Tanzania is a country of colour and contrast. Home to Africa’s highest mountain, and bordered to the east by the clear, sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean, it is a true jewel of East Africa.
In the first of our showcase series, we’ve put the spotlight on one of fastjet’s favourite countries to discover lesser known facts about beautiful Tanzania.
1. A bounty of National Parks
Tanzania is an East African country known for its vast wilderness areas. They include the plains of Serengeti National Park, a safari mecca populated by the “big five” game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino), and Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain. Offshore lie the tropical islands of Zanzibar, with Arabic influences, and Mafia, with a marine park home to whale sharks and coral reefs.There are 12 national parks, 13 nature reserves, and 38 protected areas scattered throughout the country, each with their own unique landscape and character.
2. Wildlife
Tanzania has the largest number of wildlife per square kilometre, with more than 4 million wild animals from 430 different species. One of the most well-known national parks is the Serengeti, Africa’s largest nature reserve. It’s home to over one million species of large animals, including African wild cats, baboons, elephants and zebras.
3. Natural Phenomenons
You can also find the world’s largest volcanic crater at Ngorongoro in the north of the country. At 19km in diameter and with a depth of 600m, it is a foreboding and impressive natural phenomenon.
4. Dar es Salaam
Tanzania is one of our most treasured countries in Africa and we have made our base in the bustling city of Dar es Salaam, located on the coast of the dazzling Indian Ocean.
The name Dar es Salaam means the ‘harbour’ or ‘haven of peace’ in Arabic, and today it is one of Tanzania’s most vibrant and metropolitan cities. It’s the largest natural sea port in the world, and the city is known for its expansive fishing market where you can buy the delicious coconut crab. Native to Tanzania, this is the largest crab in the world.
5. Mount Kilimanjaro
Just a short fastjet flight away from Dar es Salaam is the extraordinary Mount Kilimanjaro, the largest mountain in Africa. It stands at an impressive 5,895 metres and is the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Like most free-standing mountains, Kilimanjaro is also a volcano, although it’s been dormant for around 360,000 years.
Did you know: Over 20,000 people attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro each year but only about 2/3rds make it to the summit.
6. Cuisine
Food is well-loved in Tanzania, with various exotic cuisines available across the nation. You can tuck into a range of delicious meats, including, antelope, crocodile meat, beef, chicken and ostrich. Locals love to snack on chips Mayai (chips-egg omelette), Tilapia (fish), samosa filled with beef or chicken and chapatti, a flat bread, which is particularly popular among children.
Tanzanians also eat delicacies such as fried termites or locusts. How adventurous will you be on your trip?
Tanzania isn’t short of great, locally grown produce. You’ll find plenty of coffee, cotton, tea, tobacco, cashew nuts, grains, fruits and vegetables harvested throughout the country.
7. Language
Over 120 languages are spoken across Tanzania. The majority are Bantu languages, which itself has over 535 different languages and dialects that are spoken throughout the whole of Africa.
Tanzania is steeped in rich history and vibrant culture, with countless areas of natural beauty to explore, making it a perfect travel destination for people of all ages.
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