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Location:
Tanzania is in Eastern Africa, bordering
the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and
Mozambique.
Land Boundaries:
Burundi 451 km, Democratic Republic of
the Congo 459 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi
475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217
km, Uganda 396 km and Zambia 338 km.
Geography:
Size is 945,087 sq km, slightly larger
than twice the size of California, US.
The terrain consists of plains along
coast, a central plateau with highlands
in the north and south. The climate
varies from tropical along coast to
temperate in the highlands. Tanzania's
lowest point is at the Indian Ocean, 0
m; its highest point is Africa's highest
peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro standing at 5,895
m. Tanzania is bordered by three of the
largest lakes on the continent: Lake
Victoria (the world's second-largest
freshwater lake) in the north, Lake
Tanganyika (the world's second deepest)
in the west, and Lake Nyasa (Malawi) in
the southwest.
Climate
Tropical weather prevails over most of
Tanzania. The coastal area is hot and
humid. In the northern circuit cool
weather prevails from May to September.
The hottest months for the whole country
are from October to February. The long
rains are from March to May, and the
short rains from October to November.
Coastal areas and the islands have
tropical climate, whereas the central
plateau is semi-arid and the highlands
are semi-temperature
Population:
Just over 36.5 million people live in
Tanzania. Life expectancy is around 44
years. Birth rate is on average 5.15 per
woman. 8% of the population is believed
to have HIV/AIDS. Literacy rate is just
over 78%.
Languages:
Kiswahili or Swahili (official),
Kiunguju (name for Swahili in Zanzibar),
English (official, primary language of
commerce, administration, and higher
education), Arabic (widely spoken in
Zanzibar) and many local languages.
Note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother
tongue of the Bantu people living in
Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania.
Although Kiswahili is Bantu in structure
and origin, its vocabulary draws on a
variety of sources, including Arabic and
English, and it has become the lingua
franca of central and eastern Africa.
The first language of most people is one
of the local languages.
The
People
The evocative mix
of people and cultures in Tanzania
creates a tapestry of memories for the
visitor.
Since the dawn of
mankind, when the savannahs of east and
southern Africa saw the birth of
humanity, Tanzania has been home to
countless peoples of many different
origins. Tanzania's history has been
influenced by a procession of peoples,
from the original Bantu settlers from
south and west Africa to the Arabs from
Shiraz in Persia and the Oman; from the
Portuguese to the Germans and the
British. Tanzanians took control of
their own destiny with independence in
1961.
It has a population
of over 26 million with 120 African
ethnic groups, none of which represent
more than 10 per cent of the population.
The Sukuma, the largest group, live in
the north-western part of the country,
south of Lake Victoria. They are fairly
commercial oriented and have prospered
with a mix of cotton farming and cattle
herding.
The Hadzapi of
northern Tanzania have built a society
based on hunting and gathering food,
while the Iraqw live in the central
highlands of Mbulu and are known for
their statuesque, immobile posture and
sharply delineated features. They grow
their own food and tend cattle.
The Masaai, who are
perhaps the most well known of East
Africa's ethnic groups, are pastoralists
whose livelihood and culture is based on
the rearing of cattle, which are used to
determine social status and wealth. They
dominate northern Tanzania but only
occupy a fraction of their former
grazing grounds in the north, much of
which they now share with national parks
and other protected areas. They are
easily recognised by their single red or
blue garments and their ochre covered
bodies.
North of the Masaai
steppe, on the slopes of Kilimanjaro,
live the Chagga, who farm the mountain
side. Through cooperative farming they
have achieved a fair standard of living.
The Gogo live near
Dodoma and have developed slowly due to
lack of water. The formerly warlike Hehe
live in Iringa District's highland
grasses.
The Makonde are
internationally famous for their
intricate wood (ebony) carvings (sold
over much of East Africa). They live
along the coast on the Makonde plateau
and their relative isolation has
resulted in a high degree of ethnic
self-awareness.
The Nyamwezi, whose
name translates into "People of the
Moon", were probably so called because
of their location in the west. The
Nyamwezi, now cultivators, were once
great traders. The 19th century European
explorers regarded them the most
powerful group in the interior.
The Haya, located
along the shores of Lake Victoria, to
the north-west of the Nyamwezi, grew and
traded coffee long before the arrival of
the Europeans and today have established
tea and coffee processing plants. Haya
women produce excellent handicrafts.
In an area of
forest and bush live the Ha who retain a
deep belief in the mystical. They live
in relative solitude with their
long-horned cattle and wearing hides or
fibres of bark. They are well known for
their artistic expression, especially
their dances and celebrations.
Tanzanians will
tell you that the reason for the
relative harmony between the various
ethnic groups is that virtually everyone
speaks Swahili in addition to their
native tongue.
Religion:
Mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%,
indigenous beliefs 35%. Zanzibar - more
than 99% Muslim.
Communications
Almost half a million travellers pass
through Dar-es-Salaam International
airport annually. An $870 million
programme to improve the country's trunk
roads is due for completion this year. .
Political History:
Shortly after independence, Tanganyika
and Zanzibar merged to form the nation
of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule came
to an end in 1995 with the first
democratic elections held in the country
since the 1970s. Zanzibar's
semi-autonomous status and popular
opposition have led to two contentious
elections since 1995, which the ruling
party won despite international
observers' claims of voting
irregularities.
Economic Overview:
Tanzania is one of the poorest countries
in the world. The economy depends
heavily on agriculture, which accounts
for about half of GDP, provides 85% of
exports, and employs 80% of the work
force. Topography and climatic
conditions, however, limit cultivated
crops to only 4% of the land area.
Industry traditionally featured the
processing of agricultural products and
light consumer goods. The World Bank,
the International Monetary Fund, and
bilateral donors have provided funds to
rehabilitate Tanzania's out-of-date
economic infrastructure and to alleviate
poverty. Growth in 1991-2002 featured a
pickup in industrial production and a
substantial increase in output of
minerals, led by gold. Oil and gas
exploration and development played an
important role in this growth. Recent
banking reforms have helped increase
private sector growth and investment.
Continued donor assistance and solid
macroeconomic policies supported real
GDP growth of more than 5.2% in 2004.
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