Attractions: Sarengeti National Park & Safari

Visiting Tanzania

Tanzania is a country on the east coast of Africa, bordered to the north by Kenya and Uganda, to the west by Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and by Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique on the south.  Like many other coastal countries in Africa (Tanzania is along the coast of the Indian Ocean) the country has been invaded and occupied by European nations at some time in her recent history.  Tanzania won her independence as two separate countries, one in 1961 and the other in 1963.  The two merged to form a single country soon after, and have been united ever since.

The History
While Tanzania is a part of the “cradle of the Earth”, and thus likely part of the origins of humanity, it is her neighbor, Kenya, that has laid claim to a great deal of fossil remains, including dinosaur fossils from millions of years ago.  The two countries from which Tanzania are formed were originally Tanganyika on the mainland, and the Zanzibar islands off the east coast. 

The history is Zanzibar is relatively peaceful, with an Arab trading post established until the British gradually took over in the late nineteenth century.  The history of Tanganyika, however, is much more bloody.

Tanganyika
The mainland country did not actually come into being as a political entity until the time of the turnover of the German lands in Africa to the United Kingdom as mandated by the League of Nations in 1920 after WWI.  The area, however, was affected by Europe long before the arrival of the Germans, most notably by the Portuguese traders who had military interests in the coastal cities of East Africa.  The Portuguese sacked, threatened, and coerced the coastal city-states until they had tribute for the crown and security for the sailing trade vessels in the Indian Ocean.  Trade prospered in the area under the Portuguese influence, including the sale and shipment of slaves from Bagamoyo, a Tanganyika port.

The Arabs took a great deal of interest in this country a bit later, establishing inland trade routes in the nineteenth century including a very profitable slave trade.  Camels provided transportation on these inland routes, facilitating the trading process.  The French, English and Dutch all hade relations with these traders including the sultan who ran his business from this African nation, and the English even demanded that the slave trade end in 1873.  The slave trade continued to flourish illegally after that. 

The Germans who had occupied the area since the late eighteen hundreds exercised brutality and hate to control the native population, and the Maji Maji war began against the Germans in the early twentieth century as a result.  Indiscriminate slaughter took place on both sides of the war, lasting through the first World War until the League of Nations caused Germany to pull her people out. 

The British policy of ruling through African leaders suited the local population much better, and relative peace was established again until the country was declared independent in the 1960s. 

Tanzania Today
The country today is full of life and welcomes visitors with open arms.  The diverse history of the region makes for a fascinating culture to explore including the Masaai people, probably one of the best known of Tanzania’s native peoples.  The country is also part of the Spice Islands, meaning that trade has always been a huge part of the country’s existence. 

From game reserves to genuine African safaris to amazing scuba diving on the Swahili coast, Tanzania has something for everyone with a taste of genuine Africa for the adventurous traveler and an amazing culture to share.  You will never be disappointed by a trip to beautiful Tanzania.