Destination Highlights
Tanzania is a country located in the eastern region of the African continent. Tanzania is a hub for epic safari experiences because of its diverse landscapes and a variety of flora and fauna. Tanzania has a variety of countries bordering it in different compass directions, Uganda to the northwest, Kenya northeast, Mozambique and Malawi in the south, Burundi, Rwanda, and DRC in the west, and Zambia to the southwest. Tanzania is at the coastline and borders the Indian Ocean to the east. Tanzania is Africa’s top tourist destination as it offers the best safari adventure experience like no other. The country also has impressive beaches that are coupled with national parks to give visitors the best package for any destination. Tanzania has over 22 well-equipped national parks with a variety of wildlife.
The country also bears the tallest mountain on the surface of the earth, Kilimanjaro Mountain. The skull of the first human beings to inhabit earth was found at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. The country is also home to several indigenous ethnic groups like the bush people, Masai, and others. The wildebeest migration is a world wonder that sees over 2 million wildebeests and other animals cross to Kenya in pursuit of the rains. This is the largest animal migration ever recorded and this breathtaking adventure is a must-see for many travelers and visitors. Tanzania has a lot in store for everyone starting from its history that shaped the people and culture, to the attractions and activities as well as its weather and climate. This and more we shall look at in detail below.
Brief history
Tanzania is a former British protectorate that was under the colonial rule of the British. Tanzania was formerly known as Tanganyika before it merged with Zanzibar. Tanganyika gained its sovereignty on the 9th of December 1961. After its independence, it joined the commonwealth of the British. The Commonwealth is a collection of the countries that were once British protectorates. The British kept in control of Tanganyika until 1962 when Tanganyika elected its independent executive government. The newly formed democratic republic of Tanganyika elected Julius Nyerere as the president.
Tanganyika later in the year 1964 merged with Zanzibar Island to form the United Republic of Tanzania. This was after the 1963 Zanzibar revolution that saw the overthrow of the Arab dynasty. President Nyerere of the United Republic of Tanzania drew attention to the masses of the new republic and the need to have a national identity. This has helped to keep a diverse country like Tanzania with over 130 ethnic languages safe and peaceful for years. Tanzania is one of the most politically stable countries in Africa. Their history of unity has helped to keep them on the right track of peace and security thus shaping their future. As you are aware peace and stability are important aspects for any country to develop its tourism sector. This peace has made Tanzania the lead safari destination not only in Africa but the entire world.
Why travel to this country?
People and culture of Tanzania
Tanzania is a diverse country with many people from different ethnic settings who live in harmony and unity together. The country has over 130 languages spoken by the different ethnic groups. The people of Tanzania are mainly Bantu-speaking people and the main tribes are the Sukuma, Chagga, and Haya. Swahili. These tribes mainly inhabit the mainland of Tanzania and there are a few Arabs scattered on the Island of Zanzibar. Swahili was adopted as the national language of Tanzania with English alongside it to emerge all its ethnic groups and have a clear and trajectory language. As her motto goes “freedom and unity”, Tanzania has embraced unity and freedom for quite a while compared to most of the African nations that even got independence earlier than her.
What to see and do in Tanzania
Tanzania is a tourism hub for not only Africa but the entire world with the most diverse landscapes and a variety of amazing flora and fauna. Tanzania offers a wide range of what to see and do for almost every nature and adventure enthusiast. Let us dive through what there is to see and do in Tanzania.
Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s major national park offering the most undisputed beauty. Serengeti is a savannah park located in the heart of Tanzania in the northwestern region of the country. It was established in 1951 with an area of about 14,763 square kilometers. It is located close to the border with Masai Mara National Reserve of Kenya. Serengeti is known for the annual massive wildebeest migration that sees over 2 million animals migrating from Masai Mara following the rains south. The park is equipped with several animals including the big 5, lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, rhinos, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, hyenas, and giraffes, to mention but a few. The park also has over 500 bird species making it a paradise for birders. Serengeti National Park is a dream go for any adventure and nature lover as it offers a full package of any safari experience.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area was established in 1959 as a popular wildlife and historical conservation area. The area is home to a variety of flora and fauna including the Big 5 animals, birds, and reptiles. The conservation area is located in the Ngorongoro district of Tanzania. It is a recognized UNESCO site with some of the historical artifacts like the skull of the first human inhabitants of the earth discovered here. The Ngorongoro crater is also another perfect place in the conservation area for spotting wildlife. This crater is an amazing ground for both predators and prey as it has abundant fresh pasture with a draining water source. This attracts a lot of grazers that flock to the crate to feed on the fresh pasture while being stalked by hungry dangerous predators like lions, hyenas, cheetahs, and leopards.
Olduvai Gorge
Olduvai Gorge is an important historical site for mankind as it is the site where the oldest human skull was discovered. It is believed that the Olduvai Gorge was the place where the first human beings inhabited earth. The discovered skull is believed to have been 1.75 million years old by the time it was discovered in 1959 by Leakey a renowned archeologist. The Cradle of Mankind as Olduvai Gorge is referred to is surely worth a visit.
What to know before to travelling
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro Mountain is Africa’s number one giant standing at approximately 5,895 meters tall is Africa’s tallest mountain. This huge giant is a dormant volcanic mountain with over three volcanic cones Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. The mountain is a perfect destination for nature walks, hiking, and climbing adventures. Kilimanjaro Mountain is the highest free-standing mountain in the world with the peak covered with snow. The sheer size of this giant mountain has attracted visitors from far and wide to come and witness its beauty.
Game drives
Game viewing is the main tourist activity in Tanzania and this is because of the availability of plenty of wildlife in the country. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park offer the best sites for any game drive. The country’s diverse landscapes like the Ngorongoro crater offer an ideal platform for safari.
Wildebeest Migration
The wildebeest migration is the major attraction in Tanzania’s safari arsenal. This migration is the largest animal migration in the world seeing over 2 million animals that range from wildebeests to zebras. The wildebeests make up the largest population of the migration. Wildebeests traveling in millions move north following the rains through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. This dangerous path attracts predators from all sides and thousands of these wildebeests lose their lives but more are born as they come to the end of the great migration. The great wildebeest migration is a world wonder as is the largest annual animal migration on earth.
Weather and Climate
The weather and climate in Tanzania vary a lot due to the different landscapes of the country. The country ranges from having broad savannah plains, and highland areas of Kilimanjaro to the coastal regions of Zanzibar. Tanzania receives a generally tropical climate in the savannah plains and grasslands with dry and wet seasons annually. The highland and central plateau areas have a temperate climate. Zanzibar and the other coastal areas record a more humid type of climate. However, the weather and climate of Tanzania tend to be unpredictable and hence perfect for any tourist activity at any given time.
The best time to visit
Tanzania is a free and open country to visitors all year round thus can be visited any time of the year and it receives two dry and wet seasons annually. However, due to the variations in weather and climate, each season presents different attractions and activities to engage in. Therefore, the best time to visit Tanzania depends on what the visitor is interested in.
Activities like the wildebeest migration usually take place during the month of December to July. This is usually the peak of the dry season in the country and thus the wildebeests move north following the rains to Masai Mara. Hikes and beach vacations also take place during the dry season in the months of January to March and June to October.