Things to know about TANZANIA
Country, culture and climate
COUNTRY
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The United Republic of Tanzania lies on the east coast of Africa and is bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north; by Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west; by the Indian Ocean to the east; and by Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south.
Savannah and bush cover over half the country, and semi-desert accounts for the remaining land area, with the exception of the coastal plains.
Kilimanjaro, 5,895m (19,341ft) above sea level, Africa's highest peak and the highest free-standing mountain in the world is situated in Tanzania.
Wildlife resources of Tanzania are described as "without parallel in Africa”. It contains some 20% of the species of Africa’s large mammal population, found across its 14 national parks, reserves, conservation areas and marine parks, spread over an area of more than 42,000 sq km and forming more than one-third of the country's territory.
CULTURE
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Tanzania is home to over 120 different ethnic groups. The tall, red-robed Masai are the best known of Tanzania's people.
About 40-45% of Tanzania’s population is Christian and about 35-40% are Muslims. A small number follow traditional religions and there are some Asian communities including Sikhs and Hindus
Kiswahili and English are the official languages. The term Swahili refers to the people while Kiswahili refers to the language. Originating along the coast, Kiswahili is a Bantu language with many words derived from Arabic.
The standard greeting of 'hello' is jambo. People are delighted if visitors can greet them in Kiswahili.
CLIMATE
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The climate is tropical and the northwestern highlands are cool and temperate. There are two rainy seasons; the short rains are generally from October to December, while the long rains last from March to June.
In the cooler season, from June to September, jackets and sweaters may be needed, especially in the evenings. It can get very cold at night on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater and early morning game drives may be chilly before the sun comes up.
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