23 Wild Tanzania Facts

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published April 21, 2023

With a population of 64 million, Tanzania is the most populous country south of the equator._[5]
In 1978, archaeologists found a trail of 70 fossilized hominid footprints in Tanzania. They are about 3.6 million years old._[8]
Approximately 63% of Tanzanians identify as Christian, 34% as Muslim, and 5% represent other religions._[4]
Tanzania is home to over 100 languages, making it the most linguistically diverse country in East Africa._[5]

The Great Wildebeest Migration is the longest and largest overland migration on Earth

Over 1.5 million wildebeest migrate through Tanzania in what is known as the Great Wildebeest Migration. During their migration, they must pass through the crocodile-infested Mara River._[5]
The famous Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa's Seven Natural Wonders. The crater, which is actually an extinct volcanic caldera, has an ecosystem all its own._[5]
The name Tanzania is from the names of two states that combined to form the country: Tanganyika and Zanzibar._[5]
Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania is the second largest lake in the world._[5]
Approximately 20% of Tanzania is national park land._[5]
Over 10,000 species of trees and plants, 1100 species of birds, and at least 340 species of mammals have been recorded in Tanzania._[2]
At about twice the size of California, Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa._[2]
Tanzania is home to the famous Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain._[5]

Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa. It is also the highest free-standing mountain in the world

Of all the countries in the world, Tanzania has the largest animal population density. In other words, Tanzania has more animals per square mile of land than any other country._[5]
Tanzania is home to Combe Stream National Park, a well-known chimpanzee sanctuary where Jane Goodall conducted her research._[6]

Freddy Mercury's real name was Farrokh Bulsara

Freddie Mercury (Freddy Bulsara) was born in the Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar, which is a semi-autonomous island off the coast of Tanzania._[1]
Germany invaded and conquered Tanzania in the late 19th century. After Germany's loss in World War I, the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 awarded Tanzania to Britain. Tanzania finally gained independence in 1961._[5]
Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania is the deepest lake in Africa. Another Tanzanian lake, Lake Malawi, has more fish species than any other lake in the world._[3]
In Tanzania, there are about 120 African tribal groups. When traders moved into the country in about AD 800, native Africans married the newcomers from India, Arabia, and the Shirazis from Persia._[5]
Zanzibar, Tanzania, was the center of the Arab slave trade, and its Stone Town was the last operating slave market in the world._[5]

A UAE-based company is trying to evict over 70,000 Indigenous Maasai residents to build a wildlife corridor for trophy hunting and elite tourism

The Maasai live in northern Tanzania. They live in circular mud and grass huts and are famous for their colorful clothing, their dyed red hair, and their "jumping dance."_[2]
The famous Ngorongoro Crater is one of the Africa's Seven Natural Wonders and is the largest extinct caldera in the world. The site of craters has an ecosystem all of its own and is one of Africa's Seven Natural Wonders._[5]
The shortest war in history was the Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896. It lasted just 38 minutes. When Khalid bin Bargash seized power, the British bombed the country. Over 500 Tanzanians died and one British marine was injured._[9]
Lake Olduvai in Tanzania contains human fossils that are millions of years old. The oldest skull in the world was discovered nearby._[7]