5H3DX-Tanzania

Chas, NK8O will be active again as 5H3DX from Tanzania on June 18-30, 2024.
He will operate on the 30 – 10m band, CW, PSK31, FT8 and possibly SSB.
Nearest DX Point 5H3DX
5H3DX Log Searchsearch QSL via home phone, LOTW, ClubLog.
Direct QSL advertising:
CHARLES W POWELL, 201 North 13th Street, Lewisburg, Kansas 66053-3520, USA.
His QTH will be the Zinga QTH Locator KI93ii.

Tanzania: A mysterious African country

Tanzania is a unique country in southeastern Africa with vast protected areas. The rich animal resources make the country ideal for hunting – in the national parks you can track wild animals. Tourists are lucky enough to see the Big Five of Africa: lions, elephants, cheetahs, rhinos and buffaloes.

But Tanzania is more than just a savannah adventure. It also has the famous stratovolcano Mount Kilimanjaro, the largest freshwater body on the African continent, the long beach on Zanzibar Island, and the primitive life of the local tribes. All of this makes the country full of unique charm.

History of Tanzania

The indigenous peoples who inhabited the land of Tanzania were the Bushmen and Hottentots, who were later joined by the Kushites and Bantu. Zanzibar soon became a base for Arab, Persian and Indian traders. The Swahili ethnic group was formed at this time. They exported precious ivory, gold and slaves from Africa. Textiles and food were brought from other countries.

In the 16th century, Portuguese ships arrived on the coast of Tanganyika and began to occupy the ports. However, their rule did not last long, and a century later, the Arabs re-established their rule. Zanzibar soon became a major center of the slave trade, which led to a significant decline in the local population. Chiefs, and even strangers living at the crossroads of trade routes, collaborated with the slave traders and provided them with food. Gradually, they became rich, gained influence, and upset the social balance. During this period, the embryonic state was born, and power was shared by the paramount chiefs.

But in the 19th century, European traders and missionaries began to arrive and tried to impose conditions on the chiefs. For example, the British banned the Sultan of Zanzibar from trading in slaves.

Colonial period

In 1885, German Karl Peters successfully negotiated protectorate agreements with several tribal leaders, handing over their lands to German rule. A few years later, he signed an agreement with the Sultan of Zanzibar to lease the entire coast of Tanganyika for 50 years. Soon, the British claimed ownership of the land in Zanzibar. In 1891, the Germans established a colony in East Africa.

The colonists cultivated coffee, cotton, sisal and rubber plantations and laid railroads to connect to the port. By the early 20th century, the number of German settlers exceeded 5,000.

Africans rose up against the colonizers, but were brutally suppressed and the local population was almost wiped out. After World War I, Tanzania became a British colony.

liberation

In 1961, Tanganyika was liberated from colonial rule, and two years later the Sultanate of Zanzibar gained independence. In 1964, the Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar (Tanzania) was established. The government was socialist, and public facilities were built by voluntary locals. Students refused to do military service, which led to the failure of the uprising. Collective farms began to appear in villages, and banks, foreign plantations and trade organizations were nationalized. Democracy was not established until 1995.

Zanzibar Islands

Zanzibar is the main island of the eponymous archipelago off the east coast. The archipelago consists of 74 islands washed by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. This former Muslim sultanate, located at the crossroads of maritime trade routes, now attracts tourists with its picturesque beaches and landscapes. There are excellent opportunities for diving, snorkeling, kitesurfing. The transparency of the coastal waters is impressive.

The capital of Stone Town was founded by Arab traders in the 9th century – its winding streets are lined with colorful Arab bazaars, spice shops, mosques, courtyards and ancient forts. Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the world-famous rock band Queen, was born here and spent his childhood here. His house is located in the old town. Today, the building houses a hotel decorated with photos of the singer.

Visitors can also visit the Giant Turtle Island, tour the abandoned prison or Mangapwani “Slave Caves”, and see the ruins of an ancient palace.

Lake Natron

There are many places on Earth where extreme habitats look very fascinating. This small lake is named after the mineral natron. It is covered with a layer of salt that periodically changes color from pink to red. This effect is created by microorganisms that live there. This is the nesting place of more than 1.5 million flamingos. 70% of the global population of this species is born in this area.

Due to the high concentration of salt in the water, animals and birds that accidentally fall into the lake will die and become mummies. Surprisingly, the waters of the Dead Lake are also the habitat of the local endemic fish – the alkaline tilapia.

Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro is the world’s largest deep volcanic crater, with a huge basin. Its depth is over 900 meters. Millions of years ago, hot lava flows washed away the evergreen forests. In the center of the crater formed the alkaline Lake Magadi, which is always full of birds, including pink flamingos.

The reserve has a high density of animals per square kilometer, with a variety of species. Depending on the season, this number increases to 2 million. Extreme tourists come to the park to watch lions and cheetahs hunt.

Tanzania’s last hunters

On the west shore of Lake Eyasi, the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes live a primitive life. The original inhabitants of the Hadzabe tribe used to be nomadic, living by hunting and gathering natural resources. They have honed their wilderness survival skills over a long period of time, practicing archery and training dogs for hunting. The Datoga tribe is animal husbandry and agriculture.

The tribes far away from civilization have preserved their way of life and traditions. They use friction to make fire and cook the prey with fire to treat guests kindly. Here you can fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of primitive African life.

National Park

Serengeti brought The Lion King to life and is the filming location for National Geographic and Animal Planet shows. The reserve is home to thousands of wild animals. Elephants, leopards and cheetahs, giraffes, lions, jackals and hyenas, antelopes and buffaloes live across the vast expanse of land. At certain times, it hosts a spectacular natural spectacle – the migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra antelopes.

Lake Manyara Reserve is where male lions rest in the branches of acacia trees. They don’t usually climb trees, leopards do. Here you can see pelicans, storks, pink flamingos. Ernest Hemingway considered the reserve the most beautiful on the African continent.

Tanzanian cuisine

It may seem strange at first, but European recipes are popular in the coastal areas of the country: grilled chicken or fish, spicy pies, pepper steak, chicken and plantain soup, boiled vegetables, mandazi doughnuts and pudding. This is a result of European colonization. In contrast, African, Arab and Persian culinary traditions are prevalent in Zanzibar.

Visitors who like exotic dishes can try antelope, crocodile or elephant fillets. They are usually served with various banana salads. By the way, Tanzania grows 17 varieties of bananas, which can be used to make soups, stews and chips. The menu may also include fried warthogs, roasted ostriches or octopus cooked in coconut milk. A popular dish is thick ugali porridge made from corn and nyama choma, grilled goat meat. In Zanzibar, you can try shrimp fried with lemon and charcoal-grilled lobster.

Locals love tea, which they drink all day long. Freshly ground coffee, fresh tropical fruit and sugar cane juice are often sold on the streets in small porcelain cups. Banana beer, palm wine made from fermented bamboo sap and vodka made from papaya “konjac” are also popular.

Tanzanian meals are usually eaten on low tables or floor mats. Side dishes such as ugali are served in communal bowls and eaten with the right hand, without cutlery.

5H3DX. Where is Tanzania located. Map.