10 Amazing Facts About Tanzania (Truly Amazing). Tanzania might be the most well-known African country. People now think of Zanzibar, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Serengeti when they hear the name of this country. People come from all over the world to go on adventure in some of the best national parks in the world.

The country is stunningly beautiful, the Swahili people are friendly, and it has some of the best wildlife in the world. But Tanzania is very different from what you might think! Here are ten interesting facts about Tanzania that may shock you.

1. It has Africa’s tallest mountain.

If you’re lucky enough to see it, this snow-covered cone-shaped rock will amaze you! Mount Kilimanjaro is 5,895 meters high and is the world’s largest freestanding peak. It is also the tallest mountain in Africa. There are a lot of different kinds of ecosystems there, such as those in farmed land, the jungle, the alpine desert, and the arctic peak. You are welcome to enjoy the beauty of this mountain from the ground. If you are interested, you can climb this dormant volcano and get a great view.

Two and a half million animals move during the Great Migration.

During the Great Wildebeest Migration, more than 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles move through the fields of Tanzania and Kenya in search of grass. While avoiding crocodiles and other risks, huge groups of animals cross the Mara River on their way to the Masai Mara. This is without a doubt the most exciting part of this amazing event.

3. There are national parks in almost 30% of Tanzania.

It has some of the best public parks in the world. The Serengeti National Park is one of the most known and loved parks. It is home to more than a million different kinds of big cats and dogs. This amazing place is not only a World Heritage Site, but also the seventh World Wonder. As part of the Great Migration, wildebeest and zebras move across the Serengeti plains in search of new grounds.

There are also elephants, giraffes, leopards, impala, gazelles, great herds of buffalo, and the critically threatened Eastern black rhinoceros. Elephants, which are also found in Tanzania, live in large groups in the Selous Game Reserve. Dr. Jane Goodall did her famous work with chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, which is another well-known park in Tanzania.

4. The second-biggest lake in the world is Lake Tanganyika.

Lake Tanganyika is one of the world’s biggest freshwater lakes. It is second only to Lake Baikal in Siberia in terms of size and depth. It is split into four countries because it is so big: Tanzania, Burundi, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. One of the most biologically varied and important places in the world is the lake. At least 50 streams and rivers bring water to it. There are 500 different kinds of fish that live in Lake Tanganyika, which holds 8% of the world’s fresh water. Around 20 meters below the surface, most of these fish stay.

5. Tanzania is home to a rare breed of lions that can climb trees.

In Tarangire National Park, you can see cats that climb trees. No one knows why these cats have started to climb. Some people think they do it to get away from the tsetse flies or to catch a cool breeze. It’s also possible that the lions are just looking at the view from above. No matter what their reasons are, it is amazing to see these lions carefully move through the tree branches.

6. One of the best places to see the “Big Five” is in Ngorongoro Crater.

The famous Ngorongoro Crater, which is in northern Tanzania, is another place that everyone should see. This beautiful valley was likely formed by a volcano erupting. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world for a wildlife tour and was even named one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders. Because the crater is so small, it has created a special ecosystem that gives people some of the best chances to see wildlife. On top of that, it has the biggest known density of lions. There are many well-known African animals here, such as the ostrich, zebra, cheetah, wildebeest, gazelle, hippos, and more. You can also see cows, elephants, leopards, and rhinoceroses.

7. Fossils of people from millions of years ago can be found in Olduvai Gorge.

One of the most interesting things about Tanzania is that old human bones were found in Olduvai Gorge, which is home to one of the most beautiful lakes in the country. The fact that these humanoid bones were found millions of years ago shows that people lived in the past. The oldest human skull ever found was one of the things that were found.

8. The Arab slave trade centered on Zanzibar

Arab and Indian traders, as well as Portuguese and other Europeans, bought and sold slaves in Zanzibar for a long time. One of the most important things here was people. Sad to say, a big part of the trade between Zanzibar and other places involved slaves. In the middle of Stone Town was the last slave market still in business in the world. It is now an important historical place in Zanzibar. Every year, between 40 and 50,000 slaves were sent to Zanzibar. Many of them worked on the farms in the area, which was ruled by the Omani at the time. The British forced it to close in 1873.

9. It has some of Africa’s most beautiful waterfalls

Kenya has many lakes and mountains, so it makes sense that it would also have waterfalls. The Kalambo Falls, which is near the border between Zambia and the Rukwa Region, is without a doubt one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Africa. It is one of the highest falls on the continent because the water falls 772 feet in a straight, uninterrupted drop.

The Kalambo River flows into it, and it is on the border between Zambia and the Songwe Region. It is also an important archaeological place because people have lived there for more than 200,000 years. A trip to the Materuni Waterfalls is another great way to spend a day away from the stress of everyday life. If you go on a walk to Materuni Waterfall near Kilimanjaro Region in Tanzania, you can see how beautiful nature is there.

10. This is where the shortest war in history happened.

The Anglo-Zanzibar War went on in Tanzania in 1896 and was over in less than an hour. To be exact, it took 38 to 45 minutes. The British started it all because they didn’t want the next Sultan to be in charge. Their choice was Hamud bin Muhammad, because he was friendlier to the British.

The British gave a deadline and asked that a different person be chosen to take over. The palace was hit by 4,100 machine gun rounds, 1,000 rifle rounds, and 500 shells from the British Navy because the new Sultan wouldn’t participate. The panic stopped, and the British were able to reach their goal. ‎

Extra Information

Baobab trees can live for a thousand years. You can see them in Tarangire National Park, near the tree-climbing lions. The oldest one was found in South Africa and is thought to be 6,000 years old.
Kenya was ruled by Germany until the end of World War I. After that, the British took over. In 1961, it stopped being a part of the British Empire.

Tanzania is the only country in Africa with more than one language. This country speaks more than 100 languages, but English and Swahili are its official languages.
It has both the highest and lowest points in Africa. Mountains range in height from the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to the bottom of Lake Tanganyika.

Tanzania is where Freddie Mercury was born. The lead singer of Queen was born in Zanzibar to Parsi and Indian parents. During the Zanzibar Revolution in 1964, he ran away to Middlesex, UK.
There are more than 100 tribes in Tanzania, and each one has its own faith and language. These tribes get along well with each other. They can live together peacefully and accept each other’s choices about culture and religion. This includes Christians and Muslims.

Tanzania is a lot more than it seems. A very interesting history, a fascinating society, and beautiful scenery make this country very interesting. These are some really cool facts about the African country.