The United Republic of Tanzania lies on the east coast of Africa, just below the equator. It is boardered by Kenya & Uganda to the North, Rwanda, Burundi & Congo to the west, Zambia, Malawi & Mozambique to the south and the Indian Ocean to the east. It covers an area of 945,166sqkm – about 4.5 times the size of Britian.The Capital is Dodoma, though Dar es Salaam remains the largest and most important city. Arusha Town in the north is the ‘safari’ capital because of its location close to places like Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Kilimanjaro.

The currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). Local time is GMT +3 hours. The electric system is 220v ac 50hz.

CLIMATE

Being near the equator means Tanzania has a tropical climate and no seasons like summer & winter. Instead the weather is dominated by ‘the rains’. The short rains occur in November through December and the long rains through April & May. January to March there are scattered showers, while June – October it hardly rains at all.

Along the Indian Ocean coast it can become quite hot & humid, but most of Tanzania averages 3000ft above sea level and as a consequence has a pleasent climate – with warm sunny days & cool nights.

Owing to its proximity to Dar es Salam, Mikumi National Park, scenic with its open grassland and bordering mountain ranges is one of the most frequently visited of all parks. The Mikumi flood plain is the main feature of the park.

Ruaha National Park, the second largest park in Tanzania, offers the thrill of unraveling the secret of wilderness. The Ruaha River, which flows through the park, offers spectacular view-points.

This remote and wildly beautiful park is home to the largest elephant population in Tanzania. A varied terrain and the Rufiji River lined with Boras us palms, makes Selous exquisitely scenic. Walking Safari is very popular, and the Rufiji River provides excellent opportunities for sailing or rafting to view game.