African Reservations

The United Republic of Tanzania in East Africa is bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.

The United Republic of Tanzania is a state composed of 26 regions, including those of the autonomous region of Zanzibar. Since 1996, the official capital of Tanzania has been Dodoma, where Parliament and some government offices are located. Between independence and 1996, the main coastal city of Dar es Salaam served as the country's political capital. Today, Dar es Salaam remains the principal commercial city of Tanzania and the de-facto seat of most government institutions. It is the major seaport for the country and its landlocked neighbours.

The name Tanzania derives from the names of the two states Tanganyika and Zanzibar that united in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which later the same year was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania. The country covers an area of 945 087 km², of which over 100 000 km² are devoted to reserves and national parks. It is a country of wild open spaces and magnificent wildlife, of palm-fringed islands set in turquoise seas, and of warm and hospitable people. Physically, the country is made up of a vast central plateau, which slopes down towards the Indian Ocean, the three great lakes (Victoria to the north, Tanganyika to the west and Nyasa to the south), the Great Rift Valley with its large volcanoes in the north, and a series of coral islands in the Indian Ocean. The highland plateau, crowned by the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, is the habitat of many wildlife species. Huge populations of elephant, hippopotamus, buffalo, giraffe, gazelle and impala roam the wildlife sanctuaries in the area. Predators are plentiful, especially cheetah, leopard, and large prides of lion. More than one million wildebeest migrate to the northern grassy plains of the Serengeti at the start of the rainy season in December. After birthing in January and February, they scatter over the plains. By May the grass is depleted and the animals begin their trek to the permanent waters of the Serengeti's northern woodlands. Reaching their destinations by July, they remain there until October, at which time they begin their migration southward.

2000 years ago, African people coming from the Nile, Southern Africa and the West were the first to build villages and to farm the land. Later sailors, merchants and explorers from Persia, India, China and Portugal landed on the coast, bringing a diverse mix of cultures to Tanzania. A centuries-old Arab presence along the east coast and offshore islands provides these areas with a distinctive culture. A land of centuries of migration and more than 120 ethnic groups, Tanzania is a peaceful country with a proud history. Colonised by the Portuguese, Germans and the British, Tanzanians finally took control of their destiny with independence in 1961.

The climate is tropical on the coast, on the islands and in Selous. It is temperate in the other national parks. October to mid-March is the hottest period, while June to September is the coolest. However, the range of temperatures is fairly limited and it is always hot (between 25° and 30°C on the coast and between 22° and 27°C in the north). The rainy season is from mid-March to the end of May, and there is light rainfall in November. The central plateau is dry and arid and has hot days and cool nights. The north-eastern and southern highlands are normally cool and temperate, and the rainy season in these regions is during November, and from February to May.