Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa, with an area (including Zanzibar) of just over 945,000 square kilometres (about the size of France, Germany and Switzerland combined), and has a population of some 30 million people. Dar es Salaam is the effective trading and business capital is home to the port and international airport. Dodoma, in central Tanzania, is the official seat of Government. With 28 % of it's landmass dedicated to national parks and reserves and game controlled areas, Tanzania has more land set aside for wildlife conservation than any other country in the World.
View of the crater from Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge
Tanzania is also home to Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, and Mount Meru, the eighth highest ; the World Heritage site of the Ngorngorono Crater, said by many to be the Eighth Wonder of the World ; the Rift Valley and Olduvai Gorge - the "cradle of mankind" ; Lake Tanganyika, the second deepest lake in the World and Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa; the Great Rufiji River; 800 kilometres of coral fringed coastline on the Indian Ocean, and three main tropical islands : Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia.
Tanzania, in truth, has it all! Tanzania's coast is unspoiled and like the islands tropical. The majority of the mainland coast is absolutely undeveloped, save for a few hotels and resorts in and around Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo. It is hard to believe that, when the now bustling town of Dar es Salaam was nothing more than a tiny African fishing village with the first Arab traders arriving on it's coast around 500 AD.
The old Colonial town of Tanga is the centre of the north coast and the main access point for visits to the Amboni Caves and Amani Nature Reserve. During it's height of influence, Kilwa Kisiwani was one of the principal parts of trade on the Indian Ocean. The ruins were named a World Heritage Site in 1981 and archeological investigations have already revealed some of the earlies gold coins ever minted.
Hotels in Tanzania
|
|
|
|
|
|
