TANZANIA

Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa, Tanzania boasts the highest mountain on the continent, the exotic spice islands of historical Zanzibar, and the famous Serengeti National Park whose seemingly endless plains stage one of the greatest spectacles of animal behavior, the annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra followed by their predators. The Great Rift Valley gives rise to the unique geological formations found in the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater and Mt Kilimanjaro. It is also home to the world's largest game reserve, the Selous, covering an area larger than Switzerland.

Tanzania is richly endowed with many animal and bird species and offers some of the finest game viewing on the continent. Dar-es-Salaam is the largest city, a hustling, bustling and surprisingly scenic tropical seaport that is a common starting point for trips into the country. A dusty safari into the vast wilderness is superbly complemented by time spent on the refreshing Zanzibar islands, with white palm-fringed beaches, beautiful coral gardens, and historic Stone Town - an exotic reminder of its days as a major spice and slave trade center.

Tanzania is home to hundreds of different ethnic groups and cultures, from the red-clad herders of the Masai tribes on the Serengeti plains to the modestly veiled women of Zanzibar's Islamic Stone Town. The warmth and smiling faces of its friendly people will touch the heart of every traveller.

CLIMATE OF TANZANIA
Tanzania is hot throughout the year and is humid on the coast and dry on the central plateau. The heavy rains last from March to June and can make unsealed road travel difficult. The hot, dry weather in January and February attracts the most tourists. The best time to visit the Serengeti is from January to March when the grazers are calving and there are plenty of lion around, or to witness the wildebeest migration to and from Kenya which occurs at the onset of the dry season and again with the first rains, usually the beginning of June and mid-November. Zanzibar has a warm climate year-round and its coastal resorts are tempered by sea breezes. The island is best avoided in April and May, the rainy season.

VISA INFORMATION FOR TOURISTS
All visitors entering Tanzania require a visa. Visitors may obtain a visa on arrival at Dar-es-Salaam or Zanzibar airports for US$50, payable in cash. All visitors also require proof of sufficient funds and should hold documentation for their return or onward journey. Passports should be valid for at least six months from date of entry. Those arriving from an infected country must hold a yellow fever vaccination certificate.

Americans: A visa is issued on arrival, and a passport valid for six months from date of entry is required.
UK nationals: A visa is issued on arrival, and a passport valid for six months from date of entry is required.
Canadians: A visa is issued on arrival, and a passport valid for six months from date of entry is required.
Australians: A visa is issued on arrival, and a passport valid for six months from date of entry is required.

South Africans: A visa is issued on arrival, and a passport valid for six months from date of entry is required.
Irish nationals: A Visitor's Pass is issued on arrival, and a passport valid for six months from date of entry is required.
New Zealanders: A visa is issued on arrival, and a passport valid for six months from date of entry is required.

TRAVEL ATTRACTIONS AND THINGS TO DO IN TANZANIA

With highlights like Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Zanzibar, Tanzania is definitely a country to be recognised both in terms of wildlife and beauty. For many, it's the ultimate safari destination, and with national parks and game reserves covering some 33,660 sq km (13,000 sq miles) or 28% of the country, Tanzania has more land devoted to wildlife than anywhere else in the world.

The Serengeti National Park is a plain-dwellers' stronghold of 14,763 sq km (5,678 sq miles), claimed to be one of the best places to watch game in Africa. The Selous Game Reserve is larger than Switzerland and covers one-sixth of Tanzania's land surface.

Tanzania's most famous attraction, Mount Kilimanjaro, at 5,895m (19,341ft), is Africa's highest mountain and the only free-standing mountain in the world that can simply be walked up.

The former capital city and major port Dar es Salaam is within striking distance of Zanzibar - a beautiful island jewel in the Indian Ocean with a fascinating spice and slaving legacy and palm-backed beaches.

In addition to its beautiful landscape, Tanzania has approximately 120 ethnic groups and Tanzanians value their country's multicultural heritage. The tall red-robed Masai are the best known of Tanzania's peoples, inhabiting the northern regions of the country. Visits to their villages are often a highlight of safari itineraries.

Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia and the entire Tanzanian coast is home to the Swahili people, a vibrant mix of Arab, Indian and Bantu origins. A predominantly Islamic region, old mosques and coral palaces scatter the area. Swahili culture centres on the dhow, a wooden sailing boat powered by the seasonal wind.

The United Republic of Tanzania became independent in 1961 and merged with Zanzibar in 1964. It has generally stood out as a stable democracy in a region that has witnessed too many vicious civil conflicts.Whether you enjoy the tranquillity of the Swahili coast, game watching in the magnificent parks or the challenge of ascending Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania has it all.