People & Culture

We have compiled some fun facts to offer a deeper look into what makes Tanzania so special – beyond the postcards and travel clichés.

The Maasai live in Tanzania and Kenya. In Tanzania, they make up only a small part of the population. For many travelers, however, they are the most well-known ethnic group in this multi-ethnic nation. So who are they? What makes them so interesting and well-known? 10 facts worth knowing about the Maasai should make you more familiar with them.

To many, Zanzibar sounds like a paradise from 1001 Nights. The pearl of the Indian Ocean is a place of rest and relaxation with its wonderful white sandy beaches on the turquoise sea. Its exotic atmosphere is reflected in its history, the diversity of cultures, and also the food.

For many travelers to Tanzania, the Masai are the country's best-known ethnic group. Yet they make up just about 3 percent of this multi-ethnic nation. An even smaller ethnic group are the Hadza (or Hadzabe) at Lake Eyasi. What makes them so interesting is their still very traditional life as hunters and gatherers.

Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti are famous for their unique wildlife. Hardly anyone expects that of all things there is an UNESCO World Heritage Site between these two safari highlights. But the Olduvai Gorge is something special, as today's blog shows.

Few conservationists have had such a lasting and public relationship with the Serengeti as Bernhard and Michael Grzimek. You might have heard about father-and-son team and their award-winning documentary “The Serengeti Shall Not Die” or seen a faded picture of their zebra-striped Dornier aircraft. Let’s take a closer look at the men who counted the wildebeests.

Just short of 3000 metres above sea-level, Ol Doinyo Lengai, the sacred mountain of the Masai towers above the remote plains south of Lake Natron in Tanzania’s Arusha region. The local Masai respect it as holy Mountain of God and home to their God Ngai, geologists study the mountain for its unique lava and travellers attempt to capture its mystic aura in photographs.

Tourism in Tanzania took a bit of a dip back in 2015, in part due to largely misinformed fears about Ebola (which was almost entirely limited to a few countries in West Africa). But Tanzania’s numerous stunning wild spaces and tourist attractions certainly didn't lose any of their shine, and with the fear of Ebola snuffed out, arrival numbers were up by 10% in 2016 compared to the previous year.

Sometimes, words can struggle to do justice to the awe-inspiring landscapes, the iconic wildlife, the fascinating people, the interesting history, the vibrant culture, and the overall feeling of Tanzania. So we thought we'd show you the very best of our beloved Tanzania on Instagram instead, and let the country speak for itself through these fabulous images.

The Maasai are probably the most well-known of the about 130 peoples in Tanzania. They live a seminomadic life and are known to uphold their traditions and customs despite modern life’s influences. Some Maasai villages welcome visitors to introduce them to their way of life. The Olpopongi Maasai Village is one of them.