Tanzania

Tanzania is where the African and Arab cultures meet , as the union of the what was once called Tanganyika, the mainland, and Zanzibar, the island and archipelago once ruled by Arab merchants from Oman. Formerly a German and then British colony, the mainland gained independence in 1961 and was joined by the islands in 1964 to form what is now known as the United Republic of Tanzania. Zanzibar still enjoys a high level of autonomy and the political situation is stable.

The country is home to 126 ethnic groups, each with their own language, while Swahili and English are the de facto official languages and serve as the common forms of communication. The main religions are Islam, Christianity and indigenous beliefs, each followed by about 1/3 of the population. There are small Arab and Asian minorities concentrated in Zanzibar and the North-east.

Tanzania is home to many natural wonders, from Lakes Victoria (Africa's largest) and Tanganyika (Africa's deepest) to Mt. Kilimanjaro (Africa's highest) and the Serengeti ecosystem, which hosts the world's largest and longest wildlife migration. Nearby Ngorongoro crater is the world's largest unbroken, unflooded volcanic caldera and is home to an eclectic collection of wildlife. It is often thought of as a “natural zoo” where Africa's “big five” (rhino, lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo) and almost every individual species of wildlife in East Africa can be seen.

Largely dependent on agriculture, the country's economy is steadily improving, and GDP per capita grew by 59% in the 1990s. However, Tanzania still depends on foreign donors and has a large external debt, which absorbs about 40% of total government spending. About a third of the population lives under the poverty line and the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is 7.8%.

More information:
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United Nations
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