The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) belongs to the roller family of birds and can be found in sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Its habitat are savannahs and open woodlands, but it cannot be found in treeless areas.
African elephants are the largest terrestrial animals in the world and large bulls can easily weigh in at a whopping seven tonnes. Tanzania is blessed with a healthy population of these gentle giants and if you go on a safari here in Tanzania you are bound to see them in their natural habitat.
Giraffes are very fascinating animals – graceful and mostly gentle. Whilst on safari in Tanzania you are likely to come across these giants. There are nine subspecies of giraffes and only one of them, the Maasai Giraffe, occurs in Tanzania. The different species distinguish themselves by their coats.
As you relax on the golden sandy beaches of Zanzibar looking out over the turquoise Indian Ocean, you are bound to see some traditional dhow boats sailing past. They have been around for quite some time and back in the days they were the main form of transport amongst overseas travellers. Merchants used to bring exotic and new goods to the mainland of Tanzania from Arabia, Persia and India.
The Maasai are one of the best known tribes in Tanzania. By nature, they are nomadic livestock herders and move to greener pastures as need be. Cows play an extremely vital role in their day to day lives and the Maasai believe that God gave the them all the cattle in the world and that cattle represents a sacred bond between man and God. There is a strong hierarchy amongst the Maasai and each individual has his or her place within the community.
When you are in Tanzania and you want to try the local food then “Nyama Choma” (grilled meat) is a must! It is available almost everywhere and comes in all shapes and sizes. The most common meats include beef, pork, chicken and goat. The dish is eaten with Ugali (stiff porridge made from maize flour), fried bananas and or chips. A nice salad called “Kachumbari” is also served.
The rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) is one of four living species of the Hyracoidea family. Their habitat is limited to Africa and the Middle East. At first glance a hyrax looks similar to a guinea pig. Adults can reach up to 50 cm in length and can weigh up to 5 kg. Their entire body is covered in a thick brown / greyish fur which differs in colour depending on the area they live in.
In total there are 6 flamingo species in the world, 4 of which occur in North and South America. The remaining 2 species, the lesser and greater flamingo, are found in Europe, Asia and Africa including Tanzania.
Banded mongooses (Mungos mungo) occur in a wide variety of habitats ranging from savannah to open forest, but wet areas like swamps are usually not preferred. They are medium-sized mammals, with adults up to 45 cm long and weighing around 1.5 to 2kg. Their fur is shaggy and greyish brown with several dark brown or black horizontal stripes on the back.
Everyone knows hyenas as they are often depicted in movies and cartoons as clumsy and greedy animals. This is unfortunate because these predators are actually very clever. The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is a common predator occurring in most habitats of Africa and it is the largest of its family of three species. The other two hyena species are the brown and striped hyena.
