GENERAL INFROMATION

Country Facts

• Population estimated at 35 to 40 million, with over 3½ million living in Dar es Salaam, the biggest city.
• Dodoma is the capital city. President Jakaya Kikwete is the leader of the current ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM)
• The Tanzanian Shilling is the unit of currency. It is possible to change traveller's cheques in the main tourist areas, namely Dar, Arusha, Moshi and Zanzibar. Major banks and hotels in other locations may also accept or change traveller's checques. Credit cards are accepted in some major hotels and restaurants, and there are several ATM machines in Dar, one in Arusha and another on Zanzibar.
• There are two official languages: Kiswahili and English, and more than 100 different tribal languages.
• Christianity and Muslim are the main religions, with the coastal areas, especially the islands being predominantly Muslim.
• 945,166 sq.km. Tanzania is roughly 4 times the size of Great Britain. It shares its borders with eight other African countries: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
• GMT + 3 hours. Due to it's proximity to the equator the hours of daylight and darkness are fairly even.
• Most visitors to Tanzania will need a valid Toursit Visa. These can be issued on entry but it is much easier to arrive with your visa already in your passport. Check with the Tanzanian Embassy in your country of origin before departure.

The Weather

Tanzania has a pleasant tropical climate. Hotter and humid along the coast (expect daytime temperatures of about 30'c), it becomes more comfortable as you move inland. Some areas lying at altitudes above 1000m are quite cool, and even surprisingly chilly at night, so a warm fleece or jacket may be needed. July, August and September tend to be the cooler months, with February usually being the hottest.

Most of the rainfall occurs between November and May, split into two rainy seasons. The short rains start in November and last 4 to 6 weeks. Long rains usually begin in around March and continue through until the end of May. However the rains have been somewhat erratic in the past couple of years.

National Parks and other Protected Areas

Tanzania is one of the most spectacular and captivating countries in Africa, with scenery of unimaginable beauty and a high cultural diversity. Although more than 25% of the land is afforded with some form of protection, (more than any other African country), it is an unfortunate reality that many of the remaining wildernesses, particularly in the southern regions, do not receive an adequate level of protection and may soon cease to exist. It is our aim to draw attention to these areas and provide an economic reason for their protection.

Tanzania has 14 National Parks and numerous other conservation areas, ranging from the world famous Serengeti National Park and Selous Game Reserve to the more obscure Amani Nature Reserve and recently gazetted Kitulo Plateau National Park. It is also home to more than 80 large mammals, including the famous Big Five, and over a thousand species of birds!

What to Pack

There are several types of holiday options in Tanzania, ranging from a week or two relaxing on the idyllic beaches to the adventurous treks up Mt Kilimanjaro. Basic items of clothing (such as t-shirts) can be bought in even the most remote villages, so you can afford to pack light. Below is a brief list of a few essential items:

• Sun hat - ideally wide brimmed if you are going on a game viewing safari or hike.
• Sun screen and good quality sun glasses.
• Insect repellent. Be aware that products containing DEET are the most effective but do have a tendency to melt certain plastics.
• A solid pair of walking shoes or boots (even if you are not going hiking).
• Sandals or something similar. It is possible to buy ‘flip-flops' very cheaply in almost every village.
• Binoculars, especially if you are heading out game viewing. Get the best ones you can afford - it's worth it!
• A week's supply of underwear. Cotton is best.
• A good book or two.
• Torch and spare batteries.
• A small towel

The clothes you need depend on what you intend to do. For hiking activities you'll need good quality trousers, a shirt or t-shirt and maybe even a jumper or fleece if you are heading up where it may be cold. Shorts are not always practical for hiking as there may be rough grasses which can irritate your skin. You will need specialist gear if you intend to hike up Kilimanjaro, which can be hired forthe trip.

On game drives you can wear whatever you feel comfortable in. It is best to stick to subtle lighter colours. If you have fair skin it is a good idea to always have a long sleeved shirt at hand for sun protection. It can be surprisingly cool on the mornings, especially when you are perched on top of your safari vehicle moving through the bush, so a light windbreak jacket or fleece will be useful.

If you are venturing out on an extended camping safari then you will need to bring along several changes of clothes. It will usually be possible to get laundry done along the way, but it helps if your clothes are made from quick drying fabrics, denim should be avoided. Camping shops are now full of hi-spec gear that is designed to keep you cool and dries in minutes.

In some locations long sleeves and trousers are recommended for evening wear to avoid insect bites.Wild Things will supply all camping equipment. You may want to bring your own sleeping bag or sheet.

Be Respectful

Tanzanian's large Muslim population mainly live around the coastal regions and on the islands. However it is still important to dress decently when in any town or village, even inland. Women should cover their knees and shoulders and avoid low revealing tops. Skirts are considered more conventional than trousers.

It is also more respectable for a man to wear trousers rather than shorts, and it is not acceptable to walk around in public without a shirt. When staying in a National Park or Reserve, at a lodge or campsite, it is acceptable to wear shorts and sleeveless tops.

Ladies...

To avoid any extra attention dress sensibly, following the guidelines above. This cannot be stressed enough for places like Zanzibar and Pemba. You will notice that many of the women in Tanzania secure a ‘Kanga' (sarong) over whatever they are wearing.

This usually serves to keep their clothes clean but you may find a Kanga very useful, and easier than changing from shorts to long skirt all the time. You can also throw a light scarf around your shoulders when walking around town.

On the beaches topless or nude sunbathing is prohibited, and ignoring this rule could find you being harassed by the authorities. Bikinis are OK, but avoid the tiny string bikinis, and again keep a sarong to hand.

Sanitary supplies are usually available in bigger towns, but you should bring enough with you. You may also find a travel pack of baby wipes very useful on camping trips and game drives.

Health

If this is the first time you are venturing away from the securities of the First World into the tropics, then you should definitely consult your doctor. He or she can advise you on what is best to pack into your personal medical kit and what precautions you should take for the various risks.

Most drugs are available without prescription in Tanzania, but you may not have time to reach a pharmacy, and therefore you should carry some basic supplies. Ask for the best advice on Malaria Prophylactics. You MUST inform us in advance if you are allergic to any foods or medicines.

The tap water is not safe to drink. In remote bush lodges and tented camps you will be fine brushing your teeth in the tap water, but in big towns such as Dar and Stone Town we recommend you use bottle water for teeth brushing and avoid getting water in your mouth when showering. Bottled water is widely available and will be provided on all Wild Things' Safaris.

Other Information

* SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
The Serengeti is Tanzania's largest park, covering an area of 14,700 sq kms. Serengeti's main fame lies in its 3 million plains game animals that provide the greatest wildlife spectacle anywhere.
A unique phenomenon of the Serengeti is the annual migration. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra trek the route annually, in some places simply grazing, in other places rushing madly across rivers and plains. The game most likely to be seen in the Serengeti, in addition to the wildebeest and zebra, are gazelle, lion, cheetah, warthog, hyena, hippo and ostrich. In all, there are more than thirty-five species of plains animals, as well as a great profusion of bird life. The landscape changes within the park from the vast treeless central plains to thick scrub and forest in the north. Linking these areas is the savannah, dotted with acacia trees and magnificent rock outcrops. Full advantage has been taken of these unusual rock formations to create architecturally unique lodges that blend into the landscape.

*NGORONGORO CRATER AND OLDUVAI GORGE
Ngorongoro Crater is indisputably one of Africa's most beautiful nature reserves and is certainly one of the most spectacular settings to be found anywhere. It is the largest intact crater in the world (there are five damaged ones larger). The rim is about 20 kms in diameter and the floor of the crater covers some 250 sq kms. Over 30,000 animals including elephant, lion, gazelle, wildebeest, zebra, cheetah, rhino and countless types of birds live here. Within the Ngorongoro conservation area is the historic site of Olduvai Gorge. Under the guidance of Dr Leakey, the site yielded the remains of prehistoric elephants, giant horned sheep and enormous ostriches. The most important find, though, is the skull of the ‘Nutcracker man' that dates from around 1.75 million years ago.

*ARUSHA
Arusha sits in lush, green countryside at the foot of Mt Meru (4556m). With many coffee, wheat and maize estates surround the town, mainly tended by the Wameru and Waarusha tribes. The town's market is alive with colour, its stall piled high with fresh fruit and vegetables. The craft shops in the vicinity of the clock tower offer a wide range of superb ebony makonde carvings as well as malachite jewellery and bright local fabric.

*TANZANIA
Population: 30 million approx. Area: 945,087 sq kms.
Capital: Dodoma. (Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Zanzibar Town, Tanga and Arusha are the principal towns). People: 120 groups, mainly of Bantu origin. No dominant tribe. Religion: Christianity, Islam, Hindu and traditional religions. Language: Swahili is the national and official language. English is widely spoken in business circles. Climate:Tropical with variations according to altitude. Rainy season April-May and Nov-Dec. Warmer on the coast and cooler in upland regions. Temperatures range from 23-30C(73-80F) in Dar es Salaam. Currency: Tanzanian shillings (TAS) - 100 cents

*HISTORY
The unearthing by Louis Leakey of ‘Nutcracker Man', indicates that Tanzania has been the scene of human habitation since the dawn of mankind. This discovery at Olduvai Gorge is amongst the oldest human fossils ever found. More recently during the 1st millennium AD, Bantu immigrants from the north brought with them iron workings and pottery making skills. Active colonisation began in the 8th century in Kilwa and Zanzibar with Arabs from Oman. Two centuries later Persians arrived on the coast and built prosperous stone cities of which remnants are still visible. The 11th and 12th centuries saw the evolution of the Swahili language from the intermarriage of Africans, Arabs, and Persians. Trade quickly developed in ivory, rhinoceros horn and coconut oil. Trading flourished in the 19th century with copper and gold from the interior and the notorious slave trade. Reports from early European explorers and missionaries led to the Sultan Baighash of Zanzibar being forced to outlaw slavery in 1873. Along the coastal regions, however, it continued illegally until colonial times. In the late 19th century the mainland was declared a protectorate of German East Africa and Zanzibar became a British protectorate. After World War I, the Germans were expelled and East Africa came under a League of Nations Mandate to the British, who renamed it Tanganyika. Tanganyika gained independence in 1961 and the following year was proclaimed a Republic within the British commonwealth. Tanganyika and Zanzibar united in 1964 to become the United Republic of Tanzania.

*ECONOMY
Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, contributing almost 60% of the GDP and as much as 80% of the export earnings, as well as employing 90% of the total labour force. Major exports include coffee, cotton, minerals and tea. Cloves from Zanzibar are also important. Manufacturing accounts for approximately 6% of the GDP and is dominated by government owned concerns. Mining accounts for less than 1% of the GDP, most of which comes from diamond sales.

PEOPLE

*CHAGGA The Chagga live on and around Mount Kilimanjaro. They are expert farmers and coffee growers. The cultivation of this valuable export crop has become the main source of their wealth. One of the most fascinating aspects of traditional Chagga life is the use of water resources for irrigation. Kilimanjaro is the source of many rivers and the Chagga long ago developed a system of furrows to draw off water at high levels and divert it over long distances. The irrigation system makes the Chagga homestead a lush garden. Seventeen varieties of banana grow on Kilimanjaro and these provide the staple element of the Chagga diet.

*MASAI The Masai are probably the most famous of all the African tribes. They are a pastoral people noted for drinking cattle blood mixed with milk, a mainstay of their diet. Their love of cattle is legendary and based on religious beliefs. They are proud people, given to superior airs. Tall and slender, they carry themselves elegantly, dressed in brilliant red cloth with both men and women adorned with beadwork and metal jewellery.

*SWAHILI Swahili is the name given not only to East Africa's widespread language but also to some of the people living along the coast. They form a collection of tribes who share a common culture and language, but the boundaries between the Swahili and their neighbours are never definitely clear. The Swahili do not stand alone as a distinct ethnic or tribal entity but form an element in a wider mixed coastal society. Little is known of the groups who were among their ancestors - the Diba, Debuli, and others from Persia and India. The Swahili emerged as distinct people with their own way of life by the 12th century at the latest. They have always produced millet and rice for their own consumption, as well as coconut products and fruit.