Karibu! Welcome to the land of the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro—Tanzania, a majestic East African nation famous for its sprawling wilderness and the spice-scented islands of Zanzibar. There are around 70,000,000 people living here, and while Dodoma is the official capital, Dar es Salaam remains the largest city and the bustling economic hub. The official languages are Swahili and English, with Swahili serving as a powerful unifying force across more than 120 different ethnic groups.
Tanzania covers about 947,303 square kilometers (365,756 square miles). To imagine its size, the country is roughly the same size as the state of Texas and Oklahoma combined in the U.S., or about three times the size of Germany. Its landscape is a spectacular contrast between the deep Great Rift Valley lakes, the vast central plateau, and the white-sand beaches of the Indian Ocean.
The most popular sports are Football and Athletics, though the nation also has a deep tradition in boxing. Their national animal is the Masai Giraffe, the tallest mammal on Earth, which is a symbol of the country’s grace and natural heritage.
The flag consists of a black diagonal band with yellow borders separating a green triangle in the upper hoist and a blue triangle in the lower fly, where the green represents the natural vegetation, the yellow stands for the mineral deposits, the black symbolizes the native Swahili people, and the blue signifies the many lakes and the Indian Ocean.
The food is a flavorful mix of African, Indian, and Arabic influences. You must try Ugali, a dense maize porridge that is the staple of almost every Tanzanian home. Another favorite is Nyama Choma (grilled meat), usually goat or beef, served with a spicy salt and onion salad. If you visit the coast, you have to try Zanzibari Pizza, a unique stuffed crepe, or Pilau, a fragrant spiced rice dish. For a quick street snack, look for Chipsi Mayai, a simple yet delicious french fry omelet.
Tanzania is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. The country features the Serengeti National Park, world-famous for the annual “Great Migration” of millions of wildebeest and zebras. You can visit the Ngorongoro Crater, a massive unbroken volcanic caldera that acts as a natural enclosure for one of the densest populations of wildlife on the planet. For a change of pace, explore the winding alleys of Stone Town in Zanzibar, a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with history and the scent of cloves. Interestingly, Tanzania is the only place in the world where the rare violet-blue gemstone Tanzanite is found!
From the baobab trees of Tarangire to the crystal-clear waters of Mafia Island, Tanzania is a land of untamed beauty and warm “Hakuna Matata” spirit. Asante! That means “Thank you!”