Mentioned below are some important facts about Tanzania that will help you understand the country and its culture better.
1. Spread over an area of 945,000 square kilometers, Tanzania has a population of 29 million.
2. Tanzania is bordered by Kenya and Uganda on the North, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo on the west, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique on the South, and the Indian Ocean on the East.
3. Tanzania became independent from British colonial rule on December 9, 1961.
4. The entire country is divided into 26 regions and ninety-eight districts.
5. It is an ethnically diverse nation with more than 120 ethnic groups. Important among these are Sukuma, Nyamezi, Hehe, Bena, Gogo and Haya. Islam and Christianity are the two most important religions. Major languages include Kiswahili and English.
6. Economy of the country is mainly driven by agriculture. Tanzania is a major exporter of products like coffee, cotton, tea, sisal, cashew nuts, tobacco, seaweed, cloves and fish products. It has vast amounts of natural resources including gold and diamond deposits.
7. Important tourist activities include a hike to the peak of Mount. Kilimanjaro and a safari in some of the biggest wildlife parks in Africa. Significant national parks in Tanzania include the famous Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Selous Game Reserve, Mikumi National Park and the Gombe National Park.
8. It is home to some of the biggest and deepest lakes in Africa. These include the Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika. Mt. Kilimanjaro, present in the northeast part of the country, is the highest peak in Africa.
