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Travel Information in Tanzania: Tanzania is part of
East Africa, the largest of the three (3) countries.
It' s amazing scenery is most evident in its national
parks and game reserves. Below are some of Tanzania's
major parks.
Full
country name: United Republic of Tanzania
Area: 945,090 sq km (364,879 sq mi)
Population: 31,270,820
Capital city: Dodoma
People: 99% native African (over 100 tribes),
1% Asian, European and Arabic
Languages: Swahili, English, indigenous.
Religion: 40% Christian, 33% Muslim, 20% indigenous
beliefs
Government: Republic (multi-party state)
President: Benjamin William Mkapa
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GDP:
US$7 billion
GDP per head: US$220
Inflation: 40%
Major industries: Tobacco, sugar, sisal, diamond
and gold mining, oil refining, cement, tourism
Major trading partners: India, Germany, Japan,
Malaysia, Rwanda, the Netherlands, South Africa, Kenya,
U.K., Saudi Arabia, China
Facts
for the Traveler
Visas: All visitors require a visa except citizens
of some Commonwealth countries (Canada and the UK
excempted), Scandinavian countries, the Republic of
Ireland, Rwanda and Sudan. For these nationalities,
a free visitor's pass, valid for one to three months,
can be picked up at the point of entry (you'll be
asked how long you plan to stay - three months is
no problem). You will need proof of yellow fever vaccination
if travelling to Zanzibar.
Health: Yellow fever, malaria, bilharzia, tsetse fly,
cholera, hepatitis, meningitis, and typhoid. HIV/AIDS
is a serious risk, though not as prevalent as in Uganda.
Tampons are imported and available only in the bigger
towns and cities. Locally made sanitary napkins are
generally plentiful.
Time: GMT/UTC plus three hours
Electricity: 230V
Weights & measures: Metric
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When
to Go
The
standard tourist season is in January and February,
when the hot, dry weather at this time of year is
generally considered to be the most pleasant. But
to catch the Serengeti at its best you want to avoid
the dry season when virtually all the animals go on
holiday to Kenya. Be prepared if you're heading into
the big wet, as many roads - particularly on the south
coast - can become too squishy to drive on.
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Events
The
biggest annual event in Tanzania begins at the Serengeti
National Park near the Kenyan border, when huge herds
of wildebeests head for greener pastures in Kenya.
Starting in April each year, more than 2 million of
these animals migrate across the Serengeti's southern
plains accompanied by zebras, antelopes, gazelles,
lions and tourists. Tanzanian Independence Day (December
9) somehow pales in significance.
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Step out into the vast open plains that dominate much
of Tanzania and you suddenly feel very, very small.
And so you should. You've just joined one of the largest,
wildest animal populations in the world. Wildebeest,
monkey, antelope, lion, cheetah, crocodile, gazelle,
flamingo - you name them, Tanzania's had great White
plunderers shoot them. But these days they use cameras
rather than guns. An economically poor country troubled
by rowdy neighbours and opportunistic colonial powers,
Tanzania offers some of the best wildlife spotting
opportunities on the continent. Famous parks such
as the Serengeti and Mt Kilimanjaro, or the wonderful
crater of Ngorongoro, make many drab towns here well
worth the stopover. Then there's the country's very
sexy appendage - Zanzibar. One of several islands
off Tanzania's coast, this former spice centre simply
oozes exotica and scented Persian bath water.
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