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Tanzania

Legends and landscapes

Tanzania is a country of vast open natures and magnificent wildlife, palm-fringed islands set in turquoise seas, and of a rich mix of cultures and traditions. It is made up of a vast central plateau which slopes down towards the Indian Ocean, the three great lakes – Victoria to the north, Tanganyika to the west and Nyasa to the south, the Great Rift Valley with its large volcanoes in the north, and a series of coral islands in the Indian Ocean.

Over a quarter of the country’s land is made up of National Parks, game reserves, and controlled areas, but above all, Tanzania is the home of the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, which rises majestically at 5,895 m tall out of the dusty bush of the northern Maasai Steppe. Densely forested sides give way to the blue glaciers and unbelievably white snow on its rounded peak.

Tanzania is also home to the island state of Zanzibar – an archipelago of sandy beaches surrounded by colourful coral reefs and aromatic spice markets in the historical Arabic architecture of Stone Town. An ideal choice for the perfect balance of wildlife safari and a relaxing coastal retreat, or the starting point to hike Mount Kilimanjaro for the more intrepid explorers.

Capital City

Dodoma

Currency

Tanzanian Shilling

Official Languages

Swahili and English

International Airport

Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam), Kilimanjaro International Airport (Kilimanjaro), Abeid Amane Karume International Airport (Zanzibar)

Climate

The climate is tropical on the coast and islands, and temperate in the national parks. October to mid-March is the hottest period, while June to September is the coolest. The central plateau is dry and arid and has hot days and cool nights.

  • December– March- Hot dry season. Average high temperatures of 40°C

  • April – May -Rainy season. Average high temperatures of 30°C

  • June – November- Cooler dry season. Average high temperatures of 30°C

Mount Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro is 5,895m tall and is the tallest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain the world. A climb of Mount Kilimanjaro is a must for the more adventurous, and can be done year round. Because of its height, almost every climate ecosystem is found in the mountain. There are five distinct climate zones as you ascend: rich cultivation land, rainforest, heather and moorland, highland desert, and the arctic zone at the top.

Ngorongoro

Ngorongoro was an active volcano some 8 million years ago and now is the largest intact caldera in the world. The crater is a microcosm of East African scenery and wildlife. There are 25,000 larger animals within the crater itself, and it is the best place to see black rhino in Tanzania as well as prides of lions that include the unique black-maned males.

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti is known for its black-maned lions and other predators including wild dog, spotted hyena, jackal, cheetah and leopard.During May and June it is the starting point of the famous annual Great Migration where nearly 2 million wildebeests and a quarter of a million zebra move in winding columns several miles in length towards the Maasai Mara.

Zanzibar

Few places evoke such an image of paradise as the fabled spice islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia. Lush tropical vegetation and the aromas of the cloves, cinnamon and other spices flourish everywhere. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean host an array of activities: relaxing boat rides in traditional Dhow sailing boats, colourful snorkelling in the surrounding coral reefs, and the magical experience of swimming with wild dolphins.

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