10 Fun Facts About Tanzania: Amazing Wildlife & Culture

ByKim Richmond Hours Updated Categories Countries

Uncover the diverse beauty of Africa with these captivating, intriguing facts about Tanzania. Tanzania is one of Africa’s most remarkable countries, celebrated for its breathtaking natural wonders, rich cultural traditions, and intriguing history.

Tanzania presents a tapestry of awe-inspiring landscapes and wildlife, deep-rooted cultural heritage, and a compelling journey from its historical roots to contemporary achievements. So, what exactly do you know about Tanzania? Let’s explore ten amazing facts about Tanzania.

Fun Facts About Tanzania At-a-Glance

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
Population: 65,642,682 (as of 2023)
Capital City: Dodoma (legislative capital), Dar es Salaam (administrative capital)
Area: 947,300 sq km
Official Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education)
Predominant Religion: Christian 63.1%, Muslim 34.1%
Currency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS).
Climate: Varies from tropical along the coast to temperate in the highlands.
(Source: The World Factbook)

1. Mount Kilimanjaro: Africa’s Roof

Mount Kilimanjaro, located in Tanzania, is the tallest mountain in Africa, at approximately 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level. With its snow-capped summit, this dormant volcano is a marvel in the Eastern Rift mountains.

Kilimanjaro’s unique ecological system encompasses cultivated land, rainforest, moorland, alpine desert, and an arctic summit, supporting diverse wildlife and vegetation. However, the mountain’s glaciers are receding rapidly, raising scientists’ concerns about climate change’s effects.

Mount Kilimanjaro attracts over 35,000 climbers annually, contributing significantly to local tourism.

2. The Great Wildebeest Migration: Nature’s Marvel

The Great Wildebeest Migration is an awe-inspiring natural phenomenon involving over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle traversing the plains of Tanzania and Kenya.

This epic journey in search of water and fresh pasture is a defining feature of the region’s ecosystem, symbolizing the unyielding pulse of life across the Serengeti National Park and Maasai Mara.

Undoubtedly, the most exhilarating part of this remarkable phenomenon is the Mara River crossing, where immense herds navigate through the waters to the Masai Mara, evading crocodiles and facing numerous perils.

3. Tarangire National Park: A Safari Paradise

Tarangire National Park is renowned for its ancient baobab trees, some of which can live up to 1,000 years, offering a unique backdrop to the African safari experience.

It’s also home to tree-climbing lions, a rare sight that adds to the park’s allure. Known for its diverse ecosystem, the park hosts many African animals, making it a premier choice for safari enthusiasts seeking authentic wildlife encounters in Tanzania.

4. Serengeti National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Climbing lions at the Serengeti National Park
Climbing lions at the Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is one of the world’s premier safari destinations, renowned for its vast savannahs and prolific wildlife.

It hosts over a million mammals, including lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes, the endangered Eastern black rhinoceros, buffalo herds, gazelles, and impalas. It is celebrated for the annual Great Migration.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Serengeti’s rich biodiversity and extraordinary ecosystems have also earned it recognition as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, underlining its global environmental and conservation significance

5. Olduvai Gorge: Cradle of Mankind

Olduvai Gorge, located in the eastern Serengeti Plains, is one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world. Known as the “Cradle of Mankind,” it has yielded fossil evidence of some of the earliest human ancestors, dating back millions of years.

The discovery of Homo habilis and successive archaeological finds have been crucial in understanding human evolution. This site exemplifies Tanzania’s contribution to the global scientific community, offering key insights into the origins and development of early human life.

6. Lake Tanganyika: A Freshwater Giant

Lake Tanganyika, distinguished as the second-largest freshwater lake in the world by volume and depth, spans four countries: Tanzania, Burundi, Zambia, and Congo.

With its profound biodiversity, the lake, supplied by at least 50 streams and rivers, is vital for scientific research. It harbors around 8% of the world’s freshwater and is home to approximately 500 fish species, primarily residing within 20 meters of the surface.

This lake’s ecological richness and immense size, second only to Lake Baikal in Siberia in terms of volume and depth, make it a crucial natural resource and a hotspot for biological diversity.

7. The Ngorongoro Crater: A Natural Wonder

Ngorongoro crater.
The Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater, formed from a collapsed volcano, is the world’s largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera. It is located in Tanzania, about 20 kilometers across and 610 meters deep.

This natural amphitheater hosts extraordinary wildlife, including the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo), making it a premier safari destination.

The crater is part of the larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which balances human habitation and wildlife preservation, demonstrating a unique approach to conservation.

8. Lake Victoria: Africa’s Largest Freshwater Lake

Lake Victoria, shared by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, is the largest lake in Africa and the world’s second-largest freshwater lake by surface area. It is a vital resource for the region, supporting over 30 million people and a rich biodiversity, including unique fish species like the Nile perch.

The lake plays a crucial role in the local economy, particularly in fishing and agriculture. However, environmental challenges such as pollution, invasive species, and overfishing threaten its ecosystem, highlighting the need for sustainable management practices.

9. Gombe Stream National Park: A Haven for Chimp Research

A fact about Tanzania you might not know is that Gombe Stream National Park is famed for Dr. Jane Goodall’s pioneering chimpanzee research, highlighting Tanzania’s role in global scientific and conservation efforts.

This park offers a unique glimpse into these primates’ daily lives and natural behavior, contributing to primatological studies. Its lush forests and diverse ecosystems provide a sanctuary for chimpanzees and a variety of other wildlife species, making it a key site for conservation and scientific discovery.

10. Zanzibar: A Historical Perspective on Slavery

Zanzibar was historically a hub for the Arab slave trade, with slaves being a primary commodity traded by Arab, Indian, Portuguese, and European merchants.

The island’s slave market, once located in Stone Town, was the last of its kind to cease operations, closing in 1873 under British pressure. This dark aspect of Zanzibar’s history is remembered and condemned today, with significant sites preserved to educate about the atrocities of slavery.

Other Notable Facts About Tanzania

  • Tanzanite, discovered in the 1960s in the Mererani Hills of northern Tanzania, is a rare blue-violet gemstone valued for its uniqueness and scarcity. It is thousands of times rarer than diamonds, thus enhancing Tanzania’s geological allure.
  • The Maasai, who live in northern Tanzania, are renowned for their unique traditions and symbiotic relationship with nature. Their culture and practices offer a window into the region’s human-environment interaction and attract global interest.

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