Arab merchants visited the coast some 2,000 years ago
and settled in Zanzibar around the eighth century AD later establish
trade routes into the interior. The intermarriage of Arabs and local
people created a new people with their own language- Kiswahili (Swahili)
whose word for Journey – Safari has become the International description
of a trip into the Wild.
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The Portuguese established temporary settlements in the
16th century, supplanted by the Omanis in the late 17th century
who developed the infamous slave trade. The scramble of Africa by the
European powers at the end of the 19th century led to occupation of
the mainland by Germany although Zanzibar becomes a British protectorate.
After World War 1, Germany was forced to surrender its territory to the British.
Tanganyika, as the mainland was then known, achieved independence in 1961.
Zanzibar become independent two years later and shortly afterwards joined
with the mainland to become the United Republic of Tanzania.
GEOGRAPHY: Tanzania covers 937,062 sq km making it the largest
Country in Eastern Africa. Just south of the equator, it borders Kenya and
Uganda in the north, United republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi in the
west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique in the south, and is therefore a
splendid center from which to explore eastern, central and southern Africa.
Through the interior runs the Great Rift Valley, that vast fault line down
the spine of Africa that, in Tanzania, has created many fascinating
topographical features such as the Ngorongoro Crater Serengeti and Lake
Tanganyika. The central plateau (1,200mabove sea level) is a huge
expanse of Savannah and sparse woodland. To the north, the 5,890-metre
(19,340 ft) Mount Kilimanjaro raises the highest Mountain in Africa. While
the interior is largely arid, the 800 Kilometer coastline is lush and palm-
Fringed as are the Islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia.
Climate: Tanzania’s climate is predominately tropical. Coastal
areas are usually hot and humid, but on the beaches a sea breeze cools the
air considerably. The average day temperature is 30°C. Tanzania has two
rainy seasons – the long rains from late March to June and the short rains
from November to January.
The long rains fall in heavy downpours, often
accompanied by violent storms, but the short rains tend to be much less
severe. The hottest time of the year is from December to March, before the
long rains begin. The coolest months are June, July and August, when the
weather is often overcast. In high-altitude areas such as Kilimanjaro and
the Ngorongoro Highlands, temperatures can fall below freezing.
Entry requirements: A valid passport. Most visitors to Tanzania require a
visa to enter the country. Three month single-entry tourist visas are
available at Tanzanian embassies in your country, price subject to
nationality. Contact your local embassy.
Banking: Banks and bureau de change are available at airports and
in all major towns. Banking hours are from Monday – Friday 8.30am – 3.00pm,
Saturday 8.30am – 1.30pm. A few branches in the major towns are open until
4.00pm. Please note that banks are closed on Sunday.
Health: Tanzania is located in a tropical
climate with different bacteria, flora, and fauna than most visitors are
accustomed to, so it is advisable to take a few health precautions when
traveling to make sure that your trip goes as comfortably and smoothly as
possible. Malaria is usually top on the list of visitors’ worries, and
prevention goes a long way towards keeping you protected. Make sure to
visit your doctor to get a prescription for de anti-malarial drugs the best
suit your health and condition – there are some very good ones available on
the market. The yellow-fever vaccination is no longer officially required
when entering Tanzania, (however this is still a requirement if you wish to
visit Zanzibar). Other vaccinations should be considered, for more
information, contact your doctor well in advance of your visit.
Security: Tanzania is a safe country to travel in. Tanzanians are
warm-hearted and generous people and are eager to help visitors get the
most out of their stay. Tanzania is a politically stable, multi-democratic
country. As in all countries, a little common sense goes a long way and
reasonable precautions should still be taken, such as locking valuables in
the hotel.
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