, Kinshasa, Lusaka, Lagos and Accra. Beyond the continent are Mumbai, Guangzhou, Dubai, Moscow and Muscat.
Embracing cargo Air Tanzania’s Boeing 767-300F freighter carries Tanzanian products including flowers, fish, meat, fruits and minerals to markets beyond the country, while essential goods travel in the opposite direction. Cargo carried has grown from 87 tonnes in 2016/17 to 5,820 tonnes in 2025/26 a
reminder that aviation is not only about where people can go, but also where Tanzanian products can go and the markets they can reach.
Flying more than a million passengers each year From 107,166 to more than 1.4 million a year, each number represents an individual journey: a first flight, a business opportunity, a holiday, a reunion or a journey home. Behind those journeys are pilots, cabin crew, engineers, ground teams and professionals across the airline.
The next chapter Ten years have built the foundation. Now we look to strengthen connectivity across Tanzania and Africa, expanding into strategic international markets, growing cargo opportunities and continuing to improve the passenger experience. The journey continues.
…in numbers
VICTORIA FALLS in numbers 108
metres
Twiga showcases the staggering stats behind ‘the smoke that thunders’.
1,708
metres
The width of the Falls – it’s one of the world’s largest curtains of falling water.
20 KM How far away the iridescent mist can be seen, according to UNESCO.
2,700 km
The approximate length of the Zambezi River, which feeds the Falls.
1
The sheer drop the Zambezi River takes at the Falls.
million The approximate number of people that visit Victoria Falls each year.
1989 The year Victoria Falls was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, which also includes the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, the Rio de Janeiro harbour, Mount Everest, the Aurora Borealis, and the Parícutin Volcano.
November 16th, 1855 The date Scottish missionary and explorer Dr David Livingstone is recorded as first non-African to view the Falls.
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7
You’ve heard of rainbows, well Victoria Falls is one of only two places in the world where you can experience ‘moonbows’, when the light of the full moon hits the Falls.
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Researchers Rest
The house that
SCIENCE BUILT How a modest Arusha guesthouse became a home for generations of researchers, and why its story is far from over.
A
rusha today is a city of choice. Luxury hotels, safari lodges and boutique guesthouses cater to the steady stream of travellers bound for Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Kilimanjaro. But hidden among gardens and old coffee trees in the quiet neighbourhood of Kiranyi is a place that recalls a very different era. In the early 1990s, when email was still in its infancy and reliable accommodation for visiting researchers was surprisingly hard to find, a British expatriate named Jo Driessen found herself at the centre of an unlikely community. From a small office in town she operated one of Arusha's first email services, typing messages
for scientists returning from the field and printing out replies when they eventually arrived via a temperamental dial-up connection. Listening to their stories, she heard the same complaint: there was nowhere comfortable and affordable to stay. Her solution was Researchers Rest, a house that would become a home away from home for generations of wildlife researchers, conservationists and adventurers passing through northern Tanzania.
Gathering place What Jo and her lifelong friend Judith Jackson created was far removed from a conventional guesthouse. Researchers Rest
Jo Driessen and Judith Jackson (top right) created a home away from home for researchers in Arusha
quickly became a gathering place for the people trying to understand East Africa's landscapes, wildlife and communities. Word spread through personal recommendations rather than advertising. Scientists arriving from months in the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro highlands or Maasai villages would find not only an affordable bed, but also a table around which ideas, observations and stories were shared long into the evening. Over the years the guest list came to include some of the most influential names in African conservation and research, from Serengeti ecologist Anthony Sinclair and ‘guru of the gnu’ wildebeest expert Richard Estes to anthropologist Terrence McCabe
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/ Researchers Section HeadRest
and cheetah conservationist Sarah Durant. For many, the house became a second home, a place where fieldwork was discussed, collaborations were forged and friendships endured for decades. Yet the most remarkable chapter in the story of Researchers Rest may be its most recent one. Following Jo’s death and Judith’s return to the UK, the future of the house hung in the balance. The solution emerged from the people who had long been at the heart of daily life there. Locals Eddie and Helen had worked alongside Jo and Judith for decades, helping to create the warmth and hospitality for which the house had become known. Discussions with couple Ben Jennings and Aurélie Sivadier, who had themselves lived on the property for several years, led to a new arrangement: the Tanzanian team would become owners of the business. Today, profits are divided between maintaining and improving the historic property and rewarding the staff who sustain it, ensuring that the benefits of its success remain within the community that Jo spent decades nurturing.
Origin story The character of Researchers Rest owes much to the remarkable women who created it. Jo’s African journey began when she followed her husband, doctor Fritz Driessen, to university posts in southern Africa and later Dar es Salaam. When he eventually decided to return to his native Netherlands, Jo made an altogether less conventional choice. Having fallen in love with Tanzania, she stayed. Drawn to Arusha by its temperate climate and position at the gateway to northern Tanzania's great wilderness areas, she planned to make the town her permanent home. Soon after, her lifelong friend Judith arrived from Britain to join her. The pair quickly became fixtures of Arusha life. Between running their various ventures, they could often be found heading off into the Serengeti,
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At its heart is the lounge and library, where guests gather much as generations of researchers have done before them
Staff and guests at Researchers Rest make up a welcoming community
occasionally losing their way, or holding court at the popular Club Safi bar and restaurant in town. Their appetite for adventure became legendary and, according to the Researchers Rest history, earned them a local nickname of the “two crazy British women”. Much about the Researchers Rest remains unchanged from those times. The guesthouse has just five rooms, a mixture of en-suite accommodation and rooms with shared facilities. At its heart is the lounge and library, where guests gather much as generations of researchers have done before them. Shelves are lined with books, many written by
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continues to shape the menu. Much of what appears on the table comes from the property’s own garden, where fruit and vegetables are grown according to the rhythms of the weather. A typical meal begins with a homemade soup, followed by a main course served with seasonal vegetables and fresh salad, before ending with a dessert. As in the house's earliest days, the food serves as the backdrop to the real event: the sharing of stories between travellers, researchers and hosts.
Peaceful location
former residents, while the walls are decorated with photographs and mementoes that hint at the property's long association with wildlife research and conservation.
Creative cooking The communal dinners are perhaps the clearest expression of the spirit that Jo and Judith fostered. They are prepared by Eddie, who first worked at the house in the 1990s, when ingredients that are commonplace today were often difficult to obtain in Tanzania. Out of necessity he learned to cook creatively, making the most of seasonal produce and raw ingredients, a philosophy that
The appeal is not just historical. Located on the western edge of Arusha in the leafy Kiranyi area, Researchers Rest sits conveniently for travellers heading towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti. Yet despite its proximity to northern Tanzania's busiest safari routes, the property feels a world apart from the bustle of the city. In a city transformed by tourism and development, Researchers Rest offers something increasingly rare: a genuine link to an earlier era of exploration, research and conservation in East Africa. Guests may today arrive as safari-goers rather than scientists, but many leave having discovered a deeper connection to the landscapes they have come to see. The books on the shelves, the photographs on the walls, the stories shared over dinner and the quiet continuity of the house itself all speak to a remarkable legacy. More than thirty years after Jo Driessen first welcomed researchers through its doors, Researchers Rest remains what it has always been: a place where curiosity, conversation and a sense of adventure feel at home. For more information on the Researcher’s Rest and to book your stay, visit www.theresearchersrest.com
‘A peaceful hub that is a great place to think’ Professor Terrence McCabe is an American anthropology professor and author of the book ‘Cattle Brings Us To Our Enemies’ about the Turkana of northwestern Kenya. The Researchers Rest in Tanzania served as his base while analysing land-use strategies and livelihood diversification among East African pastoralists like the Maasai. “I have been staying here since the late 1990s or early 2000s when it was just known as ‘Jo and Judith’s’. I have spent about two months of every year since there and have watched the transitions from a place that researchers – mostly from Serengeti – stayed when they came into Arusha to the guest house that it is today. You can still see many of the books and publications on the bookcase from the various researchers that have stayed there – including my book on Turkana. I first met Jo at her secretarial service office in the Arusha International Conference Centre as it was the first place in town where you could receive faxes.” Amy Quandt is an American environmental social scientist whose work examines how farming communities in Tanzania and beyond adapt to climate change and environmental uncertainty. “I always look forward to my stays. Researchers Rest is a peaceful hub for research projects and is also a great place to think, collaborate, and write while not collecting data in the field. “The wi-fi is excellent and I love working in the living room space and staring out the large picture window. After a few days camping in Simanjiro or Hanang, I always look forward to coming back to a hot shower and the wonderful meals. It feels more like a home than a hotel. The staff are very welcoming.”
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Section Mikocheni Head
MIKOCHENI: the new heart of Dar es Salaam
Here’s our guide to one of the commercial capital’s most desirable locations, including where to stay, eat, shop and more.
I
f Dar es Salaam has a postcode that perfectly captures the city’s modern energy, it might just be Mikocheni. Located around 10 kilometres north of the city centre, this fast-growing neighbourhood has evolved from a quiet residential suburb into one of the most desirable addresses in Tanzania’s commercial capital. Popular with families, professionals, students and expatriates alike, Mikocheni offers a winning
combination: leafy streets, excellent amenities and easy access to some of Dar’s most vibrant social and cultural hotspots.
Location, location, location Spread across areas including Mikocheni A, Mikocheni B and Regent Estate, the neighbourhood is known for its wide, tree-lined avenues and convenient connections to major roads. Residents
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/ Mikocheni
evolving. Whether you’re craving local comfort food or international flavours, the neighbourhood delivers. Start with a shawarma at Sultan Turkish Restaurant, grab a fragrant biryani and iced coffee at Vynn Cafe, or sample the famous grilled pork (kitimoto) at local institution Mona Bar and Restaurant. Pizza lovers can head to Panarottis Mikocheni for a reliable crowd-pleaser.
After dark
(Top) Shop 'till you drop at the Mlimani Mall. (Above) Creative hub Nafasi Arts Space
enjoy being close to the city’s coastal lifestyle hubs, with Masaki and Oysterbay just a short drive away. Mikocheni also lets you easily escape the busy city for the white sands and water sports of Mbezi Beach just five km north. The drive usually takes around 15 to 20 minutes. That strategic location has helped transform Mikocheni into one of Dar’s most sought-after neighbourhoods, attracting developers, businesses and a growing community of young professionals
Everything you need, right on your doorstep One of Mikocheni’s biggest strengths is its self-sufficiency. The area boasts dozens of shopping plazas, several major malls, universities, hospitals and highly regarded schools. Shoppers Plaza – offering more than 80 stores catering to shopping needs from fashion to food to electronics – remains a favourite for everyday essentials, while nearby retail centres make errands quick and convenient. For bigger shopping expeditions, Mlimani City – one of Dar es Salaam’s best-known retail destinations – is easily accessible from the neighbourhood. Families are also drawn by respected schools. Private
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institutions such as Dar es Salaam Independent School and Monti International School use the globally recognised Cambridge Curriculum while well-regarded state schools include Mikocheni Secondary School. Kwanza Nursery and Little Harvard are among the excellent pre-school options. Mikocheni is also well-known for its many high-quality training centres, and universities. Top institutions calling the area home are the Hubert Kairuki Memorial University that specialises in medicine and nursing and Tumaini University Dar es Salaam College offering courses in law, business, and arts.
A Foodie’s Playground The food scene here – like Mikocheni itself – is cosmopolitan, welcoming and constantly
As the sun goes down, Mikocheni reveals another side of its personality. Tips Lounge has become a popular meeting point for locals and expatriates, offering a lively atmosphere, drinks, food and regular entertainment events. The venue is known for hosting live music and DJ nights, making it one of the neighbourhood’s go-to evening destinations.
A space for creativity Perhaps Mikocheni’s most distinctive attraction is Nafasi Art Space, a leading contemporary arts centre located in Mikocheni B. Since its founding in 2008, it has grown into a vibrant creative hub where visual artists, musicians, dancers and performers come together to create, exhibit and collaborate. It hosts workshops, exhibitions, concerts, film screenings and public festivals throughout the year. Visit nafasiartspace.org or @nafasiartspace on Instagram.
So good, they namecheckedit in song The 2024 track ‘Nairobi’ by Kenyan singer-songwriter Bien Aimé Baraza and Tanzanian artist and producer Marioo charts an East African romance in which the lovers “tulipatana bongo Mikocheni” – “met each other in Mikocheni Dar es Salaam” (Bongo is the local nickname for Dar). Check out the video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=04GKMWEwe98
Twiga competition
WIN A ZANZIBAR ESCAPE WITH SEA CLIFF RESORT & SPA TO ENTER: Email a photo of yourself holding this issue of Twiga on your Air Tanzania flight to competition@landmarine.org by 10th December 2026. THE PRIZE DOES NOT INCLUDE AIR TRANSPORT TO AND FROM ZANZIBAR
COMPETITION TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Prizes dependent on availability. One entry per person. Entrants must be 18 years or over. The decision of the organisers will be final. The competition is not open to employees and their relatives of Air Tanzania, Land & Marine Publications (Tanzania) Ltd or Sea Cliff Resort & Spa Zanzibar. The prize does not include flights to the destination. Images are for representation only. Competition ends 10 December 2026. Winners will be announced in the next issue of Twiga and contacted directly. Prize valid for stays until 31 March 2027, excluding the peak period from 21 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. Reservations must be made in advance through the Reservations Team at reservations@seacliffzanzibar.com or +255 767 702 241-9.
Treat yourself and a guest to an unforgettable island getaway at Sea Cliff Resort & Spa Zanzibar.
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ne lucky winner will receive a complimentary one-night stay for two in a Superior Sea View Room, with breakfast and dinner included, plus a one-hour Aromatherapy Massage for two at Zuri Rituals Spa. Set beside the sparkling Indian Ocean, Sea Cliff Resort & Spa is the perfect place to slow down, soak up the sunshine and experience the beauty of Zanzibar. After a day enjoying the resort or exploring the island, relax with an indulgent Aromatherapy Massage, combining organic essential oils with soothing massage techniques to help detoxify the body and relieve stress.
For more details, visit: www.seacliffzanzibar.com
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Women-led hotels
FIVE REMARKABLE WOMEN-LED HOTELS From a haven for women travellers in Mumbai to a South African fivestar property that trains young women in the community for careers in hospitality, Twiga selects some of the standout women-run hotels across the ATCL network to bookmark for your future travels.
UREST Women-Only Hotel Nearest ATCL destination: Mumbai Need-to-know: UREST is a women-only hotel in Mumbai designed for solo travellers, students and professionals seeking a secure and supportive base in India’s largest city. It offers both short and long stays and is managed by an all-women team. The property was co-founded and is directed by Maya Sonia Chawla and Michelle Chawla Babu. Women-focused hotel: Everything about UREST is centred on women's independence and safety. The hotel welcomes only female guests and was created to provide a comfortable, community-minded environment for women navigating life, work or travel in Mumbai. Why you should stay: Mumbai can be exhilarating and overwhelming in equal measure. UREST offers something rare: a hospitality concept designed entirely around the needs of women travellers, allowing guests to explore the city with added confidence and peace of mind. For more information www.uresthome.com
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Drostdy Hotel Nearest ATCL destination: Johannesburg (gateway to Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape) Need-to-know: Behind Drostdy Hotel's beautifully restored early 19th century Cape Dutch façade lies one of Africa’s most innovative hospitality models. The 48-room five-star hotel is owned and operated by the South African College for Tourism (SACT), which was established in 2001 to provide professional training and economic opportunities to unemployed young women from rural communities. The hotel serves as the college's living classroom, where students gain practical experience in a real luxury hospitality environment. Women-focused hotel: Both the hotel and SACT are led by Executive Director Tebello Polisane-Casper, who began her own hospitality career as a student waiter before rising to lead
both institutions. Under her guidance, students train alongside hospitality professionals while working with paying guests, giving them hands-on experience that many aspiring hospitality workers never have access to. The academy has trained well over 1,000 women in hospitality services. Why you should stay: A stay at Drostdy Hotel does more than deliver five-star comfort. Every check-in helps support an educational model that creates genuine career pathways for young rural women. It is luxury travel with a tangible social impact, set against the striking landscapes and heritage architecture of the Karoo region. For more information www.drostdy.co.za/sact-college
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Dunia Camp Nearest ATCL destination: Serengeti National Park Need-to-know: Located in the heart of the Serengeti and operated by Asilia Africa, Dunia Camp is widely recognised as one of Tanzania's pioneering women-led safari properties. The intimate camp places guests close to some of East Africa's most spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities. Women-focused hotel: Dunia made history as Africa’s first safari camp operated entirely by women. Under the leadership of local hospitality professionals, the camp challenges long-held assumptions about gender roles in the safari industry while creating opportunities for women to build careers in tourism. Why you should stay: You'll enjoy exceptional wildlife encounters while supporting a groundbreaking initiative that has become a symbol of female empowerment in African tourism. Located near the scenic Moru Kopjes, the camp offers exceptional year-round big cat sightings, black rhino tracking, and front-row seats to the Great Migration as herds pass through the corridor twice a year. For more information www.asiliaafrica.com/camps-lodges/ dunia-camp airtanzania.co.tz / 49
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Ol Gaboli Lodge Nearest ATCL destination: Nairobi Need-to-know: Set on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River in Laikipia, Ol Gaboli Lodge is the only all-female, all-Maasai owned lodge in the region. The boutique safari property offers access to some of Kenya’s most rewarding wildlife areas. Women-focused hotel: The lodge is operated by the Ol Gaboli Women's Group and is notable for being an all-female, Maasai-owned safari camp. Local women play a central role in ownership, management and the guest experience, ensuring tourism benefits flow directly back into the surrounding community. Why you should stay: The five private bandas at Ol Gaboli Lodge wind around the Ewaso Nyiro and provide direct views of elephants crossing at dawn, giraffes, and drinking wildlife. Your soundtrack is bird calls and the accompanied by constant birdwatching and the gentle flow of water.
Maisha Nungwi Boutique Hotel Nearest ATCL destination: Zanzibar
For more information www.olgaboli.com Need to know: Tucked away on the quieter northern coast of Nungwi, close to the village lighthouse and a short stroll from the beach, Maisha Nungwi Boutique Hotel offers a relaxed retreat surrounded by tropical gardens. Guests can make use of two swimming pools, a hot tub, wellness treatments and the hotel's popular Maisha Beach Seafood & Cocktails restaurant, known for fresh seafood, sunset views and occasional live music. Women-focused hotel: Maisha is much more than a boutique hotel. Since being taken over in 2022 by friends and lawyers Paula, Julia and Tania, it has operated as a women-led hospitality and community project. Guided by values of kindness, honesty and respect, the trio have built a business that prioritises sustainable tourism, invests in staff development and creates opportunities for guests to connect with local culture through village experiences and collaborations with local artisans. Why you should stay: For travellers seeking a more authentic side of Zanzibar, Maisha offers the best of both worlds: a stylish boutique stay and a genuine connection to the community around it. Whether you're unwinding by the pool, enjoying freshly caught seafood at sunset or joining a local cultural experience, every part of the stay reflects the founders’ commitment to meaningful, responsible travel. For more information www.maishanungwi.com/about
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Photograph Tanzania
CAPTURING KIZIMKAZI Landmark initiative Photograph Tanzania spotlights the value of the country’s creative talent in photographers’ love letter to Zanzibar hidden gem. Image: Kelvin Shangali
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Image: Wolfgun Eliuter
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Image: Fabian Senga
Image: Rashid Kindamba Image: Patricia Hokororo
hey say a picture is worth a thousand words. A recent photography auction showed it can also be worth 1.8 billion Tanzanian shillings (US$680,000). The event, held at the Kwanza Resort in Kizimkazi, Zanzibar, showcased the work of 13 East African photographers before an audience of more than 200 guests, including Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The photographers were shortlisted from 269 applicants from across Tanzania as part of the Photograph Tanzania initiative organised by boutique African creative and media agency WABA (We Are Better Africans). The photographs exhibited were all taken during a WABA-organised trip to Kizimkazi, where the participants were accompanied and mentored by award-winning Tanzanian photographer Daniel Msirikale, helping them capture the very best of the destination. The initiative was founded on the belief that Tanzanian creatives have a vital role to play in raising the profile of the country's diverse tourism attractions. Kizimkazi, located on the southern tip of Zanzibar's main island of Unguja, is an emerging tourism destination known for its dolphin pods, dramatic coral cliffs, crystal-clear cave pools and tranquil beaches. These natural treasures were captured in striking fashion through the lenses of the participating photographers, with each artist's strongest image selected for exhibition by Msirikale and WABA's Baraka Chale.
President Samia Kizimkazi also holds special significance as the birthplace of President Samia. She supported the Photograph Tanzania initiative as guest of honour at the auction of the selected works. Her favourite image, a photograph of dolphins, a sight she grew up admiring, sparked an intense bidding war among guests who hoped to present it to her for display in one of her presidential offices. The photograph eventually sold for 1.8 billion Tanzanian shillings. Several other works were also purchased, bringing the auction's total sales to 3.465 billion Tanzanian shillings (US$1.3 million). The result demonstrated, exactly as WABA had intended, how the talent of local creatives can be successfully marketed, celebrated and rewarded. Twiga is privileged to share some of the shortlisted photographs from the competition. We're sure you'll agree they were worth every shilling.
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/ Photograph Tanzania
Image: George Alphonce
Image: Emmanuel Mrema
Shortlisted photographers: 1. George Alphonce 2. Ifaadat Toufiq 3. Patricia Hokororo 4. Johnson Makamba 5. Rashid Kindamba 6. Fabian Senga 7. William Kihwele 8. Hamed Salum 9. Getrude Malizeni 10. Wolfgun Eliuter 11. Kelvin Shangali 12. Jackson Mayan 13. Emmanuel Mrema Photographers interested in participating in the next Tanzania Photography event can apply online at waba-events.wibook.co.tz
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Ngoteya Wild
SENTINELS OF ENGARUKA: adapting together Award-winning wildlife and conservation production house Ngoteya Wild reveal the story behind its latest documentary charting how the Maasai – and Masai giraffes – are adapting to climate change in the arid Engaruka valley in northern Tanzania.
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ngaruka valley is not only beautiful. It is also full of history. Long ago, it was home to one of East Africa’s earliest farming communities. The ruins found here show how skilled these people were – building irrigation systems that brought water to their crops in a dry landscape. Today, Engaruka remains important. It is a home for endangered Masai giraffes and for the Maasai people, who have lived in balance with nature for generations through traditional livestock herding. Now, as the effects of climate change grow stronger, life in Tanzania’s Engaruka Valley is changing again. Both the people and the animals that call this place home are having to adapt. Located in northern Tanzania, the Engaruka Valley is a key part of migration routes that support biodiversity from Lake Natron to the Ngorongoro ecosystem. It is home to the Masai giraffe, Tanzania’s national animal, and an indicator
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species whose health reflects the broader condition of the environment. Once abundant, giraffe populations have declined sharply across Africa due to habitat fragmentation, climate stress, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Meanwhile, the Maasai people have lived and grazed their livestock in the Engaruka Valley for generations. At the heart of these ancestral lands sits Ol Doinyo Lengai, the active volcano known to the Maasai as the ‘Mountain of God’. Their way of life is deeply connected to this landscape, but they too are facing growing uncertainty.
Parched landscape Periods of drought and the spread of invasive plant species are making healthy pasture harder to find, and traditional livelihoods more difficult to sustain. Just like the giraffes, the Maasai must adapt. What makes Engaruka unique is its long history
The number of Masai giraffe in the region has declined sharply
of coexistence. Maasai herders understand the cycles and rhythms of this land, just as giraffes mirror its health. Today, as pressure builds from drought, overgrazing, and development, the role of communities as conservation allies has never been more important.
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At the heart of the valley’s conservation story is Maria, a young Maasai woman and one of nearly 60 community rangeland monitors supported by African People & Wildlife (APW). Armed with both traditional knowledge and scientific training, Maria stands as a modern sentinel, advocating for sustainable rangeland management and monitoring the health of ecosystems that livestock, giraffes, and other wildlife rely on. Through the lens of Sentinels of Engaruka, a 30-minute documentary film, viewers are taken on a powerful journey into a landscape rich with ecological and cultural significance. The film explores how ancient pastoralist practices are evolving to meet today’s environmental challenges. We meet elders who share wisdom of the past, and young leaders like Maria who embody a hopeful future. Sentinels of Engaruka is a call to recognise the deep interconnection between wildlife and people, and to support community-driven solutions
that ensure both can thrive. Just like the giraffes gracefully navigating the valley, the people of Engaruka are adapting, protecting, and leading the way forward. It is a story that reminds us: when people and nature walk the same path, both can rise.
At the heart of these ancestral lands sits Ol Doinyo Lengai, the active volcano known to the Maasai as the ‘Mountain of God’.
Watch the Story Come to Life Explore the full documentary Sentinels of Engaruka and witness a powerful story of resilience, coexistence, and conservation in northern Tanzania. Scan the QR code to begin watching.
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Sound and vision
Faysal’s blog
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MUSIC REVIEWS
There is a sentence almost every Tanzanian child grows up hearing: “Soma kwa bidii, upate maisha mazuri.” Study hard and build a good life. Our parents mean well. For generations, education has been the most reliable path to opportunity. A degree, a profession and a stable career are understandably what many parents dream of for their children, and not just in Tanzania, but all over Africa. But I have often wondered: what happens when a child’s greatest gift is not academic? Think of Novatus Miroshi or Haji Mnoga. Like many Tanzanian boys, they grew up loving and playing football. What began as a passion eventually became a profession. Both are in their early 20s and are already established in the Tanzanian national team. Their talent has taken them beyond Tanzania. Novatus now plays for Göztepe in Turkey's Super Lig, while Haji plays for Belgian club Patro Eisden Maasmechelen. The same can be said for musicians, artists, programmers and entrepreneurs who discovered their strengths early and were encouraged to develop them. Their stories make me think about the children we meet every day. The one who can spend hours drawing. The boy who is always singing. The girl who understands computers better than anyone in the house. The child who cooks exceptionally well, writes beautifully, or can turn a football field into a stage. Too often, we call these things ‘hobbies’ and wait for the ‘real career’ to begin. I am not a parent yet, but as a Tanzanian I have grown up watching how strongly we value education. And I understand why. Education gives us knowledge, discipline and perspective. But perhaps talent gives us something equally important: direction. I think we should encourage our children to study, while also paying attention to what comes naturally to them. Not every passion will become a profession, and not every child who loves playing football will play for the Taifa Stars. But talent, when nurtured with discipline, education and opportunity, can open doors that a classroom alone may not. Perhaps our role as a society is not to decide what success should look like for every child, but to give them enough room to discover it for themselves. Because the child who spends hours kicking a ball, drawing, singing, building things or writing stories may simply be playing today. But what if they are also showing us who they could become tomorrow?
FILM REVIEWS
Blogger and content creator Faysal Alao – the founder of Arusha-based tour company All Day In Africa – shares his take on life in Tanzania.
BOOK REVIEWS
What if your child’s talent is their education?
Mark Edwards rounds up the latest releases to stream, screen and read
MIMI MARS 17
Marianne Namshali, better known as Mimi Mars, became the first Tanzanian woman to release an EP with Shuga in 2018. Eight years later, she finally delivers her debut album. The award-winning actress and media personality has spent much of the intervening period building a successful television career, but music remains central to her story. On 17, the sister of Tanzanian recording artist Vanessa Mdee showcases her versatility across r'n'b, afro-pop, afrobeats and bongo flava, exploring themes of love, heartbreak and healing with confidence and style.
BEFORE LOVE Director Adam Leo
The latest romantic drama from Dar es Salaam-based filmmaker and actor Adam Leo, who also likes to be known as the ‘Drama Lord’, continues the director’s exploration of love, betrayal, and family conflict that has defined many of his feature-length films. In Before Love, a groomto-be unexpectedly comes face to face with his former partner on the eve of his wedding, setting off a chain of events that threatens to unravel the future he thought he had secured. Will the past destroy his chance at happiness? Watch Before Love and discover more Tanzanian films for free on the Adam Leo TV YouTube channel.
PILLAGING THE DEAD Degol Hailu
Ethiopian author Hailu announces himself as a bold new voice in African fiction with this darkly comic debut novel, a sharp political satire set in an unnamed African nation. The story follows Tarik, a university student who ekes out a living as a street hawker, selling banned books and political cartoons. After a brutal police raid leaves him beaten and disillusioned, he is drawn into the world of political activism, embarking on a dangerous journey that will test his convictions and place him in the regime’s crosshairs.
Arts column
TYLA A*Pop
The South African singer, recently seen sharing a stage with Shakira at the FIFA World Cup Final halftime show in the US, appears poised for global stardom. APop*, the 24-year-old's second album, arrives alongside a world tour and features the recent transatlantic hits 'Chanel', 'She Did It Again' with Zara Larsson, and 'Is It Love'. Across 14 tracks, collaborations with Babalwa M, MaWhoo and Liquideep add texture, but the real attraction is Tyla's versatile voice: languid and liquid on the ballads, yet equally compelling as she coolly rides the shape-shifting afrobeats grooves of songs such as ‘Kiss’.
PEEK Director Florence Mwendapole
Florence Mwendapole’s directorial debut may only last seven minutes, but this creepy cautionary tale is sure to linger in viewers’ minds long after the credits roll. Featuring a single on-screen performer, Diana Gadson, and a story told entirely through text messages, Peek follows a woman’s late-night exchanges with an unknown admirer whose attention soon takes a sinister turn. Atmospheric and unsettling, the film explores the darker side of our digital lives, exposing the ways technology can compromise privacy and blur the boundaries between connection and intrusion. See for yourself and stream. Take a peek at Peek for free here: https://youtu.be/AzrUw52WV3A?si=QLg9-RfYtLZwTocD
TALES OF EAST AFRICA Illustrated by Jamilla Okubu (Chosen by A Novel Idea – a Tanzanian bookshop with branches in Dar es Salaam and Arusha @anovelidea_tanzania)
This collection of 22 traditional tales from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania reveals a world of magical adventure – a place where a boy spares the life of a fearsome monster, a flock of doves brings a girl back from the dead, and a hare wreaks havoc on the animal kingdom. Each tale is accompanied by gorgeous illustrations by Kenyan-American artist Jamilla Okubu.
Lilian Hipolyte is the executive director of Dar es Salaam creative community Nafasi Arts Space. In her latest column she reveals the roots that inform even the most experimental of modern art forms.
The beat that remembers: how tradition fuels Tanzania’s creative scene now Long before a single track goes viral, a drum has already carried the same message. In Dar es Salaam’s backstreets, singeli producers repeat ngoma rhythms until they blend into something almost wild; 200 beats a minute, shouted verses, a sound now filling clubs from Dar to Berlin. It sounds like the future. It is, in fact, an old conversation, sped up. Walk into a gallery, and the same argument plays out in colour. Tingatinga painting began in the 1960s with bicycle paint on scrap Masonite. It was a self-taught artist’s resourceful answer to having no formal materials at all. Its bold outlines and impossible, joyful animals became a school others could learn and extend, much the way Makonde spirit carvings were later reimagined in flat, brilliant enamel. What looks today like a distinctly Tanzanian visual language was never fixed – it was built to be added to. This is the quiet thesis running under Tanzania's creative surge: what reads as “new” is often inherited. Bongo Flava still carries Taarab's storytelling instinct, its love of double meaning, its habit of using a love song to say something about power. Tingatinga’s descendants still carry its instinct to make the everyday feel larger than life. What's changed isn’t the source material, but the confidence around it. A generation of musicians and painters no longer treats tradition as something to escape in a bid to appear contemporary. Increasingly, it’s the opposite: the more specifically rooted the work, the more distinctly it travels. That's the creative strength worth naming: not talent alone, but a fluency in moving between registers, ancestral and algorithmic, ceremonial and streamable, without losing the thread. Tanzania's artists aren’t choosing between heritage and relevance. They were never in competition.
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Tanzania's birdlife
Why Tanzania’s
BIRDLIFE deserves centre stage
Tanzania is renowned for its rich wildlife. Yet while the country's lions, elephants and wildebeest often steal the spotlight, its 1,100 bird species are frequently overlooked. Tanzanian tour company AFROMAXX makes the case for swapping a traditional safari for a feather-filled adventure.
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hen people think of Tanzania, they imagine elephants crossing the savanna, lions resting under acacia trees, or the mighty silhouette of Mount Kilimanjaro. But above these landscapes exists another world entirely – one filled with movement, colour, and song. With more than 1,100 recorded bird species, Tanzania is one of Africa’s richest birding destinations. Yet the true beauty of birdwatching here is not only about rare species; it is about discovering how different landscapes create completely different bird worlds. Instead of focusing solely on famous parks, we invite you to explore Tanzania through three remarkable habitats: the dense forests, the open grasslands, and the wetlands. Each landscape has its own atmosphere, its own rhythm, and its own unique birds.
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Tanzania's birdlife
The open grasslands
The forest world Tanzania’s forests are alive with sound long before sunrise. Hidden among ancient trees and green canopies, birds move like shadows through filtered morning light. One of the most impressive forest residents is the silvery-cheeked hornbill. With its large, curved bill, powerful wings, and deep echoing call, it is often heard before it is seen. Watching a hornbill glide through the forest canopy feels almost prehistoric. Another characteristic forest bird is the nubian woodpecker, regularly found in Tanzania’s woodland and riverine forests. Its rhythmic tapping is part of the soundtrack of the bush itself. Also commonly found in Tanzania’s forest habitats are the crowned hornbill, the African Grey Woodpecker, the green-backed honeybird, and the narina trogon. Forests are places of patience and quiet observation. Every movement in the leaves may reveal something extraordinary.
In Tanzania’s savannas and dry grasslands, the sky belongs to the raptors. Warm air currents carry some of Africa’s most majestic birds high above the plains. Among the most iconic is the martial eagle – powerful, sharp-eyed, and unmistakably regal. Equally impressive is the bateleur, famous for its striking colours and dramatic flight style. Tanzania is also one of East Africa’s important strongholds for vultures – birds that play a vital role in the ecosystem. Regularly seen are the white-backed vulture, the lappet-faced vulture, the rüppell's vulture, and the steppe eagle. Watching these birds circle silently above the endless plains is one of the most unforgettable sights of the African wilderness.
The wetlands Where water gathers, Tanzania transforms into a paradise for wetland birds. Lakeshores, floodplains, and marshes become vibrant ecosystems full of movement and colour. One of the most elegant wetland residents is the African jacana, often seen walking delicately across floating vegetation with impossibly long toes. Among the most striking waterbirds regularly found in Tanzania are the purple swamphen, the black-winged stilt, the saddle-billed stork, the yellow-billed stork, and the African spoonbill. Especially during the early morning hours, wetlands come alive with reflections, calls, and soft movement – a dream for photographers and nature lovers alike.
More than birdwatching Birdwatching in Tanzania is not simply about identifying species; it is about understanding landscapes, slowing down, and experiencing nature differently. From the deep-green forests to the endless grasslands and shimmering wetlands, every habitat tells its own story. And every bird becomes part of that narrative. Perhaps this is the true magic of Tanzania’s birdlife: it reminds us that the wilderness is not only found on the ground – sometimes, the most beautiful safari happens in the sky.
AFROMAXX Tours Tanzania has been showcasing East Africa’s wildlife – big and small – to clients for the past two decades. To find out more or to book your next tour, visit www.afromaxx.co.tz or @afromaxxtours on Instagram.
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Seychelles
Harriet James meets the Seychellois grandmothers keeping Creole traditions alive on the islands.
THE GRANDMOTHERS preserving Seychelles’ living heritage
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ood smoke curled through the open-air kitchen as Miriam Benjamin stirred a pot of chicken curry simmering gently in coconut milk. Around her, fresh herbs, grated coconut and cinnamon leaves lay neatly arranged on the wooden table while curious visitors eagerly waited for their next instruction. After spending 42 years working in Seychelles' hospitality industry, Miriam could easily have chosen a quiet retirement. Instead, every
Tuesday and Thursday she can be found at craft village Domaine de Val des Prés in Au Cap, teaching visitors the traditional art of Creole cooking as one of the Living Heritage members behind cultural experience Grandma's Savoir-Faire. “I still enjoy keeping busy,” she said with a warm smile. “I can still do housekeeping work, I can help if needed, and I also enjoy crafts like these. Every Tuesday we meet together, prepare different meals and learn new recipes.” airtanzania.co.tz / 65
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“The best part is seeing the smile on people's faces when they eat the food.” As she carefully stirred another traditional dish over the fire, she explained how many of the recipes visitors learn today were once ordinary family meals prepared every week. Some dishes have changed with time, while others have almost disappeared altogether. Sea turtle, once commonly eaten in Seychelles, is no longer prepared because of conservation laws. Breadfruit that was traditionally roasted over open fires is increasingly cooked in modern ovens as apartment living replaces family compounds with outdoor kitchens. “It is different now,” she said. “Life has changed.” Miriam and Florence are among a group of senior citizens who make up the Living Heritage Programme under the Seychelles National Heritage Resource Council (SNHRC), sharing traditional skills that risk disappearing as lifestyles evolve.
Living heritage
Miriam retired in 2017 after a career that spanned more than four decades across several hotels. The transition was not easy, but she is proud that the knowledge she gained over the years is now being passed on to visitors to Seychelles. A few metres away, another grandmother stirred a different pot over the open fire. Seventy-seven-yearold Florence Labiche has spent most of her life cooking for her family. Now she cooks for visitors from around the world. She still remembers a time when cooking was simply part of everyday life.
Traditional roles “We didn't have much choice,” she said with a laugh. “The women stayed home, looked after the children and did all the cooking while the men went to work.” Cooking, she says, is something she has always loved.
Original art and furniture at the Domaine de Val des Prés
The women stayed home, looked after the children and did all the cooking while the men went to work
According to the council's executive director, Benjamine Rose, Grandma's Savoir-Faire was created to ensure that Seychelles’ living heritage is not confined to museums but experienced through the people who continue to practice it. "Tourists have a choice of spending half or full day at the Domaine, where we then have grandmothers come over and offer them a variety of activities, where they get the chance to watch, learn and also take part in the activities and get a real feel of the Creole life,” Benjamine said. Held every Tuesday and Thursday, the programme combines traditional cooking, handicrafts, music, dance and storytelling, allowing visitors to experience Creole culture through participation rather than observation. For the council, the programme serves another important purpose.
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“The best part is seeing the smile on people's faces when they eat the food.”
Rather than allowing older people to become isolated after retirement, it keeps them socially active while recognising the value in passing on traditions that today risk being lost. After lunch, Miriam led me to a table neatly stacked with strips of dried coconut leaves. With the patience of a seasoned teacher, she demonstrated how to fold, twist and weave each strip into a traditional kapatya – a basket once commonly used by Seychellois families to carry
fruits and vegetables from the forest. My first attempts were clumsy, drawing plenty of laughter from both Miriam and the other grandmothers, but she gently corrected my mistakes, guiding my hands until the basket slowly began to take shape. “You're getting there,” she encouraged with a smile.
Unique souvenir By the time I tucked in the final weave, I felt a quiet sense of
Coconut chicken curry and rice Seychelles style
accomplishment. Instead of buying a souvenir, I took home the basket I had woven under Miriam’s guidance. It was a lasting reminder of the island’s rich Creole traditions and the people keeping them alive. I finished off the experience by taking a guided tour of Domaine de Val des Prés. The restored plantation house offers a glimpse into Seychelles' past, with preserved Creole furnishings, traditional kitchens and household tools such as the kapatya and lavann still on display. Walking through the estate provides valuable context for the traditions the grandmothers continue to share today.
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Mumbai
THE MUMBAI
most people miss Actress and travel vlogger Shenaz Treasury reveals the attractions that rarely make the tourism guides yet reveal the unfiltered charm of her home city.
Sassoon Dock at sunrise “Not cute. Not polished. It smells of fish, there are cats everywhere, and women sellers screaming their prices above the chaos while fishing boats come in laden with the day’s catch. It is a full sensory overload and I love it.”
Khotachiwadi “A heritage village with little Portuguese-style lanes that is hidden way in the coastal neighbourhood of Girgaon and close to Marine Drive. It is a place that feels like old Bombay froze in time. Most people living in Mumbai don’t even know it exists.”
Banganga Tank An historic water tank located in the Malabar Hill area featuring steps, surrounding shrines, and sacred water. “One minute Mumbai is screaming, next minute you’re here hearing temple bells and pigeons and old uncles sitting quietly by the water. It feels like time travel.”
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Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum Mumbai’s oldest museum is dedicated to the history, art and culture, of the city. It is situated in the vicinity of the Byculla Zoo, in the suburb of Byculla East. “Underrated. Beautiful. Quiet. Artsy. Once you’ve explored the museum, take a walk around old Byculla after because that whole area has so much texture and history.”
“I think every foreigner should take one Mumbai local train during nonpeak hours because THAT is the real city.”
Worli Koliwada “This is an old fishing village in the middle of modern Mumbai. Tiny lanes, drying fish, sea breeze, graffiti, old homes. It feels raw and real.”
To keep up with the Shenaz’s globe-trotting adventures visit here Instagram page @shenaztreasury
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My Tanzania
Section My Tanzania Head
MY TANZANIA:
AYETA ANNE WANGUSA
The Ugandan author and activist now lives in Dar es Salaam, where she leads the creative think tank Culture and Development East Africa (CDEA) as executive director. In conversation with Jal Patel, she shares what she loves about life on the Indian Ocean coast, her passion for the city’s vibrant arts scene, and her insider tip on where to find the best lipstick.
Q:
Where is home for you? A: Home is with my husband in Dar, but it is also in Kampala with my siblings. Q: What is your earliest memory of Dar es Salaam? A: The Indian Ocean! I was visiting for the first time from Kampala in 2000, and we walked to the beach from the Southern Sun Hotel near
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the Botanical Gardens. What I noticed as we watched the cars drive past was that there were so many four-wheel drives. At that time, I thought one needed a four-wheel drive to get around Dar because of the state of the roads. Q: What was your first job here? A: My first job in Dar was as a Governance Advisor for SNV
Netherlands Development Organisation, where I advised staff and local capacity-building organisations on how to use media in the Public Accountability of Tanzania (PATA) programme. Q: Where would you suggest for a first date? Mediterraneo Hotel Dar es Salaam. It’s romantic, with a lovely sea view
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and fine dining, and I love the rustic ambience.
Andy Soloman / Shutterstock.com
Q: How would you describe the personality of a typical Dar es Salaam resident? This is an interesting question because Dar is so diverse. It could be Mbezi, Manzese or Sinza… but generally, I would say polite and friendly. They never say no directly; they will say, “I will try to do something.” Q: What is your transport of choice in the city and why? I drive around town; however, when I know there will be parking issues, I use my driver. When I have to exert my mind before a meeting, I also use my driver. I want to keep calm without having to think while behind the wheel, as navigating traffic in Dar is quite challenging. Q: Classy restaurant meal or picnic on the beach? Classy restaurant. Q: Which shops do you regularly visit? Shopper Supermarket, and lipstick shops at Mlimani City – I love my lipstick! I also love Kitenge outfits, so I often shop at Neideas in Mikocheni.
Q: What’s the best meal you’ve had here? I love the kingfish at Samaki Samaki at Mlimani City. I always pick this when I’m eating there. Q: Favourite hotel? I will pick Holiday Inn in the CBD simply because their chef is out of this world! Whenever I do lunch there – usually during a conference – my taste buds are always very pleased. Q: If you could change anything about the city, what would it be? I think all roads should have pavements. In addition, all gutters on the sides of the roads should be covered so there is room for pedestrians to walk. I also feel that Dar should have more public art. The city walls are too clean, and its artists are hidden away in art centres. Q: What is your favourite building in the city? St. Joseph’s Cathedral is spectacular. Whenever I use the ferry to and from Zanzibar, the glimpse of the cathedral from the ferry catches my breath. It brings warmth to my heart.
Q: What are you up to right now for work? Right now, I am the Executive Director of Culture and Development East Africa (CDEA), a creative think tank based in Dar. Most recently we organised the second edition of Mashariki Creative Economy Expo 2026. It is East Africa’s intellectual property (IP) marketplace, connecting creators, buyers, investors and institutions to transform creativity into tradable and investable intellectual property. Through CDEA’s Creative Economy Incubator and Accelerator Initiative, we are committed to making creatives become bankable through their IP. Q: Who is your biggest Tanzanian inspiration? My biggest inspiration is all the organisational leaders of arts and cultural organisations who hold their organisations afloat against the rough economic tide. They make me feel connected to the cause of making the world appreciate that creative people are a blessing to humanity, and that their dreams and lives matter. We shouldn’t give up on making that change happen. Q: Can you let us into a secret about Dar es Salaam? While there is no public art screaming from the city walls, you will find brilliant artists expressing themselves in art spaces such as Eco Sanaa Terrace at CDEA, Muda Corner, Nafasi Arts Space and Ajabu Ajabu. Q: What do you miss most about Tanzania when you are away? The peaceful streets, the calm demeanour of the people, the sound of Kiswahili floating in the air…
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Air Tanzania travel app
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 airtanzania.co.tz / 75
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.
For Booking & Enquiries: +255 748 773 900 www.airtanzania.co.tz
departing, it is 1 Before important to check the
in online, if possi3 Check ble. If travelling with hand
To prevent sickness from 5 ruining your first flight on
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.
luggage alone, you can check in online and print or download your boarding pass which you must take with you directly to security checks.
a plane, we advise you to take natural remedies, such as, for example, ginger tablets or gum to chew.
at the airport in 2 Arrive advance (at least two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights).
your mobile to flight 4 Set 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!
Enjoy the view! By 6 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. Try to take a nap. Sleeping on the plane will make time pass faster and you will arrive at your destination calm and rested.
7
especially during 8 Lastly, 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.
carrier Air Tanzania is justifiably proud of its revamped six-strong fleet. AIR TANZANIA FLEET National Here we take a close-up look at our aircraft with technical data and specifications.
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)
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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)
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
Flying between TANZANIA - TANZANIA AFRICA - INDIA/CHINA/DUBAI AFRICA - AFRICA
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
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)
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
Free allowance
23 kg 2Pc @ 23 kg 2Pc @ 23 kg
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.
BUSINESS
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
ECONOMY
FREE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
Free allowance
30 kg 3Pc @ 23 kg 3Pc @ 23 kg
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.
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Air Tanzania destinations
DISCOVER
Domestic and international routes Musoma Mwanza
Seronera Arusha
Kilimanjaro
Shinyanga Tabora
Kigoma
Pemba Zanzibar Dodoma
Mpanda
SENEGAL
Dar es Salaam Iringa Sumbawanga Mbeya
Songea
Mtwara
Active routes Upcoming routes
For Booking & Enquiries: +255 748 773 900 | www.airtanzania.co.tz
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Dakar
RUSSIA
Moscow UK
London
CHINA UAE
Dubai OMAN
Guangzhou
Muscat
Mumbai
INDIA
Bangkok NIGERIA
SOUTH SUDAN
Lagos
Juba
GHANA
SOMALIA
UGANDA Entebbe
Accra DRC
THAILAND
Kinshasa
DRC Goma RWANDA Kigali BURUNDI
Bujumbura
Mogadishu KENYA
Nairobi Mombasa TANZANIA
DRC
Lubumbashi ZAMBIA Ndola Lusaka Victoria Falls
Seychelles
Dar es Salaam
MALAWI
Lilongwe Lilong Blantyre Bla
Comoros MAYOTTE Dzaoudzi
Active routes Upcoming routes
ZIMBABWE
Harare
MOZAMBIQUE
SOUTH AFRICA
Maputo
Johannesb Johannesburg Cape Town
International customers call: +255 748 773 900
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Air Tanzania contacts
WHERE TO CONTACT US CONTACT CENTRE ATC House, Ohio Street, Dar es Salaam Email: info@airtanzania.co.tz
E-COMMERCE ATC House, Ohio Street, Dar es Salaam Email: tce-commerce@airtanzania.co.tz
+255 748 773 900 +255 22 2117500 International customers: +255 748 773 900
@AirTanzania
@airtanzania
DAR ES SALAAM (HQ)
IRINGA
ATC House, Ohio Street PO Box 543 Office (JNIA) Tel: +255 222 117 500 Email: darairport.station@airtanzania.co.tz
Asas House, Dodoma Road, opp. TCC. Email: Iringa.station@airtanzania.co.tz Mob: +255 753 574 986
ARUSHA
ZANZIBAR
MBEYA Mbeya Mjini Email: godfrey.Samanyi@airtanzania.co.tz Mob: 0714 800 080 / 0737 800 090
COMOROS Immeuble MATELEC Moroni, Grande Comores Email: com’airgsaatc@gmail.com Tel: +269 3312570 / +269 3322058
BUKOBA Jamhuri Road, NSSF Building Email: airtanzaniasalesbukoba@gmail.com Tel: 0767351336 / 0735351336
KILIMANJARO KIA Email: arusha.station@airtanzania.co.tz Mob: +255 735 787 249
DODOMA Hatibu Road, Tofiki Street, CDTF Building Tel: + 255 262 322 272 / 0735 787 241 (mobile) 0683 776 744 (mobile) Email: dodoma.station@airtanzania.co.tz
ZAMBIA Barnetts Building, Shop 3, Hailie Selasie Avenue, Longacres, Lusaka. Mob: +260 956 610 250 Email: support.lusaka@airtanzania.co.tz
001 Midas, Sahar Plaza Complex, near Chakala Metro Station, Andheri – Kurla Road, Andheri East, Mumbai 400 059. Email: res.bom@airtanzaniaindia.com Tel: 022 49790108 / 49790109 / 49710208
JOHANNESBURG Unit 9, Fountain View, Constantia Office Park, Vlakhaas Avenue, Constantia Kloof, 1709 Email: info@airtanzaniasa.co.za Landline: +271 00258871 After Hours: +277 22050343
NAIROBI International House Limited, Mama Ngina Street, Nairobi, 3rd Floor, House No.36 CTO Reservations: +254 702 247000 Airport Reservations: +254 753 121077 Operations : +254704197197 Sales: +254 704 197197 Email: Kenya.reservations@airtanzania.co.tz Sales email: Kenya.sales@airtanzania.co.tz
KAMPALA
CHINA
Entebbe International Airport, Room no 095. Email: uganda.station@airtanzania.co.tz Email: bbesalestc@airtanzania.co.tz Tel: +256 716 680 250
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LAGOS
LUBUMBASHI Avenue Lomani N 548, Laurent Desire Kabila Moulacom building. Mob: +243 830 538 008/9 Email: ops.fbm@airtanzania.co.tz/sales.fbm@ airtanzania.co.tz/marketing.fbm@airtanzania.co.tz
SONGEA
Lumumba Road, opp. Mambo Leo Pharmacy Email: kigoma.station@airtanzania.co.tz Mob: +255 742 580 580
Travelex Aviation, Accra International Airport, near Airport Post Office Tel: +233 25 610 7013 / 25 610 7014 Email: Ghana.station@airtanzania.co.tz
INDIA
LED House, 6 Fereday Drive, Eastlea, Harare Email: hresalestc@airtanzania.co.tz Email: hreairportsales@airtanzania.co.tz Tel: +263 242 778833 Mob: +263 785 898 479 Mob: +263 772 900 046 Mob: +263 719 898 481
ENTEBBE
KIGOMA
GHANA
ZIMBABWE
Email: tabora.station@airtanzania.co.tz African Benedict Office Hanga- opposite TRA Songea Email: songea.station@airtanzania.co.tz Mob: +255 712 796 421
Air Tanzania ATCL
Postal Building, Kijangwani Email: zanzibar.station@airtanzania.co.tz Mob: +255 785 452 585
TABORA
Tel: +255 735 787 239 / +255 28 2501059 Email: mwanza.station@airtanzania.co.tz
airtanzania_atcl
3 Aviation Plaza Floor 3, Kodesoh Street, Mobolaji Bank, Anthony Way, opp. Lasuth Ikeja Tel: +234 201 279 9011 Mob: +234 916 001 0264/ +253 682 679 270 Email: mohammed.ngamonya@airtanzania.co.tz
Park Royal Mall, Room 208, Buganda Road. Email: uganda.station@airtanzania.co.tz Email: bbesalestc@airtanzania.co.tz Tel: +256 414 289 474 Tel: +256 393 517 145
MWANZA
www.airtanzania.co.tz
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AIR TANZANIA CONTACTS
Old Moshi Road, NSSF Mafao House Email: arusha.station@airtanzania.co.tz Tel: + 255 272 520 177 / +255 739 787 500
For the latest flights, information and to book online, visit:
BURUNDI Bujumbura - Mairie, Rohero, 1, Chaussee Prince Louis Rwagasore, House No. 57 Email: burundi.station@airtanzania.co.tz Tel: +257 628 703 55
Rm1323 Tower A Yaozhong Plaza, No. 3-15 Linhexi Rd. Guangzhou Tel: +86 20 38550084 Email: service.can@airtanzania.cn
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Dubai Ticketing Office: 1908A Business Central Towers, 19th Floor, Room No. 1908A, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 (0) 4 433 5952 Mob: +971 52 692 7533 Email: dxb.reservations@airtanzania.co.tz Dubai - Cargo Office: 202 Arcade Building, Al Garhoud, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 (0) 4 2394 757 Mob: +971 52 180 7500 Email: uaecargosales@airtanzania.co.tz / uaecargoops@airtanzania.co.tz
Issue 31
YO U R F R E E A I R TA N Z A N I A M AGA ZINE
T R AV E L / TA ST E / TALEN T
Engaruka Adapting to climate change in arid stretch of Great Rift Valley
Twiga A I R TA N Z A N I A Issue 31
Screen saviours Zanzibar's iconic Majestic Cinema is returning
10 YEARS OF TRANSFORMATION The stories that shaped a decade