Features of the relief of the country Tanzania. General information about Tanzania

The official name is the United Republic of Tanzania.

Located in East Africa. Area 945.1 thousand km2, population 37.2 million people. (2002). The official languages ​​are English and Swahili. The capital is Dares Salaam (2489.8 thousand people, 2002). By 2005, the capital is planned to be moved to Dodoma. Public holiday - Unification Day on April 26 (since 1964). The currency is the Tanzanian shilling.

Member of the UN (since 1964), IMF (since 1996), AfDB, FAO, AU, SADC, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WTO, ECOWAS.

Sights of Tanzania

Geography of Tanzania

It is located between 29°35′ and 40°27′E longitude and 7°02′ and 11°47′S latitude. In the east it is washed by the Indian Ocean. The coast is abrasive with small bays. Near the mainland there are groups of islands (Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia, etc.). It borders on Uganda in the north, Kenya in the northeast, Mozambique in the south, Malawi and Zambia in the southwest, and Burundi and Rwanda in the northwest.

Most of the territory is on the East African Plateau (over 1000 m). The highest point is Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m). In place of the lowlands and gorges there are lakes Tanganyika, Malawi, Rukwa, Manyara and Eyasu.

There are deposits of nickel (31.4 million tons), diamonds, gold, tin, tungsten, mica optical quartz, precious stones, apatite, graphite, corundum, asbestos, talc, copper-polymetallic ores, salts, etc.

The soils are predominantly brown-red (ferrallitic and alferritic), in the driest areas they are red-brown, and in places saline.

The climate is equatorial-monsoon. The mountains have a pronounced altitudinal climatic zone. The average temperatures of the warmest month are +25-27°C, the coldest month is +12-22°C. Precipitation is 500-1500 mm per year.

The main rivers are Pangani (400 km), Rufiji (1400 km), Ruvuma (800 km). Along the border there are lakes: Victoria (68 thousand km2), Tanganyika (34 thousand km2), Nyasa (30.8 thousand km2).

Woodlands and savannas predominate. On the slopes of the high mountains there are moist evergreen mountain forests, higher up there is Afro-subalpine and Afro-alpine vegetation. Along the ocean coast there are mangrove forests in places.

The fauna is diverse: large herbivorous mammals (elephants, black rhinoceroses, hippos, buffalos, various antelopes, zebras, giraffes), predators (lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals). Of the monkeys, baboons are the most characteristic. The bird fauna is very rich. There are crocodiles and snakes. Many areas are infested with tsetse flies. National parks - Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Ruaha, Tarangire, etc.; reserves Selous, Ngorongoro, Rungwa, etc.

Population of Tanzania

Population growth 2.6% per year (2002). Fertility rate 39.12%, mortality 13.02%, infant mortality 77.85 people. per 1000 newborns (2002). Average life expectancy is 51.7 years (2002).
Sex and age structure of the population: 0-14 years old - 44.6% (male to female ratio 1.03), 15-64 years old - 52.5% (0.98), 65 years old and older - 2.9% (0.98) 81) (2002). Rural population 80%, urban 20% (2002). Among the population over 15 years of age, 67.8% are literate (men 79.4%, women 56.8%) (1995).

99% of the population are peoples belonging to the Eastern Bantu (over 130 tribes), 1% are Indians, Pakistanis, Europeans, and Arabs. Languages: Swahili and English, Arabic, local dialects.

On the mainland approx. 35% of the population adheres to local traditional beliefs, 35% are Muslims, 30% are Christians, in Zanzibar almost 99% of the population professes Islam.

History of Tanzania

In the 7th-8th centuries. Arabs began to populate the territory of Tanzania; in the 16th century The Portuguese arrived and were driven out by the Arabs. To the beginning 19th century The island of Zanzibar and the coast of mainland Tanzania were under the rule of the Sultans of Muscat. In 1856, the independent Zanzibar Sultanate was formed. The mainland of Tanzania was captured by Germany in 1884 (became the basis of the colony of German East Africa), and after World War I it became a mandate, and in 1946 a trust territory under British rule (called Tanganyika); A British protectorate was established over Zanzibar in 1890. The beginning of the political activity of indigenous Africans dates back to 1929, when the Tanganyika African Association was formed, transformed in 1954 into the Tanganyika African National Union (TANS), headed by Julius Nyerere. TANS won the elections held in 1959 and 1960, and Nyerere became prime minister (he formed a government in May 1961). In December 1961, the independence of Tanganyika was declared. Zanzibar (together with the island of Pemba and several small islands) became an independent sultanate in 1963. The Sultan was overthrown in an armed coup in January 1964. After this event, a republic was proclaimed and the Afro-Shirazi Party took power. In April 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar formed the United Republic of Tanzania. The ruling party of Tanzania was the Revolutionary Party, founded in 1977. Due to a border conflict in 1979, Tanzania carried out a large-scale military invasion of Uganda, forcing it to capitulate. A multi-party system was introduced in 1992. In 2001, political contradictions in relations between Tanganyika and Zanzibar intensified.

Government and political system of Tanzania

Tanzania is a presidential republic. The Constitution of 1977 (as amended in 1984) is in force.
Tanzania is administratively divided into 25 regions: Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, North Pemba, South Pemba, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga , Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar central/south, Zanzibar north, Zanzibar urban/west.

Largest cities (2003, thousand people): Dar es Salaam, Dodoma (164.5), Mwanza (302.3), Zanzibar and Pemba (257.0), Morogoro (246.5), Mbeya (205 ,0), Tanga (203.4).

The highest legislative body is the National Assembly (the legislative body of Zanzibar is the House of Representatives consisting of 50 directly elected deputies). The highest executive body is the government (in Zanzibar - the cabinet of ministers).

The head of state and government is President Benjamin William Mkapa (Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume is the head of the internal government of Zanzibar and is elected in accordance with the island's Constitution). The head of the highest legislative body is Francis Nyalali.

Deputies (274 people) of the National Assembly are elected: 232 - by direct vote, 37 - women appointed by the president, 5 - from the House of Representatives of Zanzibar.

The President appoints the Vice President and ministers, including the Prime Minister, from among the members of the National Assembly.

Julius Nyerere became the first president of Tanganyika in 1962. He was subsequently re-elected in 1965, 1970, 1975 and 1980. Under him, the first edition of the country’s Constitution was adopted in 1965, which was subsequently significantly revised in 1977.

In Tanganyika, the regions are headed by regional commissioners appointed by the president. Local government bodies - municipal and city councils. Development committees have been created in the regions to manage economic, social and cultural development.

Tanzania has adopted a multi-party system. Main parties: Revolutionary Party, National Committee for Creation and Reform, United Civil Front, United Democratic Party, Party for Democracy and Development.

Leading business organizations: Organization of Tanzanian Trade Unions; Organization of development of small industrial enterprises; Sugar Industry Development Corporation; Confederation of Tanzanian Industry; Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.

Public organizations: Union of Tanzanian Workers (500 thousand members in 1991), Workers Department of the Revolutionary Party.

Domestic policy is aimed at preventing confrontation between Tanganyika and Zanzibar and maintaining Zanzibar within the republic. Emphasis is placed on the development of education (up to 20% of budget allocations).

Tanzania pursues a peacekeeping foreign policy in the East African subregion, acting as a mediator in resolving the Burundian and Rwandan conflicts, accepting and hosting numerous refugees on its territory.

Armed forces (1998): 34 thousand people, incl. 30 thousand people - Ground units, 1 thousand people. - Navy and 3 thousand people. - Air Force. Paramilitary forces: 1.4 thousand people. military police and 80 thousand people. people's militia.

Tanzania has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in 1961).

Economy of Tanzania

Tanzania is an underdeveloped agricultural country. GDP $22.1 billion. GDP per capita US$610 (2001). Economically active population 16,204 thousand people. (1997). Inflation 5% (2001).
Sectoral structure of the economy by contribution to GDP (2000): agriculture - 48%, industry - 17%, service sector - 35%. Employment: agriculture - 80%, industry and services - 20%.

Electricity production 2616 million kWh (2000). The main branch of the mining industry is diamond mining (49.1 thousand carats in 1995); Table salt (66.9 thousand tons in 1995), mica, coal, magnesite, and graphite are also mined. Oil refining (313 thousand tons of petroleum products in 1997), cement (604 thousand tons), tobacco (4.7 million cigarettes), textile (42.7 million m3 of fabrics), woodworking (39 million m3 of wood) and food-flavoring industries are developed. production of sisal products.

The leading branch of agriculture is crop production (1998, thousand tons): cassava (6444), corn (2107), rice (533), sorghum (498), bananas (769) and millet (347), raw sugar (116, 1), cashew nuts (67), coffee (42). Tanzania is the African region's leader in livestock production. Production (thousand tons, 1997): meat (261), milk (693), leather and skins (51). Fish caught include Nile perch, tilapia, tuna and sardines.

The length of railways is 3569 km. The length of the road network is 85 thousand km, including 4.25 thousand km of hard roads and 80.75 thousand km of unpaved roads (2001). The island of Zanzibar has 619 km of roads, including 442 km of paved roads, and on the island. Pemba has 363 km of paved roads, including 130 km of paved roads.

There are 125 airports and runways. International airports: near Dar es Salaam, in the province of Kilimanjaro and in Zanzibar. Airlines: Air Tanzania Corp, founded in 1977, serves domestic airlines; Air Zanzibar, founded in 1990 to serve tourist routes.

Main ports: Dar es Salaam, Mtwara, Tanga, Bagamoyo, Zanzibar and Pemba. Merchant fleet (1998) 56 ships with a total displacement of 46.3 thousand tons.

In 1991, an international telephone network with direct dialing was put into operation. Cellular communications have been in operation since 1994. Communications (1998): radios - 8.8 million, televisions - 103 thousand, telephones - 127 thousand lines, cell phones - 30 thousand subscribers (1999), Internet providers - 6 ( 2000), Internet users - 300 thousand people. (2002).

Trade is represented mainly by the informal sector, which is not amenable to strict statistical recording. In 1999, approx. 600 thousand tourists who spent 730 million US dollars.

Modern economic and social policy is aimed at the gradual liberalization of the public sector under the leadership of international institutions, and the fight against corruption is underway. Tanzania is the recipient country. In 1997, the amount of assistance amounted to $963 million.

The exchange rate of the national currency is set on the interbank foreign exchange market. The exchange rate control mode is free floating. Foreign exchange reserves 600 million US dollars (1998). Demand deposits in commercial banks TZS 237.7 billion. shillings, cash in free circulation TZS 307.8 billion. shill.

State budget (2000/01, million US dollars): revenues 1.01, expenses 1.38. National debt $6.8 billion (2000).

In 1991, 51% of Tanzania's population lived below the poverty line. The poorest 10% of the population accounts for 3% of income, while the richest 10% of Tanzanians account for 30%.

In 2001, export volume amounted to 827 million US dollars. Main export partners: Great Britain (22%), India (14.8%), Germany (9.9%), the Netherlands (6.9%). Import volume 1.55 million US dollars. Main import partners: South Africa (11.5%), Japan (9.3%), Great Britain (7%), Australia (6.2%). The main export commodities are cotton, coffee, tea, tobacco, cashew nuts, minerals; imported - machinery and transport equipment, construction equipment, food products, oil and petroleum products.

Science and culture of Tanzania

Primary education is compulsory and free. Primary school education is 7 years from the age of seven. Secondary education starts at the age of 14 and lasts 6 years, including the first four-year cycle and the second two-year cycle. In 1996, the proportion of school-age children who completed primary and secondary school was 42% (primary school - 66%, secondary school - 5%).

In the areas of Kondoa, Kisesi, Tambala, Mwanza, rock art in grottoes (Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic periods) has been discovered. Among the artistic crafts, the most common are cult wooden and clay sculpture, mask making, wood carving, weaving, and pottery. After 1964, a national school of painting emerged (artists S.J. Ntiro, V. Macha, F.K. Mzangi, T.F. Abdullah).

Since 1967 there has been a theater department at the University of Dar es Salaam. In 1968, a traveling troupe was created under the National Service youth organization.

Literature is developed in Swahili and English. The first text that has reached us is Utendi Harekali (between 1711 and 1728). The largest writer of new literature is R. Shaaban (1909-62). English-language literature in Tanzania has existed since the beginning. 1960s The main genres are short story and novel.

And Zanzibar.

Capital of Tanzania. Dodoma (official), Dar es Salaam (actual).

Area of ​​Tanzania. 945087 km2.

Population of Tanzania.36200 thousand people

Location of Tanzania. Tanzania is a state in Eastern. In the north it borders with and, in the south - with, and, in the west - with the Democratic Republic, and. In the east it is washed. Tanzania also owns the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba.

Administrative divisions of Tanzania. The state is divided into 25 regions.

Form of government of Tanzania. Republic.

Head of State of Tanzania. The president.

Highest legislative body of Tanzania. National Assembly (parliament).

Highest executive body of Tanzania. Government.

Major cities in Tanzania. Zanzibar, Mwanza, Dar es Salaam, Tanga.

Official language of Tanzania. Swahili, English.

Religion of Tanzania. 50% are Christians, 30% are Muslims.

Ethnic composition of Tanzania. 99% are Africans (more than 120 groups in total), 0.2% - .

Currency of Tanzania. Tanzanian shilling = 100 cents.

Sights of Tanzania. In Dar es Salaam - the National Museum (1937), in - the State Museum of Zanzibar, in Tanga an ethnographic museum-village - picturesque Amboni caves and ruins of the 16th century. Tourists are attracted primarily by nature reserves, safaris and the city.

Useful information for tourists

Traditional souvenirs are products made from (ebony) wood, malachite, soapstone, and beads. In Tanzania, tanzanite is mined - a blue diamond; jewelry with tanzanite is an expensive and unique souvenir.

It is customary to tip driver-guides if you like their work. Mountain guides receive an average of $10 per day, cooks and porters - $5 each. At a hotel or inn, you can give 500 shillings to the porter or servant, or leave a slightly larger amount with the accommodation service when you leave.

While staying in Tanzania, you must take medications against tropical malaria and get vaccinated against yellow fever before traveling. Tap water should not be drunk. For drinking, use only water from bottles, after checking that they are well sealed. Water intended for drinking, brushing teeth and making ice must be boiled or otherwise disinfected.

You should not move away from the main streets of cities to avoid the risk of being robbed. Do not carry a large amount of money with you, do not wear expensive gold jewelry, and do not walk down the street with audio and video equipment. At night, you should avoid appearing in deserted, unfamiliar places.

In the east it is washed by the Indian Ocean.

Most of territory of Tanzania occupied by the East African Plateau, the average height of which is 1200 m. The plateau in the meridional direction is intersected by the East African Rift zone, which is expressed in faults of the earth's crust located in the western and eastern parts of the country. The only active one is here. Tanzania volcano Oldonio Lengai (2890 m), known as the "Mountain of God", which last erupted in 1983. In different parts of the country you can see isolated volcanic mountains, small mountain ranges and ridges. In the northeast are the Usambara Mountains, Mount Meru (4567 m) and Kilimanjaro (5895 m). The extinct volcano Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and the only snow-capped peak on the entire continent. In the south, the Livingston Mountains stand out, stretching along the northeastern coast of Lake Nyasa.

The northern and western borders of Tanzania pass through lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa. Victoria is the largest lake on the African continent and the second largest freshwater lake on Earth. Its area is 68 thousand square meters. km. It is also the third largest lake in the world. Lakes Tanganyika and Nyasa are located in the western part of the country and are confined to the East African Rift Zone. The depth of Lake Tanganyika is slightly less than that of Lake Baikal - 1470 m.

The largest rivers in the country are Pangani, Rufiji and Ruvuma.

Population of Tanzania- 46.2 million people (data for 2011, 29th place in the world),
incl. urban population - 25%

Resorts in Tanzania.

Arusha, Tanzania
Arusha is a city located in northern Tanzania. Arusha is a bustling, rapidly developing city, one of the country's major commercial and banking centers, and a major tourist destination. Arusha is home to the International Conference Centre, one of the most renowned international centers in Africa.

Bagamoyo, Tanzania
“Here I left my heart” - this is the translation of the name of this city from Swahili into Russian. 150 years ago, Bagamoyo was the most important port on the East African coast. From the depths of the continent, caravans of slave traders reached the city. A huge number of slaves were kept in the fortress, which has survived to this day. From here slaves, ivory, coconuts and salt were transported to Zanzibar. The city owes its name to these sad historical events. At that time, Bagamoyo, the capital of the German colonies in Africa, was also called the “Gateway of the Dark Continent.” After the end of World War I, Germany transferred all of its East African possessions to the control of the League of Nations.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Dar es Salaam is the largest city in Tanzania, the richest city in the country, an important economic center and the main commercial port of the country. The city is located on the east coast of Africa, on the shores of the Indian Ocean. Although Dar es Salaam lost its official status as the state's capital to Dodoma in the mid-1970s, it still houses the central government apparatus. The administrative center of the Dar es Salaam region. In 1973, it was proposed to move the capital to Dodoma, located in central Tanzania, but the transfer has not yet been completed.

Dodoma, Tanzania
Dodoma is the capital of Tanzania, the administrative center of the province of Dodoma. Dodoma is located in central Tanzania, 320 kilometers from the eastern coast of the Indian Ocean. Representatives of the African nationalities Nyamwezi, Jugga, Haya, Gogo, Maasai and others live in the capital. In 1964, after the formation of the United Republic of Tanzania, which included Tanganyika and Zanzibar, Dodoma received the official status of the administrative center of the province of the same name.

Zanzibar, Tanzania
Zanzibar is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Tanzania, to which it belongs. The largest islands are Pemba and Unguja, also commonly called Zanzibar. Before the Miocene, the archipelago was part of the African continent. The first definite news about it appears in the 10th century, when the Persians from Shiraz appeared here. Local residents still call themselves "Shirazi", although the Persian settlers were quickly assimilated. It was they who brought Islam to Zanzibar.

Kigoma, Tanzania
Kigoma is a city in Tanzania, the administrative center of the Kigoma region. Port on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. The terminus of the Dar es Salaam railway.

Kilindoni, Tanzania
Kilindoni is the main city of the island of Tanzania called Mafia. Located in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. Mafia Island itself is the largest of a large number of islands, atolls and sandy islets - about 50 km long and 15 km wide, surrounded by reefs teeming with a variety of marine life.

Manyara, Tanzania
Manyara is Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania. Located at an altitude of 950 m. Lake Manyara National Park was created to protect animals from poachers, whose terrible raids in the 1970s - 1980s threatened the continued existence of elephants on these lands. Currently, the fauna is carefully protected, and the elephant population has reached its previous levels. Lake Manyara occupies two-thirds of the park and is home to a huge number of different species of birds, of which there are more than four hundred species, which gives a complete picture of the diversity of birds in Tanzania.

Ngorongoro, Tanzania
Ngorongoro is a national park in Tanzania, located near the crater of the same name. The Ngorongoro Crater is considered a world heritage! It is located on the edge of the Serengeti savanna, created as a caldera by the collapse of a large volcano about 2.5 million years ago. The bottom of the crater is located at an altitude of 2380 m above sea level. Its edges are approximately 600 m higher and rise 3000 m above sea level. The diameter of the Ngorongoro crater ranges from 17 to 21 km and its total area is approximately 26,400 hectares.

Mafia Island, Tanzania
Mafia is a Tanzania island in the Indian Ocean. It is the southernmost island of the Zanzibar archipelago and has an area of ​​518 km2. The population is about 40 thousand people, mostly fishermen. Located in the Indian Ocean, east coast of Africa, 160 km south of the island of Zanzibar, 40 km from the coast of Tanzania. The British newspaper Sunday Times named Mafia one of the 10 most mysterious islands in the world. Chole Shamba is the ancient name of this island. There are two versions of the origin of its current name. The first is based on the Arabic roots of the word "mafia" - from the concept "morfiyeh", which means "group" or "archipelago".

Hotels in Tanzania.

Hotel base The country is very diverse. There are both “lodges” (of a very good level, but also very expensive), and more than simple hotels with 2-3 rooms, as well as camping sites. Most hotels in Zanzibar offer accommodation on a half board basis (usually breakfast and dinner), and most safari lodges offer full board.

On the island of Zanzibar, the “Arabic” style of service prevails (absolutely without haste), but the level of service is gradually beginning to catch up with the European one. There have never been any complaints from clients about the lodges; one might even say that this is perhaps the best place in terms of service.

In the country, the standard voltage is 220-240 V. In lodges and decent permanent tourist camps, generators also supply a standard voltage of 220 V. Sockets are “British standard” (an adapter with a three-pin plug is required).

Although there are a lot of hotels in the country, the availability of rooms can be tight, so it is better to book a tour in advance, especially on “peak” dates. CLIMATE

Tanzania is dominated by the equatorial monsoon climate. It is warm here all year round, as the country is located near the equator. Further from the coast in the central part of the country, the climate is drier and hotter; in addition, the air temperature and amount of precipitation in Tanzania depends on the altitude of the area.

The hottest months in Tanzania are December, January and February. At this time, the daytime air temperature on the coast and on the islands rises to 32 degrees Celsius, in the central regions it can reach +35 degrees Celsius, and in some parts of the country - 38 degrees Celsius. At night, from December to February, the air temperature drops on the coast and on the islands to +24 degrees, in the central regions - up to +26 degrees, and in mountainous areas - up to 10 degrees Celsius. The coolest month in Tanzania is July. In July, daytime temperatures in the coastal regions of the country and on the islands reach +28 degrees, in the central part of the country - 30 degrees Celsius, and in mountainous areas - 27 degrees Celsius. At night at this time the air temperature drops to +20 degrees, +22 degrees and +8 degrees respectively.

The average annual rainfall within the East African Plateau ranges from 650 to 900 mm per year. The central part of the country is drier, receiving less than 500 mm of precipitation per year. The area adjacent to Lakes Nyasa and Tanganyika receives more precipitation than the rest of the plateau, with an annual amount ranging from 1000 to 1500 mm. In the mountains of the north-west of the country and on the island of Zanzibar the most precipitation falls - up to 2000 mm per year, and on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro up to 1300 mm.

In the northern part of the country and on the coast, two maximum precipitation is observed - from March to May and from September to November, in the southern and central parts - one, from November to April.

Best time to visit:
The most favorable time for traveling in the Serengeti National Park is from May to July and from January to March, when seasonal migrations of animals occur, in other national parks - from July to September during the dry season, when animals gather near water bodies. The best time to relax on the beaches of Tanzania is from June to October, when the likelihood of rain is least. The best time for diving is from October to March.

Nature

The country's territory can be roughly divided into 3 natural and climatic zones: mountainous regions, the Central Plateau and coastal plains with islands.

Mountain ranges surround the flat Central Plateau on all sides, forming a “crown” of medium-high mountain ranges interspersed with cones of extinct and dormant volcanoes. The zones of the Great African Rift formed by tectonic movements are framed by the Kipengere, Usagara, Livingston, Pare, Usambara and other chains. Numerous volcanic cones (Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro, Meru, etc.) are heavily eroded, and the craters of most of them are occupied by savannas and deciduous forests. In some places, areas of tropical rainforest remain on the eastern slopes of the mountains. The highest point of the country is Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m).

The central plateau, the Masai plateau, and the northeastern slopes of the Usambara and Pare mountains form a harsh semi-arid zone that serves as the watershed of the Congo, the Nile and the Zambezi (the average elevation is about 1100 m above sea level). The medium-high mountain ranges and flat Central Plateau form a dry zone with semi-desert vegetation, mountain savannas, dense bushes and dry miombo forests, inhabited by a diverse range of fauna. From the west, the plateau is bounded by a whole series of tectonic basins and faults occupied by lakes. More than 53 thousand sq. km of Tanzanian territory are occupied by internal lakes formed in grabens of the East African Rift Zone (African Rift). Victoria, Balangida, Rukwa, Tanganyika, Nyasa, Natron, Kitangiri, Eyasi, Manyara and others are surrounded by savannah complexes and are actively used by humans.

A coastal lowland stretches along the ocean coast, gradually expanding from north to south, forming a vast plain in the south, in the basin of the Rufiji and Mbemkuru rivers. The northern and central parts of the coastal plain are dominated by parkland savanna. The southern part is highly cultivated and has practically no endemic vegetation preserved - the vast majority of the territory is occupied by pastures, crops and gardens. The once abundant coastal mangrove forests are also rapidly retreating under human pressure.

Currency :

International name: TZS

The Tanzanian shilling is equal to 100 cents. Banknotes in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10,000 Tanzanian shillings and coins in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Tanzanian shillings are officially in circulation. In fact, coins with a face value of less than 50 shillings went out of circulation.

Currency can be exchanged at banks and exchange offices. The exchange receipt must be kept until departure from the country. Changing money from street money changers is not prohibited, but in this case the risk of facing fraud is extremely high.

Credit cards have limited circulation. Typically only large banks, supermarkets (especially in port areas) and some travel agencies accept them. In the provinces, paying with a credit card is much more difficult. For the service of withdrawing money from a credit card, some provincial banks charge a commission of 6-8% of the amount.

Travel checks can be cashed at registered dealers, banks or exchange offices. A passport is required to cash out. Often checks are very carefully checked for authenticity, which takes a lot of time.

Customs restrictions:

Transit of local currency is prohibited. Foreign transit has no boundaries. You can withdraw the same amount of foreign currency as indicated in the declaration upon entry. Only declaration of amounts is mandatory.

Without imposing a duty, you can bring into the country: up to 250 grams of perfume or eau de toilette, cigarettes - up to 200 pcs. or 250 gr. tobacco or 50 cigars, alcoholic beverages - up to 1 liter.

Transit is prohibited: explosives, drugs, poisons and pornographic products, ivory and products made from it, gold, diamonds, wild animal skins, cloves.

Export of jewelry and food is allowed only for personal needs. Import of products and personal belongings only in the amount required. Audio, photo and video equipment must be exported in accordance with the declaration that was filled out upon entry.

Representative offices in Russia:

Embassy

Address: Moscow, Office of the Embassy: Pyatnitskaya st., 33.

phone: 953-82-21, 953-09-40, 953-49-75

fax: 953-07-85

Russian representative offices:

The Consular Section

Address: Dar es Salaam, Embassy of the Russian Federation in the United Republic of Tanzania, P.O. Box 1905, Plot No. 73, Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

phone: (8-10-255-22) 266-6006, 266-6005

fax: (8-10-255-22) 266-6818

www.tanzania.mid.ru

Import of animals:

Animals can be imported only after examination and a certificate from a veterinarian confirming their health status and vaccinations.

Network voltage: 127V

Tips:

It is better to tip in local currency. In restaurants they make up 10% of the total cost of the order. Most hotels automatically add a 10% service surcharge to your bill. If service charges are not included in the tariff, a tip of 20 shillings will be considered quite sufficient, whereas in most small establishments it is not provided at all. Tips for rangers, drivers and other safari staff are usually the equivalent of 3-5 US dollars. If the service is carried out by a group of staff, tips should be given to the head of the group, otherwise additional claims may arise regarding the amount of tips and their distribution.

Purchases:

VAT (VAT, ValueAddedTax) on all goods and services is 20% and is included in the price.

Shops are usually open from Monday to Friday from 08.30 to 12.00, and from 14.00 to 18.00, on Saturday - 08.30 to 12.30. Some shops are also open on Sunday. During Ramadan, many restaurants and shops are closed during the day, and restrictions on smoking and drinking may be in place.

Souvenirs:

The country produces unique Tanzanian green tourmalines, sapphires, garnets, rubies, emeralds and diamonds, as well as the mineral tanzanite, found exclusively in Tanzania in the volcanic deposits of Mount Kilimanjaro. All this splendor of gifts from the bowels of the earth can be purchased at markets and in private jewelry stores.

Office hours:

Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 08.30 to 12.30-16.00, and from 08.30 to 13.00 on Saturday.

Photo and video shooting:

It is not recommended to photograph local residents without their permission and to visit the homes of local residents on your own (without a guide or travel agency representative). In some places you need to pay for photography, but this should not be done everywhere and always - many aborigines try to beg money in this way.

Safety:

You should not display expensive photographic and video equipment, valuables or documents. It is not recommended to walk alone on the streets at night. You should not leave things unattended. You should always carry a photocopy of your passport with you, and keep your passport, money and air ticket in a safe place (hotel safe).

Foreigners are the object of constant and overly intrusive attention. You should not give in to offers from local residents to help in any way. This usually ends in problems.

HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS

The Zanzibar archipelago celebrates Muslim religious holidays such as Ramadan. At this time of year, there are strictures towards tourists, who are not allowed to drink alcohol, smoke, etc. on the streets.

Zanzibar also hosts several festivals:

Mid-February - Swahili Music and Cultural Festival in Stone Town.

July - Zanzibar Music Festival, East African Heritage Festival and Mar Mwaka Kogwa (Zoroastrian New Year)

October - Zanzibar Cultural Festival.

VISAS AND CUSTOMS CONTROL

Russian citizens need to obtain a visa, we provide visa support.

customs control

Foreign currency can be imported into Tanzania without any restrictions, and export is also not limited. Local currency cannot be brought into or out of the country.

You can import up to 1 liter of liquor, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, 250 ml of perfume into the country duty-free. If you want to import professional video filming equipment, radios, tape recorders, musical instruments, you will need to pay a duty.

It is prohibited to import small arms, drugs and pornography into Tanzania. A permit is required to import firearms. The export of ivory and products made from it, rhinoceros horn, wild animal skins, gold, diamonds and cloves is prohibited.

TELEPHONE

In Tanzania, we can recommend the following mobile operators: Mobitel-TZ, TZ Zantel, VodaCom. Celtel does not have roaming capabilities. The network operates mainly in populated areas and along roads. For calls within the country, it is convenient to buy a SIM card from a local operator, the card costs 1000 shillings, they are sold everywhere. In addition, you should buy a card to top up your account; tariffs in Tanzania are very favorable.

It is better to make international calls from call centers.

To call from Russia to Tanzania, you need to dial 8 - 10 - 255 - area code - subscriber number. Dodoma code is 61, Dar es Salaam code is 51.

To call from Tanzania to Russia, you need to dial 000 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.

EMERGENCY PHONES

Embassy of Tanzania in the Russian Federation

Tel.: 953-82-21, 953-09-40

Russian Embassy in Dar es Salaam

Tel.: (8-10-255-51) 6-6005, 6-6006

CLOTH

To travel around Africa near the equator, you need to buy very light, light-colored clothing made from natural fabrics and high-quality, effective sun protection products. Wear a hat and drink more fresh water.

TIME

Moscow. From the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, Otmoscow is 1 hour behind.

Language of Tanzania

Swahili is the language of Tanzania

Swahili has the status of the official language of Tanzania, but English is no less common. In Zanzibar you can find native speakers of Arabic, and on the African coast a large number of local tribes speak their own languages ​​and dialects.

Swahili itself is part of the Bantu family of languages. It has its own written language, but it is based on the Latin alphabet. An interesting fact is that Swahili, being the native language of only 2 million people, not only has the status of an official language, but also has enormous socio-cultural significance. The local term "Waswahili", which means "Swahili", is not associated with a specific ethnic group.

The vast majority of the Tanzanian population speaks at least Swahili in addition to their native language. Some can also communicate in one of the foreign languages. This is due to such a developed industry as tourism, which is due to the almost complete absence of industrial enterprises in the country. In addition to the service sector, the local population is engaged in agriculture and the mining industry. Tanzania has a good hotel infrastructure, making it one of the most attractive African countries for international tourism. In addition to hotels and beaches, travelers are attracted by National Parks: Kilimanjaro, Ruaha, Serengeti and others.

Tanzania is a country in East Africa. It consists of the mainland (Tanganyika), washed on the east by the Indian Ocean, and the large coastal islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia. Tanzania is part of the British Commonwealth.

Most of the country is located on the East African Plateau. The territory of Tanzania covers part of the largest lakes in Africa - Lake Victoria in the north, Lake Tanganyika (which is often called the twin of Lake Baikal) in the west, and Lake Nyasa in the south of Tanzania. The highest mountains in Africa are Kilimanjaro (5895 m). The total length of land borders is 3,402 km, of which with Burundi - 451 km, with Kenya - 769 km, Malawi - 475 km, with Mozambique - 756 km, with Rwanda - 217 km, with Uganda - 396 km and with Zambia - 338 km.

Area of ​​Tanzania: total - 945,087 km2. Coastline: 1424 km. The island territories consist of the Zanzibar archipelago (the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia, etc.).

Tanzania has two capitals: the administrative center is the historical capital of Dar es Salaam, and the legislative center is Dodoma, where the government moved the main bodies in the 1970s.

Tanzania is a republic. The head of state and head of government is the president, elected by the population for a 5-year term, with the possibility of a second consecutive term. On December 14, 2005, the candidate from the ruling Revolutionary Party, Tanzanian Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete, won the presidential election, gaining more than 80% of the votes. His main opponent was Ibrahim Lipumba, the candidate of the opposition Civil United Front. Parliament is a unicameral State Assembly (Bunge), 274 deputies, of which 232 are elected by the population for a 5-year term, 37 women deputies are personally appointed by the president, and 5 deputies are appointed by the autonomous parliament of Zanzibar.

Relief of Tanzania

Most of Tanzania's territory is located on the East African Plateau. Along the western and southwestern borders there are deep tectonic valleys and highlands of Giant Craters (Meru volcanoes, Africa's highest mountain Kilimanjaro (5895 m) and others. The Indian Ocean coast is a narrow strip of lowlands.

The lower and drier part of the plateau occupies the whole of southern Tanzania. The soils here are of a lighter composition, are susceptible to erosion and are quickly depleted. There is little precipitation, and it is distributed unevenly across the seasons. The tsetse fly, a carrier of sleeping sickness among humans and Nagana disease among domestic animals, is found here.

The central and northern parts of the plateau rise to 1200-1500 m. In some places there is moderate rainfall, and fertile soils are common.

The country's territory includes part of the largest lakes in Africa - Lake Victoria in the north, Lake Tanganyika (which is often called the twin of Baikal) in the west, Lake Nyasa in the south of Tanzania, as well as the drainless salt lakes Rukwa, Natron, Eyasi. The main rivers of the country - Pangani, Rufiji (the only navigable river in the lower reaches) and Ruvuma flow into the Indian Ocean.

Climate of Tanzania

The climate is subequatorial monsoon, hot, seasonally humid. Average monthly temperatures range from 12-15 to 25-27 degrees C. In the north there are two rainy seasons (March - May and September - November), in the south there is one (November - April).

The greatest amount of precipitation falls on the western coast of Lake Victoria (up to 2000 mm per year), the least - on the inland plateaus (about 250 mm). In most of Tanzania, the dry season lasts 5-7 months. The alternation between dry and wet seasons is especially noticeable in the mountainous northeast and on the Masai plateau.

There are problems of drought and forest fires. It happened that drought led to a decrease in the water level in reservoirs feeding hydroelectric power stations to a critical level, as a result of which strict rationing of electricity supply was introduced throughout the country. Heavy rains also cause significant damage. So, as a result of heavy rains at the end of 1997 - beginning of 1998. Agricultural facilities were destroyed, roads were washed away, bridges were demolished.

The climate on the islands is humid, the average daytime temperature is plus 28-30 degrees, sea breezes make the weather very pleasant. The water temperature in the Indian Ocean is 24-26 degrees. In the central part (1200-1700 m above sea level) the average temperature is plus 22-25 degrees, nights can be cool.

Flora of Tanzania

In the west and south of the country there are tropical dry deciduous woodlands, in the coastal lowlands - park savannas, in the central and north-eastern regions - grassy savannas. Moist evergreen forests and shrubs grow on the slopes of the mountains. Despite its proximity to the equator, Tanzania is characterized by various types of savannas: shrubby, park, mountain park, grassy. Along with miombo forests (light tropical forests of deciduous trees), savannas occupy most of the territory. Mangroves are found along the ocean coast and at river mouths. Dense tropical forests remain only around lakes in the west of the country and in the floodplains of some rivers. Even conifers, such as cedar and pine, grow on the slopes of high mountains. Pterocarpus angola is found in the park forests, the valuable wood of which is used to make high-quality furniture and wall cladding.

Wildlife of Tanzania

Tanzania is one of the few countries on the African continent where representatives of a rich tropical fauna have been preserved in natural conditions. The savannas are home to several species of antelope (wildebeest, kongoni, topi, stenbok, springbok and others), as well as lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, elephants and giraffes.

Characterized by an abundance of monkeys, of the monkeys in the far north-west there are chimpanzees, and in the Kilimanjaro region - gorillas. Along the rivers there are hippos and crocodiles.

The world of birds is unusually rich and diverse. There are especially many waterfowl. In the higher regions of the country, ostriches can occasionally be seen. Poisonous snakes include the black mamba and the African viper.

However, the animal world has become significantly impoverished as a result of prolonged extermination. Large animals are preserved mainly in nature reserves and national parks, the largest of which are Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Ruaha, Arusha, Manyama, Mikumi, Kilimanjaro, Rungwa. Particularly famous is the Serengeti National Park (15.5 thousand sq. km), the only one in the world where natural seasonal migrations of wild animals occur. Ngorongoro is located in the area of ​​a huge volcanic crater; its caldera, the largest in the world, is distinguished by an extraordinary richness of fauna.

National parks of Tanzania

There are 15 national parks in Tanzania, which are managed by the Tanzania National Parks Authority or TANAPA, headquartered in the city of Arusha. According to international studies, the service is one of the most productive in Africa - it employs 1,650 people who serve 15 existing and one planned national park (Saanane). The main objective of the service is to preserve the existing biodiversity and rich natural heritage of the country. The national park system contains World Heritage Sites (4 out of 7 sites in Tanzania) and UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (2 out of 3 sites in the country).

In the north of the country, in the center there are national parks Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Mkomazi, Lake Manyana, Rubondo Island, Serengeti, Taranjir. Arusha Park is located in close proximity to the city of Arusha, the northern safari center of the country. The park was recently expanded to include the Mount Meru Forest Reserve. Kilimanjaro Park, which also recently received additional area, is designed to protect the highest point in Africa. Lake Manyara includes Lake Manyara, located along the rift wall. Mkomazi Park, located on the border with Kenya, is the country's youngest park, established in 2008. Rubondo Island in the southwestern part of Lake Victoria is home to the Rubondo Island National Park. The Serengeti National Park includes the Ngorongoro Crater. In the future, it is planned to increase the area of ​​the park. Tarangire National Park is located on the river of the same name.

In the northeast of the country, on the coast of the Indian Ocean between the cities of Tanga and Dar es Salaam, Saadini Park is located. To the east, in the Udzungwa Mountains, lies the Udzungwa Mountains Park. Gombe Stream National Park is located on the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the western part of the country. Mahali Mountains Park is also located on the shores of the lake in the Mahali Mountains. In the center of the country is Ruaha Park. With its recent expansion in size, the park has become the largest in Tanzania. In the southwest of the country, near Lake Rukwa at the end of the rift valley, there is Katavi Park. In the south of the country there is Kitulo Park, also known as the Garden of the Gods. Currently, the issue of increasing the area of ​​the park at the expense of the forests of Mount Rungwe is being considered. In the southeast are the Selous Nature Reserve and Mikumi Park.

Population of Tanzania

Population 38.860 million (estimated as of October 2009). In the country, only the city of Dar es Salaam has a population of more than 1 million people. Annual growth - 2%. Fertility - 4.5 births per woman. Infant mortality is 69 per 1000 births. Average life expectancy is 50 years for men, 53 years for women. Infection with the immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is 6.2% (2007 estimate).

Ethnic composition - in the mainland - 99% blacks, mainly Bantu peoples (hehe, Shambhala, Sukuma, Kuria, Ha, etc.), 1% - Asians (mostly Indians), whites, Arabs. In Zanzibar there are mainly Arabs, blacks and mestizos of Arab-Negro origin.

The official languages ​​are Swahili and English, Arabic is widespread in Zanzibar, and there are many local Bantu languages ​​on the mainland. Religions - in the mainland - Christians 30%, Muslims 35%, aboriginal cults 35%; in Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslims.

Source - http://ru.wikipedia.org/
http://www.afri.su/countries/tanzania/

The content of the article

TANZANIA, United Republic of Tanzania, a state in East Africa. It consists of two parts - mainland (formerly Tanganyika) and island (islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, etc.). Mainland Tanzania is bordered by Uganda to the north, Kenya to the northeast, Burundi and Rwanda to the northwest, Mozambique to the south, Malawi and Zambia to the southwest, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. . In the east it is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean, in the west - lake. Tanganyika, in the southwest - lake. Nyasa, in the north - lake. Victoria. In 1974 the capital was moved from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma. The transfer of the capital was due to the government's desire to transfer part of the cash flow inland from the more developed coast. Although Dodoma is now the official capital, in many respects Dar es Salaam still retains its capital functions. Most government agencies, foreign embassies and representative offices of international organizations are still located here.

Nature.

Surface structure and climate.

Based on the nature of the relief, the territory of Tanzania is divided into three regions: the coastal lowland with islands; a vast inland plateau (part of the East African Plateau) with grabens of the East African Rift Zone; several isolated mountain ranges and volcanoes with Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. Many areas of the country suffer from water shortages. Sources of water supply are the Pangani, Rufiji and Ruvuma rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean and their tributaries, lakes Nyasa, Tanganyika and Victoria.

The strip of coastal lowlands is swampy in places, especially at river mouths. Mangroves are common there. At a short distance from the coast, under conditions of normal flow, fertile soils are developed. The climate is equatorial-monsoon, hot, seasonally humid. Average annual precipitation often exceeds 1000 mm. Moderate rains are typical for November-December, light rains occur in December-April and heavy rains in April-May. Average temperatures in Dar es Salaam range from 23°C in June to 28°C in January. The climate is similar on the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, but there is more rainfall and the soils are fertile and intensively cultivated.

The lower and drier part of the plateau occupies the whole of southern Tanzania. The soils here are of a lighter composition, are susceptible to erosion and are quickly depleted. There is little precipitation, and it is distributed unevenly across the seasons. The tsetse fly, a carrier of sleeping sickness among humans and nagana disease among domestic animals, is found here. In Swahili, this barren and sparsely populated area is called "nyika". The central and northern parts of the plateau rise to 1200–1500 m. In some places there is moderate rainfall, and fertile soils are common. Agriculture is widespread, although only a few areas have water available all year round and only the higher areas are free from tsetse flies. The average annual rainfall within the plateau ranges from 650 to 900 mm, with the wet season lasting from November to April. However, the start date of this season and the total amount of precipitation varies greatly, which affects agriculture. In November-December there are short refreshing showers alternating with clear days. Then dry weather prevails for several months, but in March a period of prolonged rains begins, which covers April and sometimes May. From mid-May, dry weather sets in and prevails until November. Temperatures are moderate, decreasing with altitude. In Mwanza (1170 m above sea level) the average temperature in June is 20° C, in January 22° C.

The plateau is intersected in the meridional direction by the East African Rift Zone, formed as a result of significant subsidence of the earth's crust along parallel faults. In the south, the lake basin is confined to this zone. Nyasa, whose level is located at an altitude of 475 m above sea level. In the western fault there is a lake. Tanganyika, and the eastern branch, characterized by a sinuous configuration, crosses central Tanzania. Further to the north, this zone branches into western and eastern. The height of the surface in the axial part of the zone is 600–900 m, and the surface of the plateau rises above it by many tens of meters. Lakes Nyasa, Tanganyika and Victoria (occupying a shallow depression in the north of the plateau) are of important transport importance. The areas adjacent to lakes Nyasa and Tanganyika receive more precipitation than the rest of the plateau, with their annual amount ranging from 1000 to 1500 mm or more.

The highest regions of Tanzania contain isolated volcanic mountains, small mountain ranges and ridges. In the north these are the Usambara mountains, Meru volcanoes (4567 m) and Kilimanjaro with Kibo peak (5895 m). In the south, the Livingston Mountains stand out, stretching along the northeastern coast of the lake. Nyasa. In general, the mountains receive more rainfall than other areas of the country and have more fertile soils. In the middle parts of the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, which are quite suitable for agriculture, more than 1300 mm of precipitation falls per year. Average temperatures in the coolest months are 13–16° C, and in the warmest months – 18–21° C.

Natural flora and fauna.

Dense tropical forests remain only around lakes in the west of the country and in the floodplains of some rivers. The most common plant formations are dry low-grass savannas with acacias and thickets of thorny bushes. There are also park forests on the plateau. Coastal areas contain native and introduced species of mango and introduced coconut palm. Even conifers, such as cedar and pine, grow on the slopes of high mountains. Pterocarpus angola is found in the park forests, the valuable wood of which is used to make high-quality furniture and wall cladding.

The savannas are home to several species of antelope (wildebeest, kongoni, topi, stenbok, springbok, etc.), as well as lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, elephants and giraffes. Characterized by an abundance of monkeys, of the monkeys in the far north-west there are chimpanzees, and in the Kilimanjaro region there are gorillas. Along the rivers there are hippos and crocodiles. The world of birds is unusually rich and diverse. There are especially many waterfowl. In the higher regions of the country, ostriches can occasionally be seen. Poisonous snakes include the black mamba and the African viper.

Tanzania is famous for its famous protected areas. Particularly famous is the Serengeti National Park (15.5 thousand sq. km), the only one in the world where natural seasonal migrations of wild animals occur. The adjacent Ngorongoro National Park is confined to a huge volcanic crater; its caldera, the largest in the world, is distinguished by its extraordinary richness of fauna. Nearby is the Olduvai Gorge, where Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the skulls and bones of human ancestors. Here it was first established that Australopithecus and Homo habilis lived at the same time, ca. 1.5 million years ago.

POPULATION

Demography.

According to the 1988 census, 23.2 million people lived in Tanzania, of which 22.5 million lived on the mainland and 0.6 million in Zanzibar and Pemba.

In 2004, the country's population was 36.59 million people.

The population of mainland Tanzania is almost entirely African. The vast majority of them are employed in agriculture. Following government control of the economy, many non-Africans lost their jobs and emigrated. After Africans, the most significant part of the population were people from Asia, mainly from India and Pakistan, but in the two decades after 1961 their numbers decreased from 88.7 thousand to 20 thousand. Of the 23 thousand Europeans in 1961, only 1 thousand remain today .

Before the revolution of 1964 approx. 76% of the population of Zanzibar were Africans, 17% Arabs, 6% Indians, and the rest were people from the Comoros and Europeans. The Arabs monopolized not only political power, but also the plantation economy. Trade was predominantly in the hands of Indians and to a lesser extent Arabs. During the revolution, many Arabs were killed. The Abeid Karume government that came to power took a number of discriminatory measures against ethnic minorities. As a result, about three-quarters of Arabs and Asians emigrated from Zanzibar.

Ethnic composition.

There are approximately 120 ethnic and linguistic groups in Tanzania. About 94% of the mainland's rural population speaks Bantu languages. The most numerous people are the Sukuma. It is concentrated in the northwest and makes up 13% of the population of mainland Tanzania; related Nyamwezi live in the western and central parts of the country; Makonde – on the coast; Khaya – in the area of ​​the lake. Victoria; chaga - on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and Meru, where they grow coffee; gogo live in the central regions and ha - in the west near the lake. Tanganyika. The remaining peoples of the mainland are predominantly pastoralists who speak Shari-Nile languages ​​(Masai, etc.). Several small ethnic groups, including the Sandawe and Hadsa, speak Khoisan languages. The majority of the population of Zanzibar are descendants of African slaves brought from the mainland by the Arabs, and the Shirazi people, whose ancestors came from Iran many centuries ago and mixed with the local population.

Until the early 1970s, most of the population of mainland Tanzania lived in isolated family households as farmers or nomadic pastoralists. In the period 1974–1977, many villages were united into approximately 7.5 thousand large standard rural settlements. In the new villages, traditional social institutions were eliminated, and leadership functions were transferred to representatives of the ruling party or state.

Language.

Although Africans in different parts of the country speak different local languages, the language of interethnic communication is Swahili. It is one of the Bantu languages, enriched with borrowings from Arabic and, to a lesser extent, from Hindi and English. Swahili is taught in primary and secondary schools. Swahili has been the official language of Tanzania since 1967, but English is still widely used in government and business. Teaching at the University of Dar es Salaam is conducted in English.

Religion.

About a third of Tanzanians are Muslims, one fourth are Christians, and the rest are adherents of local traditional beliefs.

Government system and politics.

On December 9, 1961, Tanganyika gained independence. The national liberation struggle was led by the mass party Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). The country had a parliament and a government, but formally the head of state was the English monarch. In December 1962, Tanganyika was proclaimed a republic, and the president became the head of the executive branch. In January 1964, by decree of the country's first president, TANU leader Julius Nyerere, an authoritative commission was established to consider changes to the TANU charter, the executive system and the procedure for electing representative bodies in order to make the one-party system legitimate and give it a democratic character.

Zanzibar gained independence in December 1963, but power remained in the hands of the Arab oligarchy. As a result of the victory of the revolution in January 1964, power passed to the Afro-Shirazi (ASP) and Umma (People) parties, which expressed the interests of Africans. The leader of the ASP, Abeid Karume, became the chairman of the highest authority - the Revolutionary Council. The more radical Umma Party later became part of the TSA, which became the only legal political organization in Zanzibar. In April 1964, the governments of Tanganyika and Zanzibar decided to unite both states, and Zanzibaris were included in the government and constitutional commission of Tanzania. The recommendations of this commission formed the basis of the interim constitution of 1965, which officially recognized the one-party system in Tanzania. In 1977, a new constitution was adopted, which established the leading role of the party. At the same time, TANU and TSA merged into a single Revolutionary Party - Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CHM).

From 1965 to 1993, Tanzania was a country with a one-party system, and African socialism was recognized as the goal of development. In 1965, Julius Nyerere, as president of the country and chairman of the Black Sea Cup, significantly strengthened his authority. The party congress nominated his candidacy for the post of president and head of the executive branch, after which it was approved in a popular referendum. During the years of the one-party system, the president was assisted by two vice-presidents, one of whom was also the president of Zanzibar, and the other was the prime minister, responsible for the day-to-day running of the government. Ministers were appointed from among the members of the National Assembly. The size of the National Assembly has changed over time, and its representativeness has expanded. For example, in 1984, among 228 parliamentarians, 118 were elected from mainland Tanzania and 50 from Zanzibar, in addition, 5 were appointed by the House of Representatives of Zanzibar (where the Zanzibar government in charge of internal affairs remained), 15 female deputies were appointed by the National Assembly. The remaining seats were reserved for 15 members of parliament, appointed by the president, and the heads of all 25 regions of the country.

During the years of the one-party regime, the leading role in the political life of the country was played by the ruling party ChChM. Apart from her, only organizations controlled by her could exist legally. To reach the rural population, five mass public organizations were created, uniting women, youth, parents of students, elderly people and co-operators. The authorities strictly regulated the activities of all mass associations. The creation of alternative organizations was prohibited. The party also controlled trade unions, which were more a tool for strengthening party control than organizations defending the interests of workers.

There was no freedom of speech in Tanzania during the 1970s and 1980s. There was an atmosphere of suspicion towards imaginary external and internal enemies who allegedly hindered the country's progress towards a bright future. Such sentiments in society especially intensified during the economic crisis of the early 1980s.

Although the one-party system was in principle anti-democratic, the country held elections for local, regional and national authorities, and Nyerere's candidacy for the presidency was approved in popular referendums in 1965, 1970, 1975 and 1980. In 1985, Nyerere resigned as president, but remained Chairman of the ChChM. The new president of the country was Zanzibari Ali Hassan Mwinyi, who held this post from October 1985 to 1995. Despite the defeat of many prominent party figures in the 1985 elections, determining the political and economic course of the country remained the prerogative of the CFM. The popularly elected parliament has long turned into a body obedient to the Black Sea Council.

ChChM had an extensive network of local organizations. Every ten houses formed a primary party cell. The leaders of the cells were the main support of the ChChM on the ground. There was a strict hierarchy in party and government bodies, and all important decisions were made at the very top. All that was required from the lower classes was the approval and implementation of the decisions of the party and the government.

In the 1990s, Nyerere began to move toward abandoning the one-party system. In 1991, a specially created commission (the Nyalali Commission) began to determine public opinion regarding changes in the political system. After discussing this issue at conferences and seminars at the end of 1991, the commission submitted a report to the government. In February 1992, parliament approved amendments to the constitution that provided for the introduction of a multi-party system.

The liberalization of political life has caused profound changes in the country. The granting of freedom of speech accelerated the creation of several press organs and eased political tensions. After the removal of party-state control over the activities of public associations, a number of non-governmental organizations appeared. The goal of many of them was to support the social sphere (primarily health care and education), which was previously financed by the state. Other organizations discussed land reform, environmental protection, women's rights, and so on. In 1993, political parties were created and began preparations for the 1995 elections.

13 political parties took part in these elections, but only four of them nominated their candidates for the presidency. The ChChM won a convincing victory, whose candidates were elected to the highest government posts. Benjamin Mkapa became the President of Tanzania, Omar Juma became the first vice-president and prime minister of the mainland, and Salmin Amour became the second vice-president and president of Zanzibar. The CCM achieved control not only over the executive branch, but also won 214 of the 275 seats in the new National Assembly. The largest opposition force in the elections was the National Convention for Creation and Reform (NCCR), led by the famous anti-corruption activist Augustin Mrema. The NCSR received the greatest support in the Kilimanjaro region, Mrema's homeland. In the presidential elections, he won 27.8% of the vote, and his party won 19 parliamentary seats. Representatives of the influential United Civil Front (UCF) party in Zanzibar received 28 parliamentary seats, but its candidate collected only 6.4% of the votes in the presidential elections. Two other opposition parties each won several seats in parliament: the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Party for Democracy and Progress (CHADEMA).

The CCM formed a government of 23 ministers. It is noteworthy that many former senior party members were not offered positions in the new government. After the elections, the position of the ChChM government strengthened, which was facilitated by the conflict within the NKSR, the most influential party. In 1997, a struggle began between Augustin Mrema and the rest of the NCSR executive committee for control of the organization. After numerous publications in the press about internal party strife, the number of NKSR supporters sharply decreased. Many voters previously saw Mrem as a contender for the presidency of Tanzania, but only if he showed qualities worthy of a statesman. The union with Zanzibar was going through a difficult period due to accusations of rigging the results of elections on the island, which allowed the CFM to take a majority of seats in parliament there. As a sign of protest, UCF activists carried out a long boycott of parliament. Relations between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar remain tense.

In 1997, a report became public knowledge, which provided numerous documentary evidence of widespread corruption in government structures. Passions were also boiling over plans for a radical land reform that would legislate the right of private ownership of land. Since Tanzania has a strong tradition of collective land use and the popular perception is that land cannot be bought and sold, the government has decided to hold a broad debate on this issue. The discussion raised questions about women's right to own land and the relationship between nomadic pastoralists who move livestock to seasonal pastures and the government, which needs the land to create national parks and develop tourism.

During the second presidential election in 2000, Mpaka was re-elected to another five-year term with 71 percent of the vote, although the opposition refused to accept the election results and called for a boycott of the new parliament. Disappointment over the results of the last elections in 2001 led to violent demonstrations and accusations against the police. A series of rallies in Zanzibar calling for new elections turned violent, leaving about 40 people dead and many others injured. After the end of Mpaka's second term, in the presidential election, former Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete (of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi Party) won 80 percent of the popular vote and won. He appointed Edward Lowass as his prime minister and the government was sworn in in December 2005. Kikwete promised to continue his predecessor's economic reforms. In February 2008, the cabinet was dissolved by the president after a corruption scandal. The Prime Minister resigned. He was replaced by Misengo Pinda and a new cabinet was created.

Local government.

The territory of mainland Tanzania is administratively divided into 20 regions, the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba into 5 regions. The regions are divided into 70 districts. After the introduction of the one-party system in 1965, party structures were created at the level of villages and urban areas. Party representatives in rural areas were involved in resolving conflicts within and between family households, as well as disputes related to land use and access to water. These party bodies survived during the multi-party period, but their powers were reduced as local control of the Black Sea Council weakened.

At different times in Tanzania's history, regional and district governments have had varying powers. During colonial times, local authorities served as an important mechanism for implementing the policies of the metropolis. The colonialists left the leaders some of their traditional powers and created local councils. During the period of independence, the national government initially relied on these bodies, but as the central government strengthened, local administrative functions were gradually transferred to it. In the late 1960s, the government in Dar es Salaam removed the right of local councils to set their own budgets. In 1972 local governments were abolished. Instead of councils and an executive apparatus accountable to the population, regional and district committees were created locally, staffed by officials appointed by the central government. Behind the government's statements about its supposed decentralization policy was an intention to establish total local control, excluding any initiatives not sanctioned from above.

After the introduction of a multi-party system, the question of reform of local governments arose. Regional and district administrations now have greater powers and often seek to find sources of funding other than the state treasury.

Judicial system.

During the colonial period, the justice system consisted of two components. British magistrates tried civil and criminal cases in official courts, and chiefs and elders administered justice based on traditional customs. After the declaration of independence, unified courts of three instances were introduced. Cases that had been under the jurisdiction of the courts of chiefs and elders are now heard by justices of the peace, who are trained and appointed by the executive. Officially, legal proceedings according to traditional norms were abolished, but in fact, locally they continue to operate to one degree or another. There are still cases where courts make decisions based on common law in combination with local customs.

Armed forces.

In January 1964, two battalions of the Tanganyika army mutinied, demanding higher salaries and accelerating the process of Africanization of officers. After the mutiny was suppressed, the army was disbanded. The Tanzania People's Defense Forces were created, under the political and ideological control of TANU. Currently, the strength of the armed forces, including the Air Force and Navy, is estimated at approximately 40 thousand people. Internal security issues are the responsibility of the police (approximately 1,400 people) and the people's militia, which numbers 50,000 people. The Tanzanian army is equipped mainly with Soviet and Chinese weapons.

Foreign policy.

During the Cold War, Tanzania pursued a policy of non-alignment and self-reliance. The foreign policy course corresponded to the economic tasks of building African socialism. Tanzania had close ties with China, which provided it with significant assistance in creating transport infrastructure. She supported the national liberation movements in southern Africa, as one of the front-line states, she assisted the African National Congress (ANC) in the fight against apartheid in South Africa and opposed South Africa's intervention in the civil war in Angola and Mozambique. Tanzania has led the opposition to Idi Amin's dictatorial regime in neighboring Uganda. Thanks to the participation of the Tanzanian army, the Ugandan dictator was overthrown as a result of a two-year war in 1978–1979.

In the 1970s, attempts to create an East African Economic Community failed; the resulting disagreements led to the closure of the northern border with Kenya. In 1993, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya announced their intention to re-establish the East African Community. In recent years, Tanzanian diplomacy has been actively involved in finding ways to resolve conflicts in Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo by the states of Central and East Africa. The Tanzanian city of Arusha is home to the Rwanda International War Crimes Tribunal, created to prosecute those responsible for the 1994 genocide. Tanzania is a member of the Organization of African Unity, the UN and the Commonwealth, led by Great Britain.

Economy.

The model of socialism adopted in Tanzania after independence was based on two basic principles - self-reliance and equal distribution of public wealth. The implementation of this model was fraught with great difficulties and proved untenable mainly due to the focus of the Tanzanian economy on the export of agricultural products. Despite the arid climate and other unfavorable natural conditions, agriculture forms the basis of Tanzania's economy.

In the 1970s, the country's economy developed at a relatively fast pace, which was associated with high world prices for Tanzanian export products. The policy of forced creation of "socialist villages" alienated peasants from the land, and growth slowed. In the late 1970s, Tanzania entered a period of economic crisis. The fall in world prices for Tanzanian exports, the global oil crisis and the onerous war with Uganda led to a balance of payments imbalance. Internal political factors also played an important role. The state systematically underpaid peasants for export products and accumulated a significant portion of export income. Therefore, the peasants were faced with a dilemma: either produce less produce or sell a significant part of it on the black market. A socialist-type economy also presupposed the presence of political restrictions on economic activity. The Arusha Declaration of 1967 prohibited party functionaries and government officials from engaging in business and using hired labor. Despite the efforts of the Tanzanian leadership to prevent the personal enrichment of party elites and civil servants, the economic crisis of the 1980s gave rise to a large-scale underground economy. Party workers and government officials, faced with the impossibility of living on their salaries, took up entrepreneurial activity. Experts note that it is difficult to objectively assess the state of the Tanzanian economy, since it is almost impossible to determine the scale of the shadow economy.

In the early 1980s, the Tanzanian government made several attempts to adjust economic policies, but this did not help the ailing socialist economy. In 1986, Tanzania held negotiations with the IMF in order to obtain loans to carry out structural restructuring of the country's economy. The agreement reached meant a radical turn in the country's economic course, since the terms of the loans provided for the abandonment of socialist economic methods. Like most reform countries, Tanzania is privatizing its public sector of agriculture and industry. The IMF also demanded trade liberalization and the devaluation of the Tanzanian shilling. In recent years, as a result of the curtailment of social programs, peasants have lost state support, and now they have to rely only on themselves.

Tanzania remains a predominantly agricultural country, with 85% of the rural population employed in the agricultural sector. In 1997, agricultural exports accounted for 60% of all export earnings. Although the IMF has identified Tanzania as a country that has successfully achieved economic restructuring, the actual results are half-hearted at best. For the majority of peasants, production oriented towards the domestic market often does not even provide a subsistence level.

The total length of the country's highways is 90 thousand km, of which 18 thousand km are paved. The length of the railways is 3.5 thousand km. The largest seaports in Tanzania are Dar es Salaam and Tanga. Coastal shipping is developed along the coast. There are three international airports - Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar.

Foreign trade turnover in 1994 amounted to 1.8 billion dollars, imports - 1.4 billion (machinery and equipment, fuel, consumer goods), exports - 0.4 billion (tea, coffee, tobacco, sisal, a number of industrial goods and mineral raw materials).

External debt in 1995 exceeded $7 billion.

After lengthy debates, the National Commercial Bank, previously owned by the state, was privatized in 1997.

Education.

Seven years of primary education is compulsory. In the 1970s, universal primary education was an important element of the program for building socialism and self-reliance. Secondary education is selective; in order to continue studying in state secondary schools, primary school graduates must pass transition exams. As the process of economic liberalization deepens in the country, more and more private schools are being created, which are run by parental and religious organizations. Often educational institutions are subsidized from funds of international non-governmental organizations. Upon payment of the required amount, anyone can become a student at a private school. In 1997, the cost of education per student in a public high school was approx. $150 per year, the cost of tuition at a private school was slightly higher - approx. $200 per year.

To enter the university in Dar es Salaam, you must successfully pass the entrance exams. For a long time, the government provided subsidies for students to study, but now they must pay their own fees. Tanzania's premier university has always been a hotbed of free thought and a center of criticism of the government. In the 1980s, student organizations were the most organized force of opposition to the ruling regime.

Story.

Back in the 8th century. Zanzibar and other islands off the east coast of Africa were a base for Arabs trading with the mainland. These islands were called the country of Zenj. Over time, Zanzibar became an independent Muslim sultanate, developing trade relations with the countries of the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. In the 16th–17th centuries. it was under the rule of the Portuguese, and in the 18th century. came under the influence of the Sultans of Oman. In 1832, the Sultan of Oman, Said Sayyid, moved his residence to Zanzibar. Soon a large center for trading slaves, ivory and spices arose here. Trade routes rushed deep into the mainland and reached the region of Mount Kilimanjaro. Interaction with slave traders caused profound social changes. Thus, the tribal leaders and even some common people living in the Pare Mountains became rich and gained great influence by supplying food and other necessities to traders and porters on the route between the coast and Kilimanjaro. Thus, trade undermined established power structures and stimulated wealth stratification. At the end of the 19th century. The areas surrounding Kilimanjaro became the center of activity for Christian missionaries. The development of different regions was uneven. Those who had the opportunity to get an education in missionary schools or get rich servicing trade caravans were ahead. For a long time, the Kilimanjaro region occupied a central place in the economic life of the country. Trade routes also created new dangers, since local peasants could easily become prey to slave traders.

At the end of the 19th century. Zanzibar was turned into a British protectorate, and the mainland of modern Tanzania (Tanganyika) was turned into a colony within German East Africa. Soon the first settlements of German settlers appeared here; the mountainous region of Usambara with a cooler climate was especially popular. In 1905–1906, the Germans brutally suppressed the protests of the local population. After World War I, Germany lost Tanganyika, which became a League of Nations mandate under British rule. The British administration incorporated local traditional institutions into the system of colonial administration. Where these institutions did not exist, they were created artificially, justifying this by the need to respect local traditions. In some localities, the leaders competed with each other for the favor of the British, since the support of the colonial administration provided them with greater opportunities to enrich themselves and strengthen their power. The British established the production of cash crops, including cotton. To neutralize the anti-colonial opposition, the British administration tried to establish social security for the local population. Opposition against the introduction of new taxes in the Pare region in 1949 accelerated the colonial authorities' decision to develop an education and health care system. It was believed that these measures would instill a friendly attitude towards the British authorities.

However, anti-colonial sentiment spread among members of peasant associations that were founded in the 1920s in cash crop producing areas. Coffee growers' associations in Kilimanjaro and Buhaya (western Tanzania), as well as other similar associations, were created to help farmers control agricultural pests and sell their products. The viability of the colonial system was undermined during the global economic crisis of the 1930s, when the costs of administering colonies increased.

After World War II, Tanganyika became a UN trust territory under British administration. In the 1950s, the national movement intensified, and in December 1961 Tanganyika gained independence. Zanzibar followed suit on December 10, 1963, and in January 1964 there was a coup, as a result of which the African majority of the population overthrew the dynasty of Arab sultans who had long ruled on this island.

In April 1964, Zanzibar and Tanganyika entered the federation of the United Republic of Tanzania, but the rapprochement of both parts of the federation occurred only in 1977. Despite the constant statements of government officials that a classless society has been created in Tanzania, free from interethnic contradictions, recently an alliance between both parts of the state became less durable. The shortage of many necessary goods and life on the brink of survival in an economic crisis are associated in the minds of the population with government programs for structural restructuring of the economy. Economic difficulties exacerbated ethno-religious differences between Christians and Muslims, which affected relations between Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Political contradictions arose during the first multi-party elections in 1995 between the ruling Revolutionary Party (RPP), which enjoys support on the mainland, and opposition parties operating in Zanzibar.

Tanzania in the 21st century

During the second presidential elections held in 2000, Mpaka was re-elected to another five-year term, but the opposition did not recognize the election results and called for a boycott of the new parliament. In 2001, demonstrations and accusations against the police began in the country. A series of rallies in Zanzibar calling for new elections turned violent, leaving about 40 people dead and many others injured.

In the new presidential elections, former Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete (from the Chama Cha Mapinduzi party) won with 80 percent of the popular vote. He appointed Edward Lowass as prime minister, and the government was sworn in in December 2005. Kikwete promised to continue his predecessor's economic reforms. In February 2008, the cabinet was dissolved by the president after a corruption scandal. The Prime Minister resigned. He was replaced by Misengo Pinda and a new cabinet was created.