Tanzania

Wildlife, beaches, friendly people, fascinating cultures, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Mt Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar Archipelago – Tanzania has all these and more wrapped up in one adventurous, welcoming package.

Fast Facts About Tanzania

• Population: 45,481,000
• Capital: Dar es Salaam (administrative); 2,683,000—Dodoma (legislative); 155,000
• Area: 945,087 square kilometers (364,900 square miles)
• Language: Kiswahili, Kiungujo, English, Arabic, many local languages
• Religion: Christian, Muslim, indigenous beliefs
• Currency: Tanzanian shilling
• Life Expectancy: 45
• GDP per Capita: U.S. $600
• Literacy Percent: 78

1. Tanzania has the most expensive hardwood tree in the world; the Mpingo trees, also known as the African Blackwood trees.
2.  The earliest human skull in the world was discovered in Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania
3. With more than 4 million wild animals in its periphery, Tanzania has the largest concentration of animals per square kilometer, in the world.
4. And talking about wild, 30% of country’s area is occupied with National Parks, with 12 parks, 13 nature reserves, and 38 protected areas.
5. The highest free standing mountain in the world, Mt. Kilimanjaro, is located in Tanzania. It is also the highest mountain in Africa.
6. Countries share food, flora and fauna, and several other things. But have you heard of any country that shares its national anthem? Tanzania does. With South Africa and Zimbabwe.
7. In the Zanzibar archipelago of Tanzania, one can find the largest crab in the world; the coconut crab. Said to be the most delicious as well. Attention all sea food fanatic!
8. The Ruaha National Park is the home to largest population of wild elephants in all of Eastern Africa.
9. Tanzania also houses the world’s largest volcanic crater, Ngorongoro, with a diameter of 19kms and is 600m deep.
10. Remember Freddie Mercury? Who doesn’t?! The lead vocalist of the English band ‘Queen’ is a Tanzanian by birth and was born in the archipelago of Zanzibar, in Stone Town. And, by the way, his real name is Farrokh Bulsara! That’s something you probably must have known.
11. Tanzania has two capital cities. Dar es Salaam (the administrative capital) and Dodoma city (the legislative capital) where its parliament sits.
12. Have you ever seen a lion climbing trees? May be on television. Well, what you saw was a shot from the Lake Manyara National Park; the home to world’s only tree climbing lions.

Tanganyika, a British-controlled UN trust territory, gained independence in 1961; and Zanzibar, a British protectorate with an Arab population, became independent in 1963. Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to form Tanzania in 1964. Until resigning as president in 1985, independence leader Julius K. Nyerere guided two decades of socialism—adapted to the ujamaa policy of village farming. A multiparty system was established in 1992 after a constitutional amendment.

Some 80 percent of Tanzanians farm or fish at subsistence levels; in many areas tse-tse fly infestation hampers successful animal husbandry. Deteriorating roads and railways and high energy costs are major problems. The Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park are rich in wildlife, although poaching endangers some species. Tourism remains important. Dar es Salaam is the administrative capital, but Dodoma is the designated future capital and current home to Tanzania’s legislature.