A History of Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania lies in East Africa, bordered by the Indian Ocean on its eastern side. Tanzania's major city is Dar es Salaam, though the official capital is Dodoma. The name Tanzania results from the combination of the names of two states, Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

History

Tanzania is the site of the earliest human existence, with scientists placing humanity's origin in the Great Rift Valley. Fossils in the area date back two million years. Tanzania's linguistic and cultural diversity stems from many migrations to the area over thousands of years. Many Tanzanians remain strongly aware of their cultural origins and ethnic history, with over 100 ethnic groups peacefully co-existing. The East African coast has drawn merchants and travelers from western India and the Persian Gulf since the beginning of the first millennium AD.

People

In 2006, the population of Tanzania was 38,329,000. Most Tanzanians have Bantu origins, though groups of Nilotic people also live in the country, including the nomadic Masai. Some citizens are of Indian, Arab and Pakistani origin, and there are small Chinese and European communities.

Geography

Africa's tallest peak, the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro, rises in the mountainous northeast portion of the country. The largest lake in Africa, Lake Victoria, and its deepest lake, Lake Tanganyika, attract visitors to the country's north and west regions, respectively. At the southern end of Lake Tanganyika is Kalambo Falls, one of the highest waterfalls on the continent. A large plateau makes up the central part of the country, while the east coast features a hot and humid climate with mangrove swamps important to both land and water wildlife. Zanzibar, lying offshore, attracts visitors to its sandy beaches.

Wildlife

Tanzania offers some of the best wildlife shows and safari experiences in the world. Its outstanding wildlife parks include Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater in the northern part of the country. Visitors to the south can explore the Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park.

Serengeti National Park hosts the world's largest wildlife spectacle, the annual wildebeest migration. Ngorongoro Crater boasts the "big five" safari animals: rhinoceros, lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo. Many travelers come to the park to catch a glimpse of rare black rhinos. An estimated 25,000 animals live within the walls of the crater.

The Selous Game Reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 in recognition of its undisturbed nature and diversity of wildlife. The park contains larger numbers of hippopotami, elephants, African wild dogs, crocodiles and cape buffalo than any other reserve in Africa.

Mikumi National Park borders the Selous Game Reserve. Mikumi resembles the Serengeti in terms of landscape and boasts giraffes, zebras, elephants, eland, gnu, black antelope, baboons, buffaloes and wildebeest. Two artificial pools hosting hippos lie about three miles north of the park.

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