Tanzania is a safari destination without peer. Tanzania is East Africa’s largest country and over a quarter of its surface is taken up by 13 National parks and 16 wildlife reserves that collectively sustains over 30% of Africa’s largest mammals. Besides safaris, Tanzania with Africa’s highest Mountain - Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro conservation Area, Marine parks and protected areas offer all there is to see. The Northern circuit is the most popular for game safaris and includes Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Mt Kilimanjaro.

Facts

Full name: United Republic of Tanzania
Population: 40.4 million (UN, 2007)
Capital: Dodoma (official), Dar es Salaam (commercial)
Largest city: Dar es Salaam
Area: 945,087 sq km (364,900 sq miles)
Major Languages: English, Swahili
Major Religions: Christianity, Islam
Life Expectancy: 51 years (men), 54 years (Women) (UN)
Monetary Unit: 1 Tanzanian Shilling = 100 cents
Main Exports: Sisal, cloves, coffee, cotton, cashew nuts, minerals, tobacco./p>

Government:

Ruling party candidate Jakayakikwete, Tanzania’s long-serving foreign minister, won presidential elections in December 2005. He vowed to continue the economic reforms set in motion by the outgoing president, Benjamin Mkapa and to create jobs and tackle poverty.

Visas:

Has you might known already, it wiil require you to pay 50 US dollars for your visa at the airport.

Health and Immunisations:

If you are traveling from a country where yellow fever is present you will need to prove you have had the inoculation. Several vaccinations are highly recommended when traveling to Tanzania, they include: Yellow fever, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Diphtheria. It is also recommended that you are up to date with your polio and tetanus vaccination. Rabies is also prevalent and if you’re planning to spend a lot of time in Tanzania, it may worth getting the rabies shots before you go. Contact a travel clinic at least 3 months before you plan to travel.

Safety Rules:

Tanzanians are well known for their friendly, laid-back attitude. In most cases you will be humbled by their hospitality despite the fact that most people are a lot poorer than you. As you travel in the tourist areas, you will probably attract your fair share of souvenir hawkers and beggars. Remember that these are poor people who are trying to earn money to feed their families. If you aren’t interested then say so, but try and remain polite.

• Make a copy of your passport and keep it in your luggage.
• Don’t walk on your own at night in the major cities or on empty beaches especially in Pemba and Zanzibar.
• Don’t wear jewelry.
• Don’t carry too much cash with you.
• Wear a money belt that fits under your clothes.
• Don’t carry a lot of camera equipment especially in the major cities.
• Beware of thieves posing as police officers.

  When to Go to Tanzania:

The rainy seasons in Tanzania are from March to May and November to December. Roads become washed out and some parks even have to close. But, the rainy season is the perfect time to get good deals on Safaris and enjoy a quieter experience without the crowds.
The best months to climb Kilimanjaro are January, February and September when it is warm and dry.
The best time to see the annual migration of millions of wildebeest and Zebras is February to March when they have their young. The dry season (June to November) in general is the best time to go on Safari in Tanzania since the animals congregate around the water holes and river banks.
The best time to enjoy the beaches of Zanzibar and Pemba is between July and October.