Tanzania is the ideal safari destination.

Tanzania is ideally situated in east Africa and has an abundance of natural beauty - from Lake Victoria in the west to Zanzibar and the Indian Ocean in the east. Tanzania is the perfect safari destination for those seeking a location with stunning, breathtaking scenery and tranquil surroundings. Many people do not know much about Tanzania, its culture, people and history, so we've put together a small amount of information here to help you get a better feel for this wonderful country. You can also view our map of tanzania here.

Brief history of Tanzania

Tanzania has been under the control of several countries. The Portuguese settled in Tanzania in the early 1500s and control lasted until the early 18th century, when Arabs from Oman drove them out and settled. Germany had control of Tanzania from the late 1800s to 1917, when it lost control to Great Britain. The British renamed the country Tanganyika and continued to rule the country until 1961, when it declared independence from British rule.

» Tanzania became independent from the UK in the early 1960s.
» On December 9 1961 it became a sovereign state.
» On April 26 1964 the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar was formed.
» On October 29, in the same year, the name was changed to the United Republic of Tanzania.

Tanzanian culture

Tanzania is comprised of more than 120 tribes and roughly 12 of these groups make up half of the population of Tanzania. Unlike some African countries, no single ethnic group dominates in terms of size or political influence and therefore conflict between cultures is low. The majority of Tanzania's people are made up of two general indigenous groups which consist of those speaking Bantu and those speaking Nilotic. Bantu speaking people tend to be involved in agriculture and food production. The Nilotic speaking people who originate from the Nile Valley tend to be involved mainly in cattle raising.

» Over 120 tribes and languages are present in this culturally diverse nation.
» Kiswahili, more commonly known as Swahili, was selected as the official language of Tanzania.
» Kiswahili is used exclusively in primary schools.
» English is used in high schools, colleges and universities and Kiswahili is also taught at these levels.
» Kiswahili is also spoken in these neighboring countries:

Tanzanian food and beverage

Food inland is less spicy than its coastal counterpart. Tanzanian cuisine is very similar to what is found throughout all of East Africa. Meat is not widely consumed in comparison with other areas of the continent. Cattle are normally slaughtered only for very special occasions, such as marriages or births. Instead, cows, goats and sheep are raised primarily for their milk and the value they contribute to social status. When meat is consumed, however, nyama choma (grilled meat) and ndafu (roasted, young goat) are most popular.

The Tanzanian diet is largely based on starches such as millet, sorghum, beans, pilaf and cornmeal. A meal that could be considered the country's national dish is ugali, a stiff dough made of cassava flour, cornmeal (maize), millet, or sorghum, and usually served with a sauce containing either meat, fish, beans, or cooked vegetables. It is typically eaten out of a large bowl that is shared by everyone at the table. Wali (rice) and various samaki (fish) cooked in coconut are the preferred staples for those living in coastal communities.

The main staples of the Tanzanian diet inland include: