INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT TANZANIA, BUT UNTOLD STORIES
A Taste of Tanzania is not just a travel journal, a coffee table book or even a cookbook. Well, it is all of those things, but it is so much more than that!.
Tanzania is a country full of fascinating stories and hidden secrets, just waiting to be discovered! Many of these secrets are still unknown to the wider world, but we’re here to help you find them. Tanzania may not be as well-known as Paris or Rome, but it has a rich history and some truly breathtaking natural wonders just waiting to be discovered! From ancient mysteries like the lost city of Rhapta to unique wildlife and remarkable historical events, there’s so much to explore.
At Polepole African Experience, we’re passionate about Tanzania’s regions, history, and culture. We’ve put together a list of amazing facts about this incredible country, including a volcano crater teeming with wildlife, the second deepest lake in the word, the world’s oldest passenger ship in operation, the last slave market on the planet, a secret experiment on an uninhabited island, and the shortest war in human history. We hope you enjoy reading about them as much as we enjoyed sharing them with you!
1. Tanzania is surrounded by the waters of the Great African Lakes
The country is nestled within the East African Rift Valley, home to some of the planet’s largest and most beautiful freshwater lakes. These are known as the Great African Lakes, and sometimes even referred to as inland seas! The wonderful country of Tanzania has access to three of these magnificent lakes!
Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi), whose shores also belong to Mozambique and Malawi, is home to the greatest variety of fish species in the world. It’s estimated that there are over 1,000 species, and this number is growing almost every week! Many of the lake’s inhabitants are found nowhere else.
Lake Victoria is the largest on the continent and the second-largest in the world after Lake Superior in North America. It also borders Uganda and Kenya! It’s a whopping 68,800 km² (26,560 mi²) in size!
Lake Tanganyika is another amazing lake in Tanzania. It’s bordered by Congo, Zambia, and Burundi and is the deepest lake in Africa! It’s also the second deepest in the world, after Russia’s Lake Baikal, the longest fresh water lake in the world (410 miles/660 km) Its average depth is 570 metres (1,870 feet), and the deepest point is 1,470 metres (4,823 feet).
2. Ngorongoro Crater is absolutely bursting with wildlife!, Man & Wildlife coexist.
Just to avoid any confusion, let’s quickly clarify that Ngorongoro Crater is just a small part of the larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which spans an impressive 8,200 km² (3,166 mi²). Just to give you an idea of how big it is, it’s actually larger than Luxembourg, Singapore, the Virgin Islands and the Faroe Islands combined! And there’s even room left for Hong Kong!.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to some of the most incredible landscapes on Earth, boasting vast expanses of highland plains, savannah, savannah woodlands and forests. In 1959, this incredible area was established as a multiple land use zone, where wildlife and semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists practising traditional livestock grazing can peacefully coexist. And it includes the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest caldera! The property is of global importance for biodiversity conservation, with its incredible array of wildlife, including many globally threatened species. The area is also home to the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra, gazelles and other animals, which is a truly awe-inspiring sight to behold. Extensive archaeological research has also yielded a long sequence of evidence of human evolution and human-environment dynamics, including early hominid footprints dating back 3.6 million years, which is a truly remarkable find.
3. Tanzania is diverse country, with over 120 languages spoken and numerous native religions practiced.
Tanzania is one of the most wonderful, multicultural countries in the whole world! Tanzania is a wonderfully diverse country, home to over 120 different ethnic groups and tribes, and about the same number of languages! The official languages are English and Swahili. Swahili is a beautiful language that is a mixture of Bantu dialects and Arabic. It is considered a lingua franca for all native residents, which is really wonderful! It’s even taught in schools! The other languages are mostly isolated, which means they’re only spoken by one ethnic group. Among these, the Sandawe and Hadza really stand out with their distinctive click consonants, which are found nowhere else on our beautiful planet.
Tanzania is a country with a rich and diverse religious tapestry. According to estimates, 63% of residents practice Christianity, 34% practice Islam, and the rest practice Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, and other religions, including traditional African beliefs. These last ones are really fascinating for anyone interested in the local culture. They often include ancestor worship, belief in spirits, and witchcraft.
4. The home to MV Liemba the World’s Oldest Ship Once Sunken and Revived
Stepping onto MV Liemba is an absolute blast from the past! With its rich history and timeless allure, this legendary ferry has been integral to Tanzania’s maritime heritage for over a century. Traversing the sparkling waters of Lake Tanganyika, MV Liemba holds captivating tales of adventure, making it an absolute must-visit attraction for history enthusiasts and adventurous travellers alike! The MV Liemba was built in 1913 at Meyer Werft in Germany. The ship was named SS Graf von Goetzen after the German East African governor from 1901 to 1906. The SS Graf von Goetzen was dismantled and transported to Tanganyika in 5,000 crates. It was later reassembled and launched in 1915. Here are some fascinating facts about the incredible MV Liemba!
- The MV Liemba is the oldest passenger ship still in operation today. This incredible ship has been sailing between Kigoma, Tanzania and Mpulungu, Zambia since 1915!
- It’s the only ship from the German Imperial Navy still going strong today!
- This awe-inspiring vessel can carry a total of 200 tonnes and 600 passengers!
5. Tanzania is the homeland of Africa’s highest mountain
The highest mountain in Africa, snow-capped and home to the world’s highest free-standing volcano! It boasts two magnificent dormant volcanoes (Kibo 5,895m a.m.s.l. and Mawenzi 5,149m a.m.s.l.) and one awe-inspiring extinct volcano (Shira 3,962m a.m.s.l.). The word’s origin is shrouded in mystery, but it’s believed to be a combination of the Swahili word “Kilima,” meaning “mountain,” and the KiChagga word “Njaro,” loosely translated as “whiteness,” giving the name “White Mountain.” How fascinating is that?
The good news is that almost anyone in good physical shape can climb Kilimanjaro. No climbing skills or mountaineering gear are required! There are currently eight routes leading to the summit of the mountain, Uhuru Peak. The average expedition lasts only seven to eight days. By comparison, climbing Everest takes about two months. Read more…..
6. Tanzania is a lovely, safe country! In fact, it’s safer than many more developed countries
Every year, the wonderful folks at the Institute for Economics and Peace, who are so respected that even the World Bank and the UN rely on their research, put together the “Global Peace Index.” The analysis is based on 23 different indicators that affect countries’ economic, political, and social stability.
In the 2024 ranking, Tanzania did really well, coming in at 65th place, ahead of the United States, France, China, India, Turkey, and Brazil. This lovely country is considered safe even for solo female travelers.
7. Tanzania host the world’s last remaining large mammal migration.
Tanzania is a home to the Serengeti National Park. The Maasai call this park ‘Siringet’, meaning ‘endless plains’. The Serengeti is an incredible place, home to over 1 million wildebeest and other amazing wildlife.This park is the perfect setting for one of the most incredible natural events in the world – the Great Migration. Hundreds of thousands of beautiful, hoofed animals, including gorgeous zebras and antelopes, join a magnificent herd of 1.5 million as they traverse the vast African plains in search of new habitat.
In addition to this, the park is home to the African Big Five, as well as gentle giraffes, playful hippos, and crocodiles, several dozen other species of large mammals, and about 500 species of birds. The Serengeti is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Read more..
8. Tanzania is home to incredible tree-climbing lions you’ll ever see!
Have you ever seen pictures of lions resting on tree branches? These gorgeous photos were taken in Tanzania, particularly in Lake Manyara, Tarangire, and Serengeti National Parks.
It’s a bit of a mystery why they do it! One of the most popular ideas is that lions climb trees to escape those pesky insects and the heat. The idea that lions are cats and cats like to climb doesn’t seem to fit, as these lovely predators don’t exhibit this behaviour anywhere else in the world. If you’re lucky enough to go on safari in Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, or Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, you’ll have the chance to witness this incredible wildlife wonder!
9. Tanzania has the world’s last slave market, in Zanzibar!
Zanzibar is a truly special place. It’s a popular tourist destination, and it’s easy to see why! There are lovely hotels, gorgeous white sandy beaches, and beautiful colonial architecture in its historic district. It’s hard to believe, but just 150 years ago, this was home to one of the largest slave markets in Africa. Can you imagine, up to 50,000 people were sold there every year! Arab and Indian traders set up lots of trade routes in the area, which also meant that the slave trade could really take off.
It’s so sad to think that slavery in Zanzibar was actually made illegal in 1870, but it continued to be practised for some time afterwards. Thankfully, in 1873, Britain pressured the world’s last slave market to close. Today, a lovely memorial complex stands in its place in Stone Town.
Tanzania is the only place on the planet where Tanzanite is mined.
Tanzania is the only place in the world where tanzanite is mined, making this gemstone rarer than a diamond. Deposits of different minerals are formed at the junction of two tectonic plates under the influence of temperature and pressure. Each plate is unique in its composition. And it was in Tanzania, at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, that Tanzanite was formed – zoisite with a mixture of chromium and vanadium ions, giving the stone its characteristic blue colour. No other similar deposits are known to exist today.
Conclusion:
Popular tourist hotspots may draw crowds for their famous landmarks, but the true essence of a destination lies in the authentic experiences that unfold away from the brochures. By stepping off the well-trodden path and engaging with local communities, you’ll discover a richer, more nuanced cultural narrative that adds depth and authenticity to your travel adventures. Embrace the opportunity to go beyond the brochure and create lasting memories rooted in the heart of each destination. This is to mention few “UntoldTanzania stories. Happy exploring!
