Tanzania, Country in East Africa
Description
This East African nation stretches from the Indian Ocean coast across savannas, plateaus, and mountain ranges toward the Great Lakes in the west. Tropical forests line the shoreline, while the central plateau sits around 1200 meters (3900 feet) and rises into volcanic highlands in the north.
History
German colonial administration began in 1885 and gave way to British mandate after World War I. Tanganyika became independent in 1961 under Julius Nyerere, merged with Zanzibar in 1964, and pursued socialist policies until 1985.
Culture
Coastal trading towns reveal layers of Swahili heritage in carved wooden doors, coral stone buildings, and open-air markets where vendors speak a language mixing African roots with Arabic vocabulary. Inland, family compounds cluster around shared courtyards, and pastoral groups move with herds according to seasonal rains.
Practical
Visa arrangements can be completed at international airports and main border crossings upon arrival. Wildlife viewing works best from June through October during dry months, while Dodoma functions as the capital and Dar es Salaam serves as the economic hub.
Did you know?
The Ngorongoro Crater forms a natural enclosure for animals within an extinct volcanic caldera surrounded by 600-meter (2000-foot) walls. Olduvai Gorge holds fossils of hominids dating back 1.8 million years and ranks among the key sites for studying human evolution.
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Tanzania provides photographers with an extraordinary range of subjects, from the Serengeti plains to Zanzibar's coastline and Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa at 19,341 feet (5,895 meters). The country contains major wildlife reserves including Tarangire, where elephant herds move...
Mount Kilimanjaro
421.3 km
Serengeti National Park
485.9 km
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
370.8 km
Lake Natron
457.9 km
Kilwa Kisiwani
490.7 km
Mount Meru
381.5 km
Mount Kibo
422.7 km
Mount Kilimanjaro climbing routes
421.4 km
Laetoli
395.7 km
Gombe National Park
712.5 km
Ol Doinyo Lengai
419.4 km
TAZARA Railway
455.7 kmJulius Nyerere Hydropower Station
268.5 km
Old Slave Market
378.8 km
Tarangire National Park
281.8 km
Selous Game Reserve
327.9 km
Kilimanjaro National Park
422.9 km
Lake Manyara National Park
336.7 km
Mikumi National Park
166.6 km
Ngorongoro Crater
373.4 km
Arusha National Park
382.5 km
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
401.4 km
Kalambo Falls
552.3 km
Ikulu
389.5 km
Furtwängler Glacier
421.8 km
Great Mosque of Kilwa
490.8 kmNyerere National Park
327.9 km
Saadani National Park
332.9 km
Mwanza Region
Shinyanga Region
Dar es Salaam Region
Mbeya Region
Kagera Region
Morogoro Region
Tabora Region
Dodoma Region
Kigoma Region
Tanga Region
Iringa Region
Kilimanjaro Region
Mara Region
Arusha Region
Mtwara Region
Rukwa Region
Ruvuma Region
Singida Region
Manyara Region
Pwani Region
Lindi Region
Zanzibar Urban/West
North Pemba
South Pemba
Unguja North Region
Unguja South Region
Shinyanga
Mtwara
Kigoma
Dar es Salaam
Mbeya
Tabora
Mount Kilimanjaro
Morogoro
Iringa
Lindi
Mwanza
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