|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Tanzania General Information |
|
| History |
Today, Tanzania is one of the most stable countries in Eastern Africa. It is a modified democracy with a diverse population of largely African descent. The famous volcanic Rift Valley of Africa travels through central Tanzania. Several fossil human discoveries from the Rift Valley (and Olduvai Gorge) revolutionized our understanding of human ancestry. David Livingstone ("Dr. Livingstone, I presume") conducted much of his mission work here. And, Tanzania is the location of Gombe Stream where Dr. Jane Goodall conducted her famous chimpanzee studies. The coast of Tanzania was colonized by the Arabs in the first millennium C. E. Arab traders also colonized the island of Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania. The Arab presence had a significant effect on Tanzania and affected what is now the national language of Tanzania, Swahili. Tanzania (Tanganyika) was occupied by the Germans in the nineteenth century. It became a British Colony after World War I. The country gained independence in 1961. |
| Geography | Tanzania is one of the largest countries in Eastern Africa with a total surface area of over 937,000 square kilometers. It has a population of approximately 31 million people and is primarily agricultural in nature. It is located directly south of the equator bordering Kenya and Uganda to the North, Rwanda to the West, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Mozambique to the South. Tanzania is a frequent destination for safaris due to its great natural beauty (Serengeti Plain, Mt. Kilimanjaro) and many preserves. In addition to its natural beauty and bounteous wildlife (monkeys, elephants, zebras, lions, giraffes), Tanzania possesses a marvelously diverse human population (over 120 tribal groups (Maasai, Haya, Chagga, etc.) There are two national languages Swahili and English. It is one of the poorest countries in the world with over 50% of the population below the poverty line. |