Tanzania
Tanzania is without question one of the world’s most exciting and popular destinations: bequeathed with a land of staggering natural beauty, variety and density of large mammals all complemented by the innate hospitality of its people. Home to an astonishing diversity and concentration of wildlife, from the world famous Serengeti National Park and stunning Mount Kilimanjaro, to the remote refuges of Katavi and Mahale, Tanzania’s national parks offer a variety of choice simply unequalled on planet earth.
The renowned Serengeti National Park and the incomprehensibly vast Selous Game Reserve collectively host an estimated 20 percent of Africa’s large mammal population. Tanzania has more land devoted to national parks and game reserves than any other country. Everything from pristine coral reefs to the Crater Highlands, remote game reserves and its famous national parks are protected by government edict and held in trust for generations yet to come.
With so many parks and possible itinerary combinations, safaris to Tanzania are generally divided into regional circuits, or groups of game parks whose geographical proximity and topographical variations make up a varied and diverse group. Some of these circuits are naturally more travelled than others. Tanzania’s northern circuit comprised of Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Tarangire attracts the most visitors. However its fame and popularity means other equally stunning but less well-known parks remain less traveled yet harbor unimaginable natural attractions whose beauty and secrets are known but to a select few. The southern circuit includes the massive Selous Game Reserve - Africa's largest game reserve by far. Selous is larger than the whole of Denmark! Although the northern circuit is the most famous, venturing off the beaten path invariably rewards the intrepid traveler with phenomenal scenery and amazing wildlife experiences.
Even though the western and eastern circuits are not yet fully developed as full itineraries, there is much in each region to warrant the discerning visitor’s attention. Of course, none of these circuits are complete itineraries in of themselves nor are they set in stone; rather, they are regional suggestions for travelers looking to explore diverse parts of Tanzania, or returning visitors seeking new discoveries.
Background: Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the early 1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania in 1964. Lying just south of the equator, Tanzania is East Africa's largest country, and an immensely rewarding place to visit. Tanzania has the world-famous attractions; the plains of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, snow¬capped Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa's highest mountain) and Zanzibar, with its idyllic palm-fringed beaches and historic Stone Town. Yet there's a whole lot more to Tanzania than these obvious highlights.
Economy - overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for more than 40% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work force. topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry traditionally featured the processing of agricultural products and light consumer goods. The World Bank, the IMF, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's out-of-date economic infrastructure and to alleviate poverty. Long-term growth through 2005 featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals led by gold. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment. Continued donor assistance and solid macroeconomic policies supported real GDP growth of nearly 7% in 2007.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $43.49 billion (2007 est.)
Almost everywhere you go you'll find interesting wildlife and inspiring landscapes (over forty percent of the country is protected in some form or other) ranging from forest-covered volcanic peaks to dusty savanna populated by elephants, antelopes, lions, leopards and cheetahs. Tanzania is one of the four most naturally diverse nations on earth: it contains Africa's second-largest number of bird species (around 1500), the continent's biggest mammal population and three-quarters of East Africa's plant species (over ten thousand). Add to this the country's rich ethnic diversity, some superb hiking and other activities like snorkeling and diving, and you have the makings of a holiday of a lifetime.
For all its natural diversity, Tanzania’s best asset is its people: friendly, welcoming, unassumingly proud and yet reserved - you'll be treated with uncommon warmth and courtesy wherever you go, and genuine friendships are easily made. The best known tribe air the Maasai, a pastoralist cattle heading, people who inhabit the region around the safari parks in the north, yet there are at least 127 other tribes in Tanzania, perhaps not as visually colorful as the red-robed, spear-carrying Maasai warriors, but with equally rich traditions, histories, customs, beliefs and music, much of which survive despite the ravages of colonialism, modernity arid Christianity.
Ethnic groups: mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African
Religions: mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages
Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety of sources including Arabic and English; it has become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of the local languages
