Tanzania

NEED TO KNOW

GOOD TO KNOW

Books and Movies
Tanzanian favorite, Paradise, by Abdulrazak Gurnah, weaves together African and European themes in exploring the life of a boy who is sold into the service of a rich perfume merchant. Or you can skip the literature and head to the many picture books and National Geographic documentaries about Tanzania's prized possession: the plains of the Serengeti.

Cuisine
Tanzanian cuisine—much like that of the other East African plains states—consists of meat with potatoes, rice, matoke (mashed plantains), or ugali (maize meal). When lovingly prepared, the meat—usually beef, goat, or mutton—is stewed with potatoes and some vegetables, and spiced with clove and cardamom. Just like Kenya, the national culinary obsession is nyama choma, a delicious barbecued goat dish. In Zanzibar you will find Swahili dishes with seafood cooked in rich coconut. Most independent hotels serve local food while the chains tend to offer Western and other international food. The finest cuisine, melding African and European flavors, is found in exclusive safari camps. Because of the enduring British influence, coffee and tea are still much loved and of consistently high quality. The same cannot be said for the local beer, Safari Lager.

Good Buys
Skip the malls that have begun springing up and head to the markets for the best Africa has to offer. Here you can meet the locals and haggle for curios such as Singida baskets, Makonde carvings, ancient brass work, hand-carved chess sets and the newly chic large wooden bowls carved from a single piece of wood.

Money
Be sure to bring cash or travelers checks as only large hotel chains regularly accept credit cards. Often the smaller establishments that do accept cards assess a ridiculous ten percent surcharge.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS