The United Republic of Tanzania, is one of East African countries within the Great Lakes Region. Tanzania borders Uganda to the North; Kenya to the Northeast; the Indian Ocean to the East; Mozambique and Malawi to the South; Zambia to the Southwest; and Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Western side. 

Tanzania is endowed with different terrains and climate, which allow lives of various species of flora and fauna. The country has both the highest and the lowest points in Africa; i.e the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and the floor of Lake Tanganyika respectively. Tanzania is situated just south of the Equator and was formed as a sovereign state in 1964 through the union of the theretofore-separate states of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

Tourism is one of the key economic sectors in Tanzania. The sector has contributed to macro-economic diversification from the traditional reliance on agriculture. The country is recognized as one of the best tourist destinations in the World due to her vast tourism attractions. Essentially, about 55% of the total land is forest cover dedicated for forest reserve and wildlife protection. 

CLIMATE

Tanzania can be divided into four principal climactic and topographic areas: the hot and humid coastal lowlands of the Indian Ocean shoreline, the hot and arid zone of the broad central plateau, the high inland mountain and lake region of the northern border, where Mount Kilimanjaro is situated; and the highlands of the Northeast and Southwest, the climates of which range from tropical to temperate.

ETHNIC GROUPS

Tanzania has more than 120 different indigenous African ethnic groups; however, most of whom are clustered into larger groupings. Because of the effects of rural-to-urban migration, modernization, and politicization, some of the smallest groups are gradually disappearing.

LANGUAGES

Tanzania has two official languages, Swahili (Kiswahili) and English. Swahili, the national language, is a composite of several Bantu dialects and Arabic that originated along the East African Coast and on the island of Zanzibar. Swahili is the lingua franca of the country, and virtually all Tanzanians speak it.