ALTERNATIVE AND RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Double period structured travels
Travel structure
- First periodin Kigwe (Kisedet action area)
- Second periodfree tourism with Kisedet assistance on demand.
The aim of this project is to encourage knowledge, by giving the opportunity to stay for a while in an African savannah village.
The second purpose of this project is to finance further projects and to create a group of friends that will continue to support our projects after their trip.
FIRST PERIOD
Kisedet offers a different tourism, which is why we define it alternative and responsible. Who will come to see us will spend a week with the savannah people and nature in the village of Kigwe, where we have a very welcoming guest house.
You will visit the Kisedet projects – those already finishes and those still in progress, in Kigwe and in the neighbouring villages. After this period we propose trips to the seaside (Zanzibar, Kilwa, Bagamoyo etcetera), safaris in the parks, and many other itineraries in beautiful Tanzania (see the proposals in the section SECOND PERIOD)
Indicative programme and first period costs
First day
Everybody will reach the international airport of Dar es Salaam by themselves. We suggest calling a taxi from the airport desk and joining the CEFA, an Italian NGO guest house (the transfer will cost about 18.000 Tanzanian shillings). We suggest bringing Euros, and change the value in Dar es Salaam, even at the airport. If you prefer getting your entry visa in Tanzania, we suggest you pay for it in USD (50$). Likewise, it is better to pay for safari parks in USD. Dinner and overnight stay at CEFA.
Second day
After breakfast you will call a taxi to the Scandinavia bus company terminal, where you‘ll catch the bus for Dodoma, already paid and reserved. Packed lunch in the bus. Arrival in the afternoon in Dodoma. Transfer to the hotel and welcome greetings. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Third day
Breakfast and departure to Kigwe by car. Accommodation at the Kisedet guest house and meeting with the Association. Free time.
Fourth to seventh day
In those four days we will do the following activities, to plan in detail day by day in African style:
- visit to Kisedet projects;
- tracking in the Chigongwe forest;
- meeting with women, youngsters, real daily African life;
- sunset from the hill
- visit to a village part of the Kisedet’s projects and meeting with local inhabitants
- short lessons about traditional local instruments: ngoma (drum), Korimba (sort of xilofono), zeze (stringed instrument), etc….
- short demonstration about realisation of batik and other local hand crafts products
- lunch or dinner at the village
- dancing evening with musical folk group
- free time.
Eighth day
Breakfast and goodbye greetings to Kisedet and departure to Dodoma by car. Visit after lunch to the Shukurani orphanage. Dinner and overnight stay in an hotel.
General conditions:
- Inscription from 4 to 6 persons. The inscription has to be done all together at the Gruppo Tanzania address. The travel confirmation has to be done at least 30 days before the date of departure by sending a € 100,00 deposit not refundable. (In case the trip is cancelled this amount will be used for Kisedet projects)
- The cost is € 330,00 and it includes:- dinner and overnight stay at CEFA (Dar es Salaam) in room with bathroom (1 night);- transfer by bus to Dodoma;
- transfer from Dodoma’s bus station to the hotel;
- dinner and overnight stay in Dodoma, room with bathroom (2 nights);
- transfer from Dodoma’s hotel to Kigwe;
- Meals and overnight stay in Kigwe at the Kisedet’s guest house, common bathroom (5 nights);
- car with driver/guide during the Kigwe’s stay;
- transfer from Kigwe to Dodoma’s hotel;
- transfer to Dodoma’s hotel from the bus station;
- donation to Kisedet’s projects € 50,00;
- mineral water at meals;
- The fee doesn’t include:- transfer from and to the Dar es salaam airport;- taxi;
- tips and extra drinks;
- bus ticket from Dodoma to Dar es Salaam;
- assistance on demand at the arrival at the Dar es Salaam airport and guide to Dodoma (by bus): € 15,00 per person;
- The final payment has to be given in Dodoma by cash.
Something to know about travels in Tanzania
- It is advisable to stipulate an all-inclusive private insurance before the departure.
- Ask your doctor for the prophylactic vaccination. Yellow fever vaccination is compulsory, in particular for tourists going to Zanzibar.Remind that there’s no medicine that can protect 100% against malaria. So the best protection consists on avoiding mosquito bites using mosquito repellent and insect screen during the night (always settled in your room)
- You can change in Tanzanian banks your Euros into Schillings. Take some dollars for the safari park entrance and if you are going to visit Zanzibar island.Credit cards are accepted only in few expensive places. Traveller’s cheques do not have favourable change, but they are accepted in almost all Dodoma’s banks.
- It’s advisable to read a guide before travelling. We suggest “The rough guide” ed. A. Vallardi.
Something to know about travels in Tanzania
Road conditions
In Tanzania there are lot of unpaved roads, so even a few kilometres drive can take a lot of time. E.g. Dodoma-Kigwe 30Km is 1 hour. Even the surfaced roads, in case of rain become not perfectly practicable.
Relationship with local people, pictures
Greetings are very important, and greetings in Swahili language are very appreciated. It is very important to shake hands, if hands are too dirty it is possible to offer the wrist.
Always ask for authorization before taking pictures to the local people. The Masai tribe can ask for tips. If possible buy a Polaroid, to give them one of the picture you have taken. That will make them really happy.
Clothing
Don’t forget to bring with you a sweatshirt or a pullover. Don’t put in the luggage a lot of clothes: in case of need you can buy something here at a very cheap prize. Women can use shorts just in the beach, it is advisable to use long skirts or trousers. In that way you will avoid natives’ contempt and you will attract less swindler. Unfortunately, tourists’ ignorance and loss of respect for natives’ traditions seems to be increasing, especially in Zanzibar, which is becoming an high density tourism site. Don’t forget that spending a lot of money for the vacation doesn’t allows to ignore feelings and traditions of the native inhabitants.
Food and drinks
You will find food almost everywhere, so don’t be afraid to die of hunger! Rice and ugali (made with corn flour) are the basic ingredients used in this country. They eat rice and ugali with chicken, beef and vegetables, spinach, legumes and fish. Then you can taste the national dish, called chipsi mayai (chips and eggs) that is similar to Spanish tortilla with fried potatoes instead of boiled potatoes. The luxurious dish is nyama choma (barbecue) that is served in specialised pub, accompanied with beer and music.
SECOND PERIOD
Services and costs for 2008
It is easier to make a programme once the hosts are already here, unless they already know what to do and where to go. Here are some possible itineraries and their related indicative costs.
Reservation of simple service for maximum 6-persons groups.
On demand Kisedet offers the following services:
| KIND OF SERVICE | PRICE PER DAY |
| A1. GUIDE (SPEAKING ENGLISH AND\OR FRENCH) | 35 EUROS |
| A2. CAR + DRIVER RENT | 130 EUROS |
| A3. CAR + DRIVER + GUIDE | 150 EUROS |
A2 and A3 are intended oil excluded
Itineraries’ proposals and indicative costs:
The following itineraries are only some of the solutions which can be chosen.
On demand we can prepare a personalized programme, by including other places, extending the period, putting together different proposals, etc. The programme of the second period can be modified also during the first period in Dodoma.
PROPOSAL NUMBER 1: SAFARI RUAHA PARK 5 DAYS
FIRST DAY: Departure in the morning from Dodoma with a private car, a guide and a driver. Lunch in a village during the way. Visit to the mission in Migoli. In the afternoon arrival in Tosa Maganga (4 kilometres far from Iringa), overnight stay and dinner at CUAMM (Italian NGO dealing with medical projects in the area)
SECOND DAY: Departure early in the morning, packed lunch and entry in the park early in the afternoon, beginning of the safari. Overnight stay and dinner in the “Msembe bandas” inside the park.
THIRD DAY: Visit of the park and lunch at the lodge. Early in the afternoon back to Tosa Maganga, dinner and overnight stay at CUAMM.
FOURTH DAY: Visit of the historical mission of Tosa Maganga and trip to Iringa. Lunch, dinner and overnight stay in Iringa in a hotel.
FIFTH DAY: Back to Dar es Salaam by coach from Iringa, packed lunch, dinner and overnight stay at CEFA in Dar es Salaam.
FEES:
FEE PER PERSON: 140 euros + amount to be paid in common
This includes: meals, overnight stays, entrance to the park, coach ticket to Dar, drinking water.
COMMON FEE: 1,170 Euros (to be divided per the number of travellers)
This includes: car rental, driver and guide and their ticket for the park, oil, costs for their back to Dodoma
NOT INCLUDED: guides, extra drinks, taxi.
MSEMBE BANDAS:
The park runs different “bandas” made of plate of 3 to 5 places, rather basic but placed in a very attractive site along the river Ruaha, where meeting animals is very easy.
The management provides bedsheets, blankets, and firewood. There is also a kitchen, an area for lunch, shared toilets and showers. No food is accorded, meals have to be prepared by the guests. The alternative is a lodge, which is much more expensive (100-150 dollars per day)
PROPOSAL NUMBER 2: SAFARI PARKS IN THE NORTH. TARANGIRE, ROCK PAINTINGS, NGORONGORO, AND ARUSHA, 6 DAYS (FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARKS AND THE KOLO SITES, SEE THE GUIDE)
FIRST DAY: Departure in the morning from Dodoma with a private car, guide and driver. Lunch in Kondoa, in the afternoon visit to the rock paintings in Kolo, dinner and overnight stay in the mission of Kondoa.
SECOND DAY: Departure early in the morning, entry in Tarangire park, lunch in a lodge inside the park. Late in the afternoon end of the visit, dinner and overnight stay in a guest house in the village of Mto wa Mbu.
THIRD DAY: In the morning, “walk among the giraffes” by the lake Manyara, lunch and dinner with local dishes in a house of the village of Mto wa Mbu. In the afternoon meeting with various ethnic groups in the village. Overnight stay in the guest house in Mto wa Mbu.
FOURTH DAY: Departure early in the morning, entry in the Ngorongoro park, packed lunch in the park. In the afternoon end of the visit, dinner and overnight stay in a hotel in Arusha.
FIFTH DAY: Visit of the park in Arusha, packed lunch. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel in Moshi.
SIXTH DAY: Back to Dar es Salaam by coach from Moshi, packed lunch, dinner and overnight stay at Cefa in Dar es Salaam.
FEES:
FEE PER PERSON: 200 euros + amount to be paid in common. This includes: meals, overnight stays, entrances to the parks, ticket for the rock paintings, coach ticket to Dar, drinking water.
COMMON FEE: 1,450 euros (to be divided per the number of travellers). This includes: car rental, driver and guide and their ticket for the park, oil, costs for their back to Dodoma.
NOT INCLUDED: guides, extra drinks, taxi.
PROPOSAL NUMBER 3: BY TRAIN DODOMA – KIGOMA (TANGANYKA LAKE) AND BACL BY PLANE – 6 DAYS
Very interesting and suggestive trip by train throughout Tanzania, though advisable to adventurous travellers inclined to bear inconveniences and very long waits. The outward journey might in fact last from 26 to 30 hours, but indeed, it is worth doing. People travel in a sleep car (two beds – this corresponds to our first class) or in a 6 beds car (corresponding to our second class). It is better not to take into consideration the third class.
FIRST DAY: Departure in the morning (around 8) from the Dodoma rail station. Trains to Kigoma leave three times a week, and it is necessary to book at least one week earlier. Lunches and dinners during the several stops of the train or in the restaurant car.
SECOND DAY: Arrival in Kigoma in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel by the Tanganyka lake. It may be possible to have a bath in the lake.
THIRD DAY: In the morning trip in town with lunch, in the afternoon relax on the shore of the lake, dinner at the hotel.
FOURTH DAY: Trip to the historical centre of Ujiji and visit to the house-museum of Livingstone. Lunch of the shore of the fishermen. Afternoon in Kigoma, and dinner in a restaurant of the town. Public means of transportation (daladala) are used to move.
FIFTH DAY: Departure early in the morning to the Gombe Stream Park.. This is one of the smallest parks of Tanzania, but also one of the best, and even the most expensive. It is famous because it represents the last protected area where chimpanzees and other species of monkeys live. It is reachable only via lake and only walking safaris are allowed (for more information see the guide). In the afternoon back to Kigoma, dinner and overnight stay in the hotel.
SIXTH DAY: Departure by plane to Dar es Salaam. Dinner and overnight stay at Cefa.
FEES:
FEE PER PERSON: 340 euros per person plus amount to be paid in common. This includes: meals, overnight stays, ticket for the Gombe park, flight ticket to Dar, train ticket Dodoma. Kigoma, drinking water.
COMMON FEE: 550 euros (to be divided per the number of travellers). This includes: guide and his travel fees (train, park and flight ticket), costs for his back to Dodoma, guide in the park.
NOT INCLUDED: museum, extra drinks, taxi.
PROPOSASL NUMBER 4: HISTORICAL SITES ON THE COAST: BAGAMOYO AND KILWA WITH MIKUMI PARK
Visit to historically interesting sites of the coast, whose ruins represent a particularly wealthy period of the East African coasts, from the end of the IX century to the end of the XIX century. Besides the historical interest, travellers are attracted by the beautiful beaches of Bagamoyo and Kilwa Masoko. The national park of Mikumi is the fourth park of Tanzania for extension, very interesting for the wild life (for more information see the guide).
FIRST DAY: Departure in the morning from Dodoma to Mikumi by car. Lunch in Morogoro, in the afternoon visit to the reptile house in Mikumi. Dinner and overnight stay in a guest house in the village of Mikumi.
SECOND DAY: Visit to the national park of Mikumi, with packed lunch. In the afternoon departure for Bagamoyo. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel in Bagamoyo.
THIRD DAY: Visit to the museum, to the slave market, to the old catholic mission. In the afternoon, visit to the Kaole ruins and meeting with local artists. Dinner and overnight stay in the hotel.
FOURTH DAY: Departure early in the morning for Kilwa, by passing through Dar, packed lunch, dinner and overnight stay in a guest house in Kilwa Masoko.
FIFTH DAY: Relax on the shore, lunch and dinner at the restaurant by the sea, overnight in a guest house
SIXTH DAY: Trip by a motor boat, and visit to the ruins on the islands of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara. Packed lunch, dinner at the restaurant by the sea and overnight stay in a guest house.
SEVENTH DAY: Departure in the morning for Dar, with a brief visit to the ruins of Kilwas Kivinje, packed lunch. Dinner and overnight stay at CEFA.
FEES:
FEE PER PERSON: 155 euros per person plus amount to be paid in common. This includes: meals, overnight stays, ticket for the Mikuni park, ticket for the reptile house, tickets for the ruins and museums, drinking water.
COMMON FEE: 1,630 euros (to be divided per the number of travellers). This includes: car rental, driver and guide and their park ticket, oil, motor boat rental, costs for the car’s back to Dodoma, guide in the park and for the ruins.
NOT INCLUDED: extra drinks.
PROPOSAL NUMBER 5: LET’S VISIT TANZANIA TOGETHER.
As already mentioned in the presentation, we propose an initiative called “Let’s visit Tanzania together”, where the guests, after their first period in Kigwe, may sponsor and accompany a group of children of their choice, or a group of students, or a group of women or workers, for short trips, for example to see a park or to the seaside (we are about 500 kilometres far from the coast).
In this case the programme is made during the stay in Kigwe, together with the guests willing to sustain this initiative.
Just as an indication, the costs for an itinerary of 4 days (for example Bagamoyo) for a group of 20 people may be of 900 euros, included food, accommodation, bus rental, oil and a lump-sum for the guides, the park tickets et etcetera.
Among other possible itineraries we suggest (for more information and for the cost you can contact us):
- Naturalist itinerary 6 days: Trekking and visit to the natural park Uzungwa
- Northern coast and Mikumi park itinerary 7 days: Bagamoyo and Mounts Usambara- Pangani
- Ruaha Park – Malawi Lake itinerary 9 days: Visit to the Ruaha Park, to a Cefa project in Njombe and swimming in the Malawi Lake.
