Fun facts about Tanzania & Zanzibar

21 things you didn't know about these popular East African destinations

KarienN

9-12-2021

  1. Did you know that the coconut crab, the largest crab in the world, is found in Tanzania? Also, it is considered to be among the world’s tastiest crabs.
  2. Did you know that Freddie Mercury, the famous late songwriter and vocalist for ‘Queen’ rock band, was born in Zanzibar, Tanzania?
  3. Did you know that the shortest war in history was fought in Tanzania between the United Kingdom and Zanzibar in 1896? It lasted only 45 minutes.
  4. Did you know that Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is one of the oldest ecosystems on earth, with little change in the past million years? It has a diversity of flora and fauna unmatched elsewhere in the world.
  5. Did you know that the Serengeti is home to the Ol Doinyo Lengai, the only volcano on the planet that is currently erupting carbonatite lava? The carbonate lava is washed down to the plains, where it fertilizes the soil.
  6. Did you know that Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park was the first park to become known for its tree-climbing lions?
  7. Did you know that Zanzibar has its own leopard population? Known as the Zanzibar Leopard, they are endemic to Zanzibar, and some authorities believe they may be extinct or very close to it.
  8. Did you know that Tanzania is home to the highest mountain in Africa? – Mount Kilimanjaro.
  9. Did you know that Mount Kilimanjaro is home to every type of ecological system? This includes cultivated land, rain forest, heath, moorland, alpine desert, and an arctic summit.
  10. Did you know that Tanzania is home to around 120 different African tribal groups? The largest group is the Sukuma, who live in the north-western part of the country.
  11. Did you know that the world’s longest river, the Nile, originates from Lake Victoria, Tanzania?
  12. Did you know that the most famous National Park of Tanzania is the Serengeti National Park? Where a million wildebeests cross over to the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya.
  13. Did you know that Tanzania is home to the world’s largest caldera, or volcanic depression, the Ngorongoro Crater? It covers an area of 264 kilometres, and experts estimate that it formed about 2.5 million years ago.
  14. Did you know that Tanzania is home to the Baobab tree? One of nature’s oldest and oddest trees. The Tarangire National Park is one of the best places to see these huge trees. These trees can grow to be 1,000 years old.
  15. Did you know that Mandazi is a delicious fried bread typically eaten in Tanzania? In this dessert, sugar or icing is sprinkled over a doughnut flavoured with coconut.
  16. Did you know that “Hakuna Matata” is much more than the popular Disney song from “The Lion King”? The Swahili phrase is literally translated as “no worries.” Tanzanians use the phrase regularly as a reminder to slow down and enjoy life.
  17. Did you know that Tanzania’s Mpingo tree produces the world’s most expensive timber? The material has exceptional mechanical properties, making it ideal for carving, and the finish is beautiful.
  18. Did you know that the Mpingo trees are known as the African music trees? Their wood has been used to make musical instruments for centuries.
  19. Did you know that the first country in Africa to introduce colour television was Zanzibar in 1973?
  20. Did you know that Zanzibar is popularly known as Spice Island due to its main economic activity after tourism being spice exports? – Mainly cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper.
  21. Did you know that Zanzibar is a prime dive destination thanks to the living reefs that surround the islands? Besides the warm water and excellent visibility, there are also many colourful fish, making it the perfect place for first-time and experienced divers.

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