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Hot summer weather. Time to see calving gin Serengeti, which come with predator action
Hot summer weather. Time to see calving gin Serengeti, which come with predator action
Long rains
Long rains
End of the long rains
Winter and humidity is low. Dry season. Best wildlife viewing month. The wildebeest migration in the Serengeti.
Winter and humidity is low. Dry season. Best wildlife viewing month. The wildebeest migration in the Serengeti.
Winter and humidity is low. Dry season. Best wildlife viewing month
Winter and humidity is low. Dry season. Best wildlife viewing month
Winter and humidity is low. Short rains.
Hot summer weather. Short Rains. Good for bird watching.
Hot summer weather. Short Rains. Good for bird watching.
Swahili is the official language of Tanzania and it has been the foundation through which Tanzania has built its sense of national cohesion. It is basically a Bantu language that developed from interactions between Arab traders and the Bantu communities of the coastal region of East Africa. It is a language constituted out of Arabic, Bantu, English and German, reflecting the diversity and history of the country and gives the people a sense of collective identity. Swahili is also spoken in neighbouring countries of the East African community. Swahili has a native speaker base of about 20 million people.
The second most commonly spoken language of the country is English. According to Ethnologue, there are a total of 126 languages spoken in Tanzania, with various ethnic groups typically speaking their mother tongues within their own communities.
Most of Tanzania's population is fluent in their mother tongue and one other language, mainly Kiswahili. The general population has considerable knowledge of English, but their fluency in Swahili is more noticeable.
In 2015, the government announced that it would discontinue the use of English as a language of education as part of an overhaul of the Tanzanian schools system, making Tanzania the first country in Sub Saharan Africa to use an African Language for its education system.
Christianity and Islam are the predominant religions of Tanzania, with each commanding 35% of the population and the rest belonging to indigenous religious. Hinduism and Buddhism are also found among the members of the Asian minorities.
Christianity was introduced into Tanzania at the beginning of the 16th century through the establishment of a Franciscan mission in the city of Kilwa. Islam first appeared in the late medieval period with the establishment of Arab commercial stations in Zanzibar and along the coast. The Islamic faith was widely spread by Arabic slave traders.
In terms of tribal groups, Tanzania comprises of 130 different African tribal groups. The largest ethnic group is the Sukuma, who live south of Lake Victoria. Originally hunters and gatherers, they welcomed traders from India, Persia, and Arabia who intermarried and created a diverse mix of people and cultures.
Maasai tribe : The most well known tribe, known for the colourful clothes, beaded jewellery and special dance. They have maintained their customs and habits, traditional rituals for different rites of passage among others.
Hadzabe tribe: It is one of the last tribes that have stayed true to their nature, and represent a very small population of approximately 2000 people. They still live in their traditional way in caves, with hunting being their primary way of providing for themselves. The hunting skills of the men are very daring and precise.
Prehistory: Some of the oldest human settlements have been unearthed in Tanzania, with the oldest human fossils near Olduvai Gorge (Oldupai) in northern Tanzania, being over 2 million years old. Hunter-gatherer communities who spoke Khoisan populated Tanzania about 10,000 years ago.
100: Arab traders travel routes between Africa’s west and east coasts. Gold, ivory, cloth and beads are exchanged. Arab culture and religion spread.
1498: Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama becomes the first European to reach the East African coast.
1699: Portuguese ousted from Zanzibar by Omani Arabs.
1884 - German Colonisation Society begins to acquire territory on the mainland.
1886 – Britain and Germany sign an agreement allowing Germany to set up a sphere of influence over mainland Tanzania, except for parts of the coast and Zanzibar.
1916: British, Belgian and South African troops occupy most of German East Africa.
1919: League of Nations gives Britain a mandate over Tanganyika – today’s mainland Tanzania.
1961: Tanganyika becomes independent with Julius Nyerere as prime minister.
1962: Tanganyika becomes a republic with Nyerere as president.
1963: Zanzibar becomes independent.
1964: Tanganyika and Zanzibar merge to become Tanzania with Nyerere as president and Afro-Shirazi leader Abeid Amani Karume as vice-president.
1985: Mr Nyerere retires and is replaced by the president of Zanzibar, Ali Mwinyi.
1992: Constitution amended to allow multi-party politics.
1995: Benjamin Mkapa chosen as president in Tanzania’s first multi-party election.
2001: Huge new gold mine, Bulyanhulu, opens near northern town of Mwanza, making Tanzania Africa’s third largest producer of gold.
2006: The African Development Bank announces the cancellation of more than $640m of debt owed by Tanzania, saying it was impressed with Tanzania’s economic record and the level of accountability of public finance
2012, March: The Statoil and Exxon Mobil oil exploration companies make major discovery of gas reserves off the coast of Tanzania.
2016: Tanzania and Uganda agree to build East Africa’s first major oil pipeline.
The food in Tanzania is very similar to the cuisine of East African countries. Meat is not widely consumed in comparison with other areas of the continent. The main staples are maize or rice served with meat and vegetables. And with the number of different tribes and the various Asian, European influences, the cuisine has definitely been spiced up. Moreover the country being so big, it is only normal that eating styles are different inland and along the coast.
In the interior of Tanzania, people eat cooked or steamed green bananas (matoke) or maize with beans, fish or meat. Maize or rice are normally cooked with coconut stew obtained by grating coconut and squeezing out the juice. Ugali which is a porridge made from maize or millet or cassava flour is the base of every meal and almost a national plate. It normally accompanies meat in sauces and vegetables. Nyama choma, is Swahili for roasted or grilled meat, and it’s a simple plate offering that covers all your nutritional bases: barbequed beef or goat skewered and served with a side of vegetable. It is also one of the favourite dishes of the locals.
Along the coast, rice and green vegetables (mchicha) or fish or meat is the popular staple food. Spicy foods are common, and there is also much use of coconut milk. The introduction of various spices by the Arabs is highly evident in the popular dish, Pilau. It consists of rice spiced with curry, cinnamon, cumin, hot peppers, and cloves.
Maize cooked with beans or meat (makande) is also the staple food of several tribes especially the Pare tribe of Kilimanjaro Region.
Ndizi Kaanga- These are fried plantains or bananas, a very common and popular dish in East African and, more specifically, Tanzania. This is often served as a snack or as a side to a main course.
Chai (tea), the most widely consumed beverage, is typically consumed throughout the day, often while socializing and visiting with friends and family. Street vendors commonly sell freshly ground black coffee in small porcelain cups, soft drinks, and fresh juices made of pineapple, oranges, or sugar cane. Adults enjoy a special banana beer called mbege made in the Kilimanjaro region (northeast Tanzania).
The current population of the United Republic of Tanzania is 60,959,857 as of July 2019, based on the latest United Nations estimates. The population density 69 per Km2 (178 people per mi2) showing the vastness of the country. 33.2% of the population is urban. The median age in Tanzania is 17.4 years, with a life expectancy of 65.6 years old. The fertility rate as at 2018 is 5.17 children per woman with a maternal mean age of 17.4 years at the time of first birth, which is one of the highest birth rates in the world and more than 44% of the population is under the age of 15.
Tanzania’s population includes around 120 different African tribal groups. The largest group is the Sukuma, and represents around 16% of Tanzania's total population. The country’s earliest people were hunters and gatherers, who inhabited the land as far back as 5000BC. Around 800AD, traders moved to the country from India, Arabia and Persia (present day Iran), creating a diverse mix of peoples and cultures. Today, about 90 percent of Tanzanians live in the rural areas and live off what they can grow on the land. In more recent years, however, people have started to migrate from the countryside to developing towns and cities.
Dar es Salaam is the largest city and economic capital of Tanzania. Located in a quiet bay off the Indian Ocean coast, the city has kept a lot of colonial remains of borht German and Englsih, which can be seen in the landmarks and architecture around the city. The National Museum, the Village Museum, and many colourful markets are well worth a visit.
When we say Zanzibar, it equals to pristine white sandy beaches, blue lagoons and all inclusive resorts. More than that, Zanzibar is also known as the Spice Island, and is bursting with culture and history. The port city of Stone town, which is listed as a UNESCO Heritage site, is certainly worth a visit besides the numerous activities available on the island.
Serengeti is home to the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth - the great migration of wildebeest and zebra. Besides this unique spectacle, the Serengeti National Park has a unique eco system, which claims to be the oldest on earth, making it even more special and worthwhile the visit. The best time to visit is the dry season (from late June to September) when it is the great migration time.
The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest inactive, intact and unflooded volcanic caldera in the world. It is a World Heritage site and often referred to as one of the seven natural wonders of Africa. The crater with its vast savannas, lakes, grassland, swamps, forests naturally attract a high density of wildlife. Ngorongoro Crater is an absolute essential stop as chances to spot the rarest animals are yours.
The highest peak on the African continent as well as being the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising in breathtaking isolation, Mount Kilimanjaro is an expedition of a lifetime. Whether you are out to climb up to its snow capped top or just visiting its rich forest at the base and simply watching over this majestic mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro releases an aura of magic, peace and power.
Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most popular tourism destinations in Kenya and Tanazania.Together with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania it forms Africa’s most diverse, incredible and most spectacular eco-systems. The Great Migration of the Wildebeest is a bucket list experience and best time is July to October. Also visit the villages of Maasai people, a magical cultural experience.
Tea with milk is our favourite drink. Coffee is also quite popular with a lot of street vendors. For a refreshing alcoholic drink, we like Kibo Gold, Serengeti Lager and Tusker. In rural areas, it is the famous home made mbege, a beer made from bananas, which wins over.
The most enjoyed dish of the locals is Nyama Choma (roasted or grilled meat) and Ugali (maize type porridge). Along the coast, Pilau is the all time favourite seasoned rice. And of course, you must try fried banana plantains known as Ndizi Kaanga.
One fun thing to do is to get in the vibe of Tanzania. The music is happy, vibrant and puts the groove up. Tanzania -Dar es Salaam has it’s own style of music called Bongo Flava. Definitely worth a listen while you are there.
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