Tanzania gained independence in 1964 and although very similar to Kenya has not benefited from the same growth and opularity. However, in real terms Tanzania’s highlights equal if not surpass Kenya’s. These include the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Kilimanjaro, all within striking distance of Nairobi.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Area: 945,166 sq. km (13th in Africa)
Capital: Dodoma displaced Dar es Salaam as the official capital
Largest towns: Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Tanga, Arusha, Mbeya, Zanzibar, and Iringa
Population: 37 million
Official language: KiSwahili and English
Currency: Tanzanian Shilling
Head of state: President Benjamin Mkapa
Life expectancy: 45 years
Literacy: 78%
Per Capita Income: US$120

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Zanzibar. Serengeti National Park. Ngorongoro Crater. Mt Kilimanjaro.

MAIN INCOME

Tourism. Agriculture.

MAJOR CULTURES

European. Bantu. Asian.

RELIGIONS

Christian, ZCC and Muslim.

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

Country is dominated by a vast, dry and thinly populated plateau which rises to an altitude of between 1000m and 1500m to the West of the moister and hotter coastal belt, and is bisected by the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley. Africa’s highest (Kilimanjaro – 5985m) and fifth highest (Meru – 4565m) mountains. Also within Tanzania are portions of Africa’s three largest bodies of water – Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Malawi. Rainy season between November and April – also the hottest time of
the year. At the coast and northern Tanzania the rains are split into short rains (November and December) and long rains (March to May).

HISTORY

Came under German rule in the scramble for Africa – Tanganyika.
Zanzibar became the capital of the Sultan of Oman – used for slave trading.
At the end of WW1 it came under British mandate.
1961 – attained full independence under TANU with Lucas Nyerere at the helm.
Zanzibar gained full independence in 1963.
1964 – Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to form Tanzania.
Nyerere succeeded after retirement by Ali Hassan Mwinyi under
which Tanzania moved away from socialism.
First multi-party election in 1995 won by the CCM
(former TANU) under Benjamin Mkapa.

CRIME AND SAFETY

Pretty safe country. Dangerous in big towns like Dar.

MONEY

Possible but difficult to get money off cc from bank – not advisable.
Banking – 08:30 to 12:30on weekdays, and 08:30 to 11:30 on Sat.
Some forex open till 15:00/16:00.

POST AND TELEPHONE

Post is cheap and relatively reliable. International phone service is bad