Fun Facts About Tanzania
Fun Facts About Tanzania : If you are looking for a scenic country to spend your holiday, Tanzania is your ideal choice. This country boasts a wide range of attractions from towering mountains to spectacular wildlife parks. If you want to know more about this country, here are some fun facts about Tanzania.
Swahili is Tanzania’s national language
Tanzania is proud of the Swahili or Kiswahili language, as the origin of this language means a lot in the history of Tanzania. Swahili is gaining popularity globally and is among the top 10 most spoken languages. Globally, Kiswahili has more than 200 million speakers.
The language unites over 120 tribes in the country. It would be best if you learned a few words from this language. The majority of Tanzanians speak Swahili better than English language, which is the second national language.
Tanzania is home to over 120 tribal groups
Tanzania is among the top 10 most linguistically diverse countries in the world, with about 127 languages. The largest ethnic group is the Sukuma who live in the northwestern part of Tanzania.
In Tanzania, visitors will meet with the world-famous tribes, such as the Maasai, Hadzabe bushmen, Barbaig, and Datoga. They still make their lives simple and in a traditional way. A fun fact about the Maasai is that they have coexisted with wildlife in the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Another interesting ethnic group is the Hadza who still make their lives in an old way of hunting and gathering on the shores of Lake Eyasi.
Dodoma City is the capital city of Tanzania and not Dar es Salaam
Despite being the country’s busiest city, Dar es Salaam is not the capital of Tanzania. Dar es Salaam has an estimated population of 8,161,231 as of 2024, making it the most populated city in the country.
Dodoma was designated a capital city of Tanzania in 1974 and still has that status up to date. The government has moved its capital from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma 50 years since Dodoma’s designation.
Ugali is Tanzania’s national dish
If you have never tried this dish, we suggest you should taste it. Ugali is a polenta-like side dish made from maize or corn flour. A small amount of cassava flour or millet flour may be mixed with maize flour to add flavor.
Ugali is simple to make and you can make it. Just mix a little maize or corn flour with water. Heat the mixture while stirring until it becomes porridge. After this point, add the rest of the flour and stir with a flat wooden spoon until it becomes stiff. This is ugali.
Tanzanians eat this staple with side dishes, such as vegetables, soup, beans, dagaa (small fish), nyama choma, and fish. Ugali feels better to eat with hands, unlike other foods like rice, which can be eaten using a spoon or fork.
The Maasai giraffe is Tanzania’s national animal
Have you seen this graceful animal? Its distinctive jagged, irregular, leaf-like blotches that extend from the hooves to the head will capture your attention. If you are wondering why Tanzania chose the Maasai giraffe as its national animal.
Tanzania chose the giraffe as their national animal for their grace, as well as their long necks. Their long necks represent the ability to be visionary – seeing the past and the present. And so, giraffes serve as a reminder for Tanzanians to view life from all angles.
43.7% of Tanzanian land is occupied by protected areas and reserves
Tanzania has dedicated about 43.7 % of its land to be protected or conserved. Protected areas take up about 28% of the Tanzanian mainland, while forest reserves make up about 15.7%.
The country harbors world-famous wildlife destinations, including Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, and Tarangire National Park among others.
Tanzania is home to the tree-climbing lions
Among the interesting facts about Tanzania is the presence of this rare species of lion. Imagine staring at a lion resting on a branch of an acacia tree. Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania is proudly home to these lions.
These lions climb up the trees to cool, especially during sunny days. They also leverage this uniqueness to catch their prey.
The largest intact caldera in the world is in Tanzania
The Ngorongoro Crater is among the spectacles capturing the attention of many safari-goers. A fun fact about this crater is that giraffes are not available there. Its crater rims make it difficult for giraffes to descend the crater floor.
It is believed that the Ngorongoro Crater formed after the eruption and collapse of the Ngorongoro Mountains, which were even taller than Mount Kilimanjaro.
Tanzania has a lot of facts worth knowing, we just made the list short. Visiting this country would make it easier to learn about them. Native safari guides who are good storytellers will help you discover almost all interesting facts about Tanzania. Book a trip with Focus East Africa Safaris to have a memorable vacation in Tanzania.
