QUICK FACTS ABOUT
TANZANIA
Location
The United Republic of Tanzania (Swahili: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania) is a sovereign state in central East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean. The United Republic of Tanzania is a unitary republic composed of 26 mikoa (regions). The current head of state is President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, elected in 2005. Since 1996, the official capital of Tanzania has been Dodoma, where parliament and some government offices are located. Between independence and 1996 the major coastal city of Dar es Salaam had been the country's political capital. Today Dar es Salaam remains the principal commercial city of Tanzania and the de-facto seat of most government institutions. It is the major seaport for the country and its landlocked neighbours.
The name Tanzania is a portmanteau of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. The two states united in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which later the same year was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania.
Geography
Landscape in Northern Tanzania.
At 945,087 km² Tanzania is the world's 31st-largest country it comes after Egypt. It is comparable in size to Nigeria.
Tanzania is mountainous in the northeast, where Mount Kilimanjaro,[7] Africa's highest peak, is situated. To the north and west are the Great Lakes of Lake Victoria (Africa's largest lake) and Lake Tanganyika (Africa's deepest lake, known for its unique species of fish). Central Tanzania comprises a large plateau, with plains and arable land. The eastern shore is hot and humid, with the island of Zanzibar lying just offshore.
Tanzania contains many large and ecologically significant wildlife parks,[8] including the famous Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park[9] in the north, and Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park in the south. Gombe National Park in the west is known as the site of Dr. Jane Goodall's studies of chimpanzee behavior.
The government of Tanzania through its department of tourism has embarked on a campaign to promote the Kalambo water falls in southwest Tanzania's region of Rukwa as one of Tanzania's many tourist destinations.[10][11] The Kalambo Falls are the second highest in Africa and are located near the southern tip of Lake Tanganyika.
Climate:
Tanzania has a tropical type of climate. In the highlands, temperatures range between 10˚C and 20˚C during cold and hot seasons respectively. The rest of the country has temperatures never falling lower than 20˚C. The hottest period spreads between November and February (25˚C - 31˚C) while the coldest period occurs between May and August (15˚C- 20˚C).
Two rainfall regimes exist over Tanzania. One is unimodal (December - April) and the other is bimodal (October -December and March - May). The former is experienced in southern, south-west, central and western parts of the country, and the later is found to the north and northern coast.
In the bimodal regime the March - May rains are referred to as the long rains or Masika, whereas the October - December rains are generally known as short rains or Vuli.
Population
Tanzania’s population is Approx 37,840,000.
Major Towns of Tanzania
Dar es Salaam is the Largest City in Tanzania. Legislative offices have now been transferred to Dodoma, which is the national capital. The National Assembly now meets there on regular basis. Others are Arusha, Mwanza,
Languages and Culture
Tanzania has more than 126 ethnic groups and each ethnic group has its own language. No language is de jure official, but Swahili is the de facto national language, used for inter-ethnic communication and for official matters whereas English is also used for official communication and widely spoken in many parts and area. Some safari guides and hotel staff speak other European languages, too. Signs are usually in English.
Carriers
There are three international airports Mwalimu Nyerere in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro in the North and Zanzibar in the islands. The National carrier is Air Tanzania There are 2 major airlines in Tanzania, the Air Tanzania Corporation, PrecisionAir which provide local flights (Arusha, Kigoma, Mtwara, Mwanza, Musoma, Shinyanga, Zanzibar) and regional flights to Kigali, Nairobi, Mombasa. There are also several charter aeroplane firms. There are two railway companies: TAZARA caters for service between Dar-es-Salaam and Kapiri-Mposhi, a district of the Central Province in Zambia. The other one is the Tanzania Railways Corporation, which provides services between Dar-es-Salaam and Kigoma, a town on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and between Dar-es-Salaam and Mwanza, a city on the shores of lake Victoria. There is also a service across the Indian Ocean between Dar-es-Salaam and Zanzibar by several modern hydrofoil boats.
Hotels in Tanzania
Tanzania is endowed with many hotels ranging from 3 to 5 stars in all its major cities. They cater for both local and international cuisine.
Banking Services and Automatic Teller Machines
Traveler’s cheques and most major credit cards are accepted in Tanzania by some Banks. Some businesses charge a service fee when credit cards are used. Banking hours are generally from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and some open on Saturday mornings.
ATMs -- The easiest and best way to get cash away from home is from an ATM. Most banks in Tanzania have ATMs.
Currency and Exchange Rates
The official currency in Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shilling, not to be confused with the Kenyan and Ugandan Shillings, which are different currencies. The written abbreviation of the Tanzanian Shilling is TSh. Notes are TShs 500, 1,000, 2000, 5,000 and 10,000, while coins are 50 cents, TShs 10, 20, 100 and 200, which can purchase small items like newspaper, sweets and fruit.
Tanzanian shillings can be used to pay for most things, though US Dollars are accepted by airlines, hotels and for national park entry fees, ferry tickets to Zanzibar and the other islands, and departure taxes at the airport ($30 from Dar es Salaam and $25 from Zanzibar). The exchange rate has been pretty steady against the US Dollar in recent years and at currently it is about TShs 1,300 to $1. There are several Bureau De Changes in all cities and towns of Tanzania.
International Phone Calls/Communication
Tanzania's country code is 255. Local major area or city codes are available in most Hotels.
Safety and Security
Tanzania ranks as the most peaceful country in the whole of Africa. However caution should be exercised walking at night or in crowded areas.
Tanzania is part of the East African Community and a potential member of the planned East African Federation.
Emergency numbers
In case of emergency please call the following:
Police : 112,
Ambulance 999
Water
Although the water is not particularly dangerous, it can carry bacteria that can give you a bout of diarrhea, which could disrupt your vacation. Drink bottled water, order drinks without ice (unless you know that the ice was made with bottled or purified water), and stay away from washed salads and fruit as much as possible. Water that has been boiled for several minutes is fine, as is water which has been sterilized with iodine tablets or similar additives. When buying bottled water, ensure the seal has not been broken or tempered with, which indicates refilled with tap water.
Lost & Found
To report a credit card stolen, place a collect call to Visa at tel. 410/581-9994, American Express at tel. 623/492-8427, or MasterCard at tel. 636/722-7111 (all in the U.S.). You can have money wired to you via Western Union; there are agents in all of Tanzania's larger towns and cities. Check locations at www.westernunion.com.
Newspapers & Magazines
Tanzania has several daily Swahili and English-language newspapers, Other weekly or monthly, quarterly newspaper covering news throughout East Africa and International are also available .
Our contact person
1. Mathias Kabunduguru
Cell phone: +255 784 513469
Email address: mathiaskabunduguru@estabs.go.tz
2. Zamaradi Kawawa
Cell phone: +255 784 434776
Email address: zamaradikawawa@estabs.go.tz |
