With highlights like
Kilimanjaro, the
Serengeti, the
Ngorongoro Crater and
Zanzibar, Tanzania is definitely a country to be recognized both in terms of
wildlife and
beauty. For many, it’s the ultimate
safari destination, and with
national parks and
game reserves covering some 33,660 sq km (13,000 sq miles) or 28% of the country, Tanzania has more land devoted to wildlife than anywhere else in the world.
The
Serengeti National Park is a plain-dwellers’ stronghold of 14,763 sq km (5,678 sq miles), claimed
to be one of the best places to watch game in Africa. The
Selous Game Reserve is larger than Switzerland and covers one-sixth of Tanzania’s land surface.
Tanzania’s most famous attraction,
Mount Kilimanjaro, at 5,895m (19,341ft), is Africa’s highest mountain and the only free-standing mountain in the world that can simply be walked up.
The former capital city and major port
Dar es Salaam is within striking distance of
Zanzibar - a beautiful
island jewel in the Indian Ocean with a fascinating
spice and slaving legacy and palm-backed
beaches.
In addition to its beautiful landscape, Tanzania has approximately 120
ethnic groups and Tanzanians value their country’s
multicultural heritage. The tall red-robed
Masai are the best known of Tanzania’s peoples, inhabiting the northern regions of the country. Visits to their villages are often a highlight of safari itineraries.
Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia and the entire Tanzanian coast is home to the
Swahili people, a vibrant mix of Arab, Indian and Bantu origins. A predominantly Islamic region, old
mosques and
coral palaces scatter the area. Swahili culture centers on the
dhow, a wooden sailing boat powered by the seasonal wind.
The United Republic of Tanzania became
independent in 1961 and merged with Zanzibar in 1964. It has generally stood out as a stable democracy in a region that has witnessed too many vicious civil conflicts.
Whether you enjoy the
tranquility of the Swahili coast,
game watching in the magnificent parks or the
challenge of ascending Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania has it all.
GeographyThe United Republic of Tanzania lies on the east coast of Africa and is bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north; by Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west; by the Indian Ocean to the east; and by Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south. The Tanzanian mainland is divided into several clearly defined regions: the coastal plains, which vary in width from 16 to 64km (10 to 39 miles) and have lush, tropical vegetation; the Masai Steppe in the north, 213 to 1,067m (698 to 3,500ft) above sea level, which gives rise to two prominent mountains, Kilimanjaro, 5,895m (19,341ft) above sea level and Africa’s highest peak, and Mount Meru, 4,565m (14,973ft); and there’s a high plateau in the southern area towards Zambia and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi).
Savannah and bush cover over half the country, and semi-desert accounts for the remaining land area, with the exception of the coastal plains. Over 53,000 sq km (20,463 sq miles) is inland water, mostly lakes formed in the Rift Valley and Tanzania’s share of Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika, both on its western border. Lake Victoria covers 69,490 sq km (26,832 sq miles), which is Africa’s largest lake and 49% of it lies in Tanzania. With maximum depths of 1,470m (4,821ft), Lake Tanganyika is estimated to be the deepest lake in Africa and is 673km (420 miles) long and averages 50km (31 miles) across; 41% of its area lies in Tanzania. The United Republic of Tanzania includes the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, about 45km (28 miles) off the coast to the northeast of the country.
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