We traveled around Tanzania in August with friends who live in Arusha, camping most of the time. Below are a few of the photographs we took. The wildlife, terrain and people were both spectacular & hospitable. With the average Tanzanian making less than $1 per day, it is one of the poorest countries on the planet financially; but richer in many respects than the industrialized west. Their present government is by most accounts low on corruption and doing a good job for the citizenry. Unlike Kenya, Tanzania's military is neither omnipresent, nor a source of shakedowns. After independence from the British, Julius Nyereres in the 60's made efforts to steer Tanzania away from total reliance on an export economy (the European model in place) and towards more internal self reliance; with food crops based on individual farmers rather than large specialty farms geared towards export crops. Though still plaqued with World Bank and IMF debt (which in many respects are probably vestiges of colonial influence), it is more self reliant and does not have the massive landless rural proverty found with some of their more financially endowed neighbors. Visiting Tanzania was a privilege. Click images for enlargement! |
