|
Cultural tourism is a relatively new term, as once it was assumed that part of any reason for travelling would be to absorb and enjoy the cultural heritage of the area visited; however, while safaris and wildlife are certainly part of the cultural experience of Africa, it increasingly requires a little extra effort to enjoy quality time with the people for whom this landscape is home.
Those seeking cultural heritage should know that it is not a simple matter, as the authenticity of the experience can be compromised by the very act of visiting. We tend to shrink from cultural tourism that seems to turn people into exhibits, but there are a number of opportunities to spend time with local people, either exploring their land with a local guide, or taking time to visit their tourism initiatives, which often work to support a traditional lifestyle.
The inevitability of encroaching modern life has meant that in some cases, it is actually worth visiting the tourism initiative rather than trying to integrate, especially with people culturally removed from the modern world around them, such as the San Bushmen of the Kalahari or the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers around Lake Eyasi in Tanzania, whose authentic lifestyle is severely threatened by interaction with modernity.
If you would like to make an extra effort to see more of the local community it is always possible to work out, with options depending on the region that you are visiting.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Best Cultural Interaction
Makgadikgadi Pans
Greater Mara
Ngorongoro Highlands
Tanzania Mainland Coast
Stone Town, Zanzibar
Gentle Culture Catching Maasai Walks Swahili Islands Sultans Palaces & Stone Town Wandering Local Markets |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
