The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro from Karanga Camp - photo by Derek Cunningham

Read More about Tanzania on GoNOMAD

The Road to Lalibela: Cycling Ethiopia’s Ancient Heartland

The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are like nothing else on earth. Most remarkable are not the ones carved into the volcanic rock, but those chiselled completely away from it, leaving all four sides visible.

By far the most impressive one found in this category is the Church of Bet Giyorgis. Crafted with such immaculate detail, I linger for hours peering down at this marvel of human creativity dumbfounded at why it’s not surrounded by a mass of tourists instead of just me and a diminutive boy chomping at a piece of sugarcane.

Riding out of Addis Ababa, the world’s third highest capital, I’m totally stoked. Completing this route a year earlier, my Canadian cycling mate Scotty Robinson has promised me 450 miles of verdant views, epic climbs, screaming descents and cheap smooth beer in a region of Africa with virtually no tourist footprint. Read more

Pangani, On Tanzania's Coast: Hard to get to But Worth Finding!

Most of the ever growing number of visitors to Tanzania make a point (or are persuaded to make a point) of stopping off in the 'spice island' of Zanzibar before their East African safari comes to an end but few thus far seem to have been lured to the tranquil beach setting of the mainland, just across the Indian Ocean.

Admittedly, it is not terribly accessible as tourist destinations go, but that is part of the fun and it is most certainly well worth the effort for those who, like myself, generally seek out serenity in a real hide-away of tropical beauty and peace, rather than the hustle and bustle of the noisy and expensive tourist resorts. If relaxation and a haven to pursue your passion ... be it reading, writing or just being! ... is what you are after, this is definitely the direction to head. Read more

Beans, Bananas and Bills: Learning and Living in Tanzania

I never imagined that spending three weeks at the end of the earth, or the village of Kayanga in the Kagera region of rural Tanzania, would be the best experience I've ever had in my life.

Masai women in their village

But it was.

Dirt roads. Limited electricity and water supply. No radio, television, movies, email, instant messaging, or cell phones. Beans, rice, potatoes and bananas twice a day every day.Read more

Read More GoNOMAD stories about Tanzania:

Tanzania: Adventures of a Volunteer in Bomang'ombe

Zanzibar: A Magical Blend of Arabia and Africa

Zanzibar Destination Guide