Everything you need to know about Tanzania: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more

Tanzania: African Country Comprising Two Sovereign States

Arab traders in around 700 AD first settled in Tanzania. In 1500 Portuguese explorers visited Tanzania and by the 17th century the Portuguese controlled the whole Tanzania. In 1885 Burundi and Rwanda, Tanganyika became the colony of German East Africa. After World War I these provinces were administered by Britain under a League of Nations mandate and later on as a UN trust territory. Zanzibar was declared independence of Oman in 1861 but in 1890 it became a British protectorate. Tanganyika became a sovereign state in 1961 and became a Republic the following year. Zanzibar became independent in December 1963 and the People's Republic of Zanzibar was established after the revolution of 1964. The two sovereign republics formed the United Republic of Tanzania on 1964.

· National Name: United Republic of Tanzania
· Capital: Dodoma (official), Dar es Salaam (commercial)
· Total area: 945,087 sq km (364,900 sq miles)
· Population: 41.5 million (UN, 2008)
· Currency: Tanzanian Shilling
· Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local language
· Ethnicity/ Races: mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African
· Religion: mainland- Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim
· GDP (Per Capita): $1,400 (2008 est.)
· Life Expectancy: Male: 50.06 years, Female: 52.88 years (2008 est.)
· Literacy Rate: Male: 77.5%, Female: 62.2% (2002 census)

Geographical Information on Tanzania:
Tanzania is a country located in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda from the north, Rwanda Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo from the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique from the south and the Indian Ocean from the east.

Culture, Cuisine and Tradition of Tanzania:
Tanzania is one of the most culturally diverse countries in all of Africa because of the presence of 120 tribes. In Tanzania one can find tall graceful Maasai warriors, the ancient Hadza Bushmen and also the Wameru agriculturists. Tingatinga and Makonde are the two styles of paintings that have became popular through out the world. Makonde sculpture also has significant impact on global culture.

The most common meals from the Tanzanian diet include all the local plants and fruits such as rice, Wheat, corn, beans, cabbage, nuts, bananas, mangos, pineapple and coconut. Chicken is consumed in many styles with rice or the traditional ugali. On the coastal areas, people prefer to eat fish with rice. On special occasions duckling meat is served.

Economy of Tanzania:
The economy of Tanzania is largely based on agricultural plantations of cash crops like coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum, cashews, tobacco, sugarcane, and cloves are practiced and grown basically for the purpose of export. Most of the population are engaged in subsistence farming, growing corn, wheat, cassava, bananas, fruits, and vegetables. Refined petroleum, fertilizer, aluminum goods, and construction materials are also produced along with diamonds, tanzanite, and other gemstones. The main hurdle in the growth of Tanzania economy is the lack road and rail connectivity domestically. Also the wise spread corruption remains the main problem for Tanzania government. Lack of infrastructure and capital is the major problem for Tanzania economy.

Tourist Attractions of Tanzania:
Despite lack of tourist infrastructures Tanzania has enough potential to attract tourists from across the world. Tanzania's most famous attraction is Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain and the only freestanding mountain in the world that can simply be walked up. In addition to its beautiful landscape, Tanzania is also famous for its multicultural heritage

Serengeti National Park: is one of the largest national parks in Tanzania as well as in the world.

Gombe Stream: is actually a national park built to protect the wildlife specially the endangered chimpanzees. Apart from these there are other source of entertainment like hiking and swimming.

Major Sight-seeing Places in Tanzania include:

· Tarangire National Park
· Lake Manyara National Park
· Ngorongoro Crater
· Saadani
· Mafia Island