Situated just south of the Equator, Tanzania is the largest East African nation (937 062 sq km) - it is half the size of Western Europe and is bordered by shimmering lakes and the Indian Ocean. It is bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Republic of the Congo to the west and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south. The Indian Ocean lies to the east. Off its white sandy beaches lie the sleepy islands of Pemba, Mafia and exotic Zanzibar. Lake Tanganyika, Africa's longest and deepest freshwater lake and the second deepest in the world, runs along its western border. In the northwest, in a massive shallow depression, is the source of the Nile, Lake Victoria. The entire country is dotted with a host of other permanent and seasonal lakes and rivers, including the Rufiji and Great Ruaha, which together give Tanzania more surface water than any other African country. A mosaic of savannah grasslands, tropical forests, riverine basins, mountain ranges, swamps, mangroves and coral reefs, Tanzania contains some of the largest and most beautiful wilderness areas in the world. Roughly encircling the interior is a somewhat broken curve of ancient hills - these mountains preserve remnants of a once widespread equatorial forest and is the last remaining refuge of animals and plants found nowhere else in the world. Tanzania is also home to the famous vast roaming herds of the Serengeti plains game and the snow-capped wonder of legendary Mount Kilimanjaro.

Ethnic groups

Today the country contains a colourful tapestry of more than 126 loosely defined tribes, ranging from the few hundred ancient nomadic Kindiga hunters of Lake Eyasi to the million strong Sukumas of Lake Victoria. The major concentration of population is at the coast, the shores of Lake Victoria and the fertile soils of the northern mountains. Large areas of this vast country remain completely uninhabited. Not surprisingly, nearly a quarter of all of Africa's game is found on the savannahs of this country, one quarter of which is made up of national parks and reserves. You'll find that all the statistics point to one overwhelming fact, Tanzania is a country made for 'Safari'.

Climate

Tanzania offers warm days and cool early mornings and evenings throughout most of the country. At altitude the temperatures are moderate. There are two primary rainy seasons: the long rains roughly from April to May and the short rains during November.

Best times to visit:

Lake Manyara National Park
The long dry season from June to September and again in January and February. During the rainy months, some roads are impassable and the mosquitoes are plentiful.

Serengeti National Park
All year round with December to March as the more rewarding period of which February is the best. Masses of migratory herds are on the short grass of the southern Serengeti plains at this time. It is also the birthing season for the wildebeest and the hartebeest and it is always a thrill to watch a baby wildebeest stumble to its feet minutes after being born.

Arusha National Park
All year long, but April and May require a 4 wheel drive vehicle.

Tarangire National Park
Prime game viewing months are between July and December.