Do you know the famous Mount Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania?
Tanzania officially known as the United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region which borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; the Comoro Islands and the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to the south; Zambia to the southwest; and Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.
Tanzania is famed all thanks to the tallest mountain in the world called Mount Kilimanjaro, This Africa’s highest mountain, is located in a north-north-eastern part of Tanzania. According to the United Nations, Tanzania has a total population of approximately 63.59 million, making it the most populous country located south of the equator.
An interesting fact about the famous mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania was that it was once an active volcano, also it is the highest point in Africa and is bordered by three of the largest lakes on the continent: Lake Victoria (which is the world’s second-largest freshwater lake) in the north, Lake Tanganyika in the west, and Lake Nyasa in the southwest.
Languages are spoken in the Country
Tanzania is known to be a multilingual country with Ethnology lists of 125 languages for Tanzania. There are many languages spoken in the country, but none is spoken natively by a majority or a large plurality of the population. Swahili and English, the latter of which was inherited from colonial rule, are widely spoken as lingua francas. They serve as working languages in the country, with Swahili being the official national language. There are more speakers of Swahili than of English in Tanzania.
Tourist Attractions in Tanzania
Tanzania is home to some of the most famous African national parks and natural attractions, including majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. Majorly, the most popular things to do in Tanzania, and the reason many people visit the country, are because of the safaris and wildlife-related adventures.
For those who want to spend some time soaking in the sun and beautiful scenery of Tanzania, there are some top geographical locations in Tanzania you will be glad you visited.
- Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak (5,895 m) and Tanzania’s most iconic image. Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, unlike other parks in northern Tanzania, is not visited for the wildlife but for the chance to stand in awe of this beautiful snow-capped mountain, and, for many tourists, it climbs to the summit. Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed at any time, although the best period is from late June to October, during the dry season.
- Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park is a vast treeless place with millions of animals living here or passing through in search of fresh grasslands. It’s most popular known for the annual wildebeest migration but you can also see the Big Five here. on the Serengeti, nearly 500 species of birds have been recorded.
The Serengeti attracts tens of thousands of tourists each year as the second largest national park in Tanzania, The best months for wildlife viewing in Serengeti National Park are between June and September. The wet season is from March to May, with the coldest period from June to October.
The annual migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle takes place in May or early June. This migration is one of the most impressive natural events and the primary draw for many tourists.
- Selous Reserve
Selous Reserve was established in 1922 and it happens to be the Game in reserve in Africa. it covers 5% of Tanzania’s total area. The southern area is a forbidden zone that is undeveloped, heavily forested, and contains a series of cliffs. Travelers are restricted from that area north of the Rufiji River. This area of the Selous Game Reserve has large open grassland, woodlands, rivers, hills, and plains and the best time to visit is July through October.
A broad range of wildlife can be found including elephants, hippos, and rhinos as well as buffalo, antelope, giraffe, warthog, wildebeest, lion, leopard, and cheetah. The diversity of bird life in Selous includes over 350 recorded species.
- Mafia Island
Mafia Island draws divers and snorkelers from all over the world to the undersea world protected by the Mafia Island Marine Park. The best months for diving are October to March but the best weather on Mafia Island is May to October. March and April are months of heavy rain.
Mafia Island Marine Park is also a desirable location for deep-sea fishing, especially tuna, marlin, sailfish, and other big-game fish, and has coral gardens, an abundant variety of fish, and a relaxed diving atmosphere. Countless birds and over 400 species of fish can be seen in the area. Mafia Island is also a traditional breeding site for green turtles, which are unfortunately endangered.
- Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is a fantastic area for wildlife viewing which was founded in 1970. It is best visited in the dry season from July to September when the animals gather along the river because, during the dry season, Tarangire National Park has one of the highest concentrations of migratory wildlifelike; Wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland crowd the lagoons. The park is also known for its large population of elephants, and the baobab treesthat dot the grassy landscape.
The park is perfect for birdwatching, with more than 300 species recorded in Tarangire. These species include buzzards, vultures, herons, storks, kites, falcons, eagles, and many more…Therefore if you are a bird lover, this is for you.
Tanzania Local Food
Like most African countries, food in Tanzania varies by region. On the East coast is the Indian Ocean and in these areas, the cuisine is rich in seafood. It is also influenced by Indian culture and so the cuisine is often a fusion of Indian and East African. It is not unusual to see Tanzanian food paired with Indian bread like chapati or East African versions of dishes that are traditionally Indian. But here are some dishes you might want to try during your stay in Tanzania.
- Ugali
Ugali is a Tanzanian dish made up of a mixture of ground corn and water which creates a food that is much like a firm polenta dough that can be eaten with the hands. This food is similar to the food known as fufu in other African countries which is associated with any type of soup.
- Mtori
Mtori is a dish made up of bananas as it originates from the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania where bananas are a major part of the diet. To prepare Mtori, the beef, and bananas are cooked along with seasonings. The contents of the pot are then vigorously pounded until the bananas break down into a thick, porridge-like soup.
Mtori is a banana and beef stew. Instead of bananas sometimes green plantains or yams are used with any type of beef.
- Swahili Biryani
Biryani is an Indian cuisine made up of a dish of rice mixed with meat, vegetables, and spices. Some of the ingredients like the onions and potatoes are fried first before being cooked with the meat and rice. The Swahili version of biryani uses spices popular in the Swahili regions on the East African coast and the cooking method varies.
Tanzania has a large number of citizens who are of Indian descent. This is due to several migratory waves, one being the movement of contractual laborers from India into East Africa. The other migratory movement was of business people such as traders. After many decades Indian culinary influences have trickled into Tanzanian cuisine.
- Nyama Choma
Nyama means meat and Choma means grilled in Swahili. Large cuts of meat which can be beef, chicken, or goat are roasted very slowly over coals. When marinated, seasonings like garlic and lemon juice are used and for the last 10 years, the Nyama Choma Festival in Dar El Salaam has been boasted as the largest BBQ meat festival in East Africa.
Tanzanian Carnivals
1. Kilimanjaro Marathon
Kilimanjaro Marathon is an anticipated marathon held every year in March around the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. It is a 42.2-kilometer run starting and ending at the Moshi stadium. A half marathon option (21.1 km) is also available. Aside from that, there is a 10 km wheelchair marathon is held every year. To promote the sport in Africa, the Tanzania Tourist Board and the Tanzania Amateur Athletics Association conduct this marathon every year. The race takes place on good tar roads and a few gentle and manageable slopes.
2. Goats Festival
Goat races are organized by the Rotary Club of Dar es Salaam every year for a charity to help vulnerable children. The idea of goat races originated in Uganda, then Tanzania followed suit to raise money for charity. Anybody can sponsor this goat and make it run in the race. There are refreshments and betting stalls in the surroundings for viewers of the race. A lot of entertainment is also available for children including a fancy dress competition with amazing gifts for the winners.
3. Nyama Choma Festival
Food plays a major role in any culture of the world and Africans are not far behind. Nyama choma means ‘roasted meat’ in Swahili and the recipe is passed down through the generations. Tanzania holds the largest barbeque festival every year to celebrate this recipe. People from all around the world gather around Dar es Salaam and Arusha towns to try the lip-smacking barbequed livestock. From barbeque ribs to T-bone steak and grilled meat in general, this is the place to die for especially for food lovers.
4. Swahili Fashion Week
The Swahili fashion week was founded by the African couturier, Mustafa Hassanali to promote the concept of ‘made in Africa’ to the rest of the world and is the biggest annual fashion event in East and Central Africa which is held in the last month of every year. It is organized to provide a platform for designers from Swahili-speaking countries to showcase their talent in the fashion sector. From runway shows to award shows, fashion week has everything for a designer, fashion journalist/blogger, and stylist, and many more activities even for visitors.
- Unification Day
Unification Day is celebrated to honor the union of Zanzibar and Tanzania unification now known as the United Republic of Tanzania and is one of Tanzania’s big days and National Festivals for the people of Tanzania. The main cities all over Tanzania bustle with people participating in the parades, waving flags, and preaching the proverb (Umoja ni nguvu) meaning unity is strength. Cultural events such as African music and dance performances can be expected.
There are many reasons to visit Tanzania, with so much to see and so much to do.
Take a break and enjoy the serene environment of the country of Tanzania.