Tanzania:

Tanzania is one of the unique destinations on the African continent that has yet to be discovered by many. It is a land of many wonders including an unparalleled diversity of fauna and flora. The scenery, landscape, and very friendly people make it the perfect destination for a beach holiday, historical and archaeological trip – and certainly the best wildlife photographic safaris on the continent.

Tanzania is home to some of the oldest human settlements unearthed by archaeologists, including fossils of early humans found in and around Olduvai Gorge in northern Tanzania, an area often referred to as "The Cradle of Mankind". These fossils include Paranthropus bones thought to be over 2 million years old, and the oldest known footprints of the immediate ancestors of humans, the Laetoli footprints, estimated to be about 3.6 million years old.

Tanzania contains many large and ecologically significant wildlife parks, including the famous Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park in the north, and Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park in the south. Gombe National Park in the west is known as the site of Dr. Jane Goodall's studies of chimpanzee behavior.

The word Tanzania is derived from the two nations of Tanganyika and Zanzibar which before 1964 were seperate. Tanganyika in Kiswahili, the local dialect (Swahili) is translated to mean, "sail in the wilderness" and Zanzibar is derived from the Arabic words "Zayn Z'al Barr" which mean, "fair is this land".

What you need to know:

CLIMATE:
Tanzania has two rainy seasons: the short rains from late-October to late-December, a.k.a. the Mango Rains, and the long rains from March to May.

Because Tanzania lies below the equator, the cooler months occur during the northern hemisphere’s summer. Between June and October, temperatures range from around 50°F in the northern highlands to about 75°F on the coast. On the plains and the lower-altitude game reserves, the temperatures from June to October are warmer. On the coast, these months are some of the most pleasant to visit, with balmy, sunny weather much of the day and cooling ocean breezes at night.

From December to March, the days are hot and sunny with often not a cloud in the sky. Temperatures range from the mid-70’s to the high 90’s throughout the country. January to February is the best time to visit the Serengeti as it is usually at this time that huge herds of Wildebeest, Zebra and Buffalo migrate to better grazing areas. At this period you could observe some of the 1.5 million Wildebeest that inhabit the Serengeti undertake their epic journey, but be advised this is probably the hottest time of year in Tanzania when even the locals complain about the heat!

FOOD:
If anything can be called Tanzania's national dish Ugali would most likely win out. A polenta-style dish made with corn flour, it accompanies a variety of stews, cooked meat and is eaten with your hands. Recipes vary from village to village and everyone has their own way of making it.

Local dishes also include Mtori, cooked beef and bananas, and Mchicha, a vegetable stew that can also contain meat or fish. Mandazi is a sweet doughnut styled food that is mostly made fresh each morning. Great with coffee in the morning and makes an ideal snack.

Chips Mayai (chips cooked in an omelet) are served at nearly every African food stand in Tanzania and are considered a Tanzanian specialty. They're quite good with pili pili (hot sauce). If you are looking for a local drink, Konyagi is a wonderful gin-like beverage, sold only in Tanzania

CURRENCY:
The currency of Tanzania is known as the Tanzanian Shilling (TSH, /=). There are 5 notes and 6 coins:

Notes - 10000 (Red), 5000 (Violet), 2000 (Brown), 1000 (Blue) and 500 (Green) denominations. Coins - 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 denominations.

In general, stores, restaurants, and hotels in Tanzania expect payment in Tsh. Exceptions include visa payment and fees for national parks (which must be paid in US dollars), and payments for safaris and Kilimanjaro treks, which are generally priced in US dollars (though payment will be accepted in other currencies). On Zanzibar prices are generally in US dollars (including the ferry from Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar).

GEOGRAPHY:
At over four times the size of Great Britain, Tanzania is the largest country in Eastern Africa, bordering Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south.

Tanzania is mountainous in the northeast, where Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, is situated. To the north and west are the Great Lakes of Lake Victoria (Africa's largest lake) and Lake Tanganyika (Africa's deepest lake, known for its unique species of fish). Central Tanzania comprises a large plateau, with plains and arable land. The eastern shore is tropical, with the island of Zanzibar lying just offshore.

LANGUAGES:
Tanzania is home to some of the most incredible tribal diversity in Africa. The country includes all of the major ethnic and linguistic groups on the continent – an amazingly varied population to inhabit a single country. While each ethnic group has its own language, Kiswahili (Swahili) & English are considered the primary languages of the country. Arabic is also widely spoken in Zanzibar.

Note that greetings is Swahili are very important, and long and drawn out - you can go back and forth several times, using not one but all of the greetings you know.

Common Phrases:

Interesting facts:
It was in the town of Ujiji near Lake Tanganyika that Stanley first spoke the words 'Dr. Livingstone I presume?' A plaque in the town indicates the exact place where Stanley first caught up with Livingstone all those many years ago.

At 264 square kilometres, the extinct Ngogongoro Crater is the largest complete crater in the world.

Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania is the world's second deepest lake.

Kilimanjaro's last eruption was over 200 years ago.

Lake Manyara National Park is home to the unique tree- climbing lions. These lions climb to the uppermost portions of the enormous Acacia trees in the area, and spend their days languishing on the branches which are some seven or eight meters above the ground.

The Amani Nature Reserve in eastern Tanzania is said to be the only location on earth where African Violets in fact grow wild.

The Coconut Crab, which inhabits the waters off Zanzibar’s Chumbe Island, is the largest crab in the world.

We recommend:

1.	Tanzania Your Way: Camp or Lodge Safari – 8 Days
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2.	Kilimanjaro Your Way: Marangu Route – 7 days
		Swathed in the stuff of legends, Mt. Kilimanjaro preserves amysticism that defies all current knowledge of her mightyslopes: she is the world’s highest snow-covered equatorial.. more

3.	Zanzibar Your Way - 5days
		After an exciting safari or climbing Kilimanjaro, why not add a visit to the island of Zanzibar. Known as the Spice Island, Zanzibar isalso famous for its beautiful beaches, rich culture and fascinating history. more

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