TANZANIA

TOPOGRAPHY OF TANZANIA
Tanzania comprises many lakes, national parks, and Africa's highest point, Mount
Kilimanjaro. Northeast Tanzania is mountainous, while the central area is part of a large
plateau covered in grasslands. The country also contains the southern portion of Lake
Victoria on its northern border with Uganda and Kenya.
Administratively, Tanzania is divided into 30 regions, with twenty-five on the mainland,
three on Unguja (known informally as Zanzibar Island), and two on Pemba Island.

CULTURES & TRADITIONS

Wearing modest clothing

Tanzania, including the island of Zanzibar, is a deeply conservative country. Wearing
revealing clothing is disrespectful and it’s always best to dress modestly. Traditionally,
women wear long skirts, but it’s fine for visitors to wear trousers or jeans that aren’t too
form-fitting. Always keep your chest, midriff and thighs covered. When in Zanzibar, you
should never wear swimwear or skimpy clothing away from the beach. As soon as you
leave the beach, both men and women must cover up in modest clothing.
Culinary Culture
All special events and occasions of Tanzanian People require the preparation of huge,
family-sized platters of food, like pilau, which is a local dish made up of potatoes, meat,
and spiced rice. The cooks for these meals always cook a ton of food since it’s
considered very embarrassingly and shameful for guests to leave dinner hungry.
Etiquette
In Tanzania, people eat food from common plates with their fingers. You must wash
your hands before and after meals, and you can only touch food with your right hand.
For Tanzanians, the right is considered cleaner, and the left hand is dirty, symbolically.

MOST VISITED ATTRACTIONS

Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest peak (5,895 m) and Tanzania's most iconic image.
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, unlike other parks in northern Tanzania, is not visited
for the wildlife but for the chance to stand in awe of this beautiful snow-capped
mountain and, for many, to climb to the summit. Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed at
any time, although the best period is from late June to October, during the dry season.
Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park is a vast treeless plain with millions of animals living here or
passing through in search of fresh grasslands. The second largest national park in
Tanzania, the Serengeti attracts tens of thousands of tourists each year. The best
months for wildlife viewing in Serengeti National Park are between June and
September. The wet season is from March to May, with the coldest period from June to
October.
Zanzibar Beaches
The island of Zanzibar, also called Unguja, is a major holiday destination in Tanzania
and known for its beautiful beaches. Part of the Zanzibar archipelago, which consists of
the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, this island has some of the best beaches in the
world. The surf varies depending on what side of the island you are on, but visitors will
find soft white sand and clear shallow water, along with traditional boats lining the
shore.

SIMILARITIES OF FILIPINOS AND TANZANIANS

Eating with hands

In Tanzania, people eat food from common plates with their fingers and you must wash
your hands before and after meals. The same with Filipinos whose eating without any
utensils and just using hands to scoop the mix of viand and rice. It is what you called
“Kamayan”.
Traditional Doctors
Traditional healers, shamans, and witch doctors are most common in Tanzania. These
are people who use plants and herbs for holistic, medical purposes. They strongly rely
on their supernatural connection with their ancestors to cure the sick. The same with the
History of medicine in the Philippines. There is witch doctor, folk healer or medicine men
tradition in the Philippines called “Albularyo”. They practice folk medicine and use
medicinal plants in their trade.

What have you learned? 

Tanzania is a beautiful country. It is a culturally eclectic and largely homogeneous
society that is extremely rich in age-old cultures and traditions. Their local population is
well known for being friendly and polite to visitors, and there is a strong sense of
national pride that reverberates throughout the country. The culture of the Tanzanian
people is wonderful and fascinating. In terms of culture and tradition, there are
similarities between Tanzania and the Philippines. They prioritize family and religion,
hospitality in visitors and they foster a strong sense of community.

References:
https://www.earthlifeexpeditions.com/tanzanian-people/
https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/tanzania-tza.htm