UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

• S. Africa • Mozambique • Malawi • Tanzania • Zambia • Botswana • Namibia • S. Africa •

Tanzania is the home of Serengeti and Mt Kilimanjaro – two of Africa’s most famous landmarks. Thousands visit its parks every year, drawn by the finest collection of wildlife. From wildebeest, monkeys and antelopes to lions, cheetahs, crocodiles, gazelles, and flamingos, this is where the action is.

Extending over what was once Tanganyika, Tanzania is East Africa's largest country. It covers 945,090 sq km of plains, lakes and mountains, with a narrow, low-lying coastal belt. Roughly three times the size of Malaysia, Tanzania has over 100 tribes making up its population of 32 million. Swahili, English and native dialects are used, and major industries include tobacco, sisal, gold and diamonds, oil refining, and tourism.

Most of the country is highland plateau, with semi-desert, savannah and scattered bush vegetation. In the north-east, along its Kenyan border, stand the highest mountains - Meru (4556m) and Kilimanjaro, also Africa's tallest at 5895m.

Tanzania is blessed with some of the world's largest game reserves, with one of the highest concentrations of elephant, buffalo, crocodile, hippo, hunting dog and chimpanzee. Widely varying geography accounts for differing climatic conditions. On the plateau, altitude renders somewhat cooler what would otherwise be a tropical climate. Along the Indian Ocean coast and the offshore islands of Pemba, Zanzibar and Mfia, it gets hot and humid.

Little is known of the land’s early history. The mid-19th century saw the arrival of European explorers, the most famous being Stanley and Livingstone. Their meeting at Lake Tanganyika and the classic phrase 'Dr Livingstone, I presume', are well documented. As the 20th century loomed, Tanganyika came under Germany. Amazingly, colonial ambitions were hampered by a humble insect – the tsetse fly and the deadly disease it brought. The British gained control after the first world war, having also seized the offshore island of Zanzibar.

Tanganyika won independence in 1961 with Nyerere as the country's first president. A union forged with Zanzibar and the nearby island of Pemba two years later resulted in the birth of Tanzania. Unfortunately, Tanzania’s history has not been without violence. Tensions remain high in some areas.

For one of the world’s poorest countries - already destabilised by long-standing tribal friction - these are severe challenges. It is hoped Tanzania will be spared the haunting problems of its neighbours, Rwanda and Kenya.