TANZANIA

Plains of golden grass stretch towards the horizon until they meet a cloudless azure sky. Montane forests with huge, sturdy trees supporting lianas and drapes of Spanish moss. Bush country that defines the word green. Shimmering sands, rustling palms, and sparkling seas. Tanzania is so rich in resources; it can be described as no less than immensely beautiful.

Located in East Africa just south of the Equator, Tanzania is about four times larger than Great Britain and two-and-a-half times as large as Texas. Tanzania's parks are second to none. Wildlife abounds with more than 1.5 million wildebeest in the Serengeti to 3,000 elephants in Tarangire National Park and millions of others in between. Tanzania is home to nearly 1,100 different migratory and resident bird species.

Human history in Tanzania dates back millions of years. As we know from the Leakey family's archaeological finds, several of mankind's ancestors roamed the earth here, as well as early man. Within the last thousands of years, African people of all four main types-Bantu speakers, Khoisan (click speakers), Nilotic and Cushitic-have lived and thrived here in close connection with one another. Within the last thousand years various Arab, European and Indian groups have moved into the area, adding to the rich ethnic and cultural mix which is present day Tanzania. The mainland of Tanganyika was part of the German East Africa from the late nineteenth century until after World War I, when it was ceded to Great Britain under the League of Nations and United Nations. Tanganyika gained independence in 1961 and the Islands and Zanzibar and Pemba in 1963. A union was formed between the mainland and islands in 1964, when the United Republic of Tanzania was formed.

Generally friendly and accommodating, Tanzanian people come from more than 120 different tribes, each with variations in customs and languages. Kiswahili is the national language, although English is widely spoken in towns, cities and tourist destinations. A full 25% of Tanzania is given over to wildlife protected areas.

Tanzania has a wide variety of climates and vegetation zones. It has hundreds of miles of coastline and hosts large lakes like Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Nyasa. Immense volcanic mountains including Kilimanjaro, at 19,340 feet, and Meru at 14,970, punctuate the countryside. Tanzania has scrub, dry plains, savanna, light woodland, and montane forests.

Tanzania's weather is generally mild with warm to hot days and cool nights. The coast is generally hot and often humid, while the mountain regions are cooler. Tanzania has two rainy periods each year. The "short rains" normally take place in November, while the "long rains" come in April and May.