World Country Guide

General Information

Area
945,087 sq km (364,900 sq miles).

Population
34,569,232 (2002).

Population Density
36.6 per sq km.

Capital
Dodoma (administrative capital designate). Population: 1,698,996 (2002). Dar es Salaam remains the capital for the time being. Population: 2,497,940 (2002).

Geography
The United Republic of Tanzania lies on the east coast of Africa and is bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north; by Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west; by the Indian Ocean to the east; and by Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south. The Tanzanian mainland is divided into several clearly defined regions: the coastal plains, which vary in width from 16 to 64km (10 to 39 miles) and have lush, tropical vegetation; the Masai Steppe in the north, 213 to 1067m (698 to 3500ft) above sea level; and a high plateau in the southern area towards Zambia and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi). Savannah and bush cover over half the country, and semi-desert accounts for the remaining land area, with the exception of the coastal plains. Over 53,000 sq km (20,463 sq miles) is inland water, mostly lakes formed in the Rift Valley. The United Republic of Tanzania includes the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, about 45km (28 miles) off the coast to the northeast of the country.

Government
Federal Republic since 1964. Tanganyika gained independence from the UK in 1961. In 1964, Tanganyika joined with Zanzibar, which had been a British protectorate until 1963, and became Tanzania. Head of State: President Benjamin William Mkapa since 1995. Head of Government: Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye since 1995.

Language
Kiswahili and English are the official languages. The terms Swahili and Kiswahili are used interchangeably, though the term Swahili normally refers to the people while Kiswahili refers to the language. Originating along the coast, Kiswahili is a Bantu language with many words derived from Arabic. Other African languages such as Bantu and those of Nilo-Hamitic and Khoisan origin are also spoken.

Religion
Muslim, Christian, Hindu and traditional beliefs.

Time
GMT + 3.

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs may be round or square three-pin, fused or unfused.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 255. Outgoing international code: 00. In some rural areas, international calls must go through the operator. There are many public call boxes in post offices and main towns.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900/1800 network. Operators include Celtel Tanzania Ltd, Mobitel (website: www.mobitel.co.tz), Tritel (website: www.tritel.co.tz), Vodacom Tanzania and Zanzibar Telecom. Coverage is limited to main urban areas.

Fax
Faxes can be sent from the Tanzanian Telecom Office in Dar es Salaam, and from some hotels.

Internet
ISPs include Africa Online (website: www.africaonline.com), Cats-net.com (website: www.cats-net.com) and TZ Online (website: www.tzonline.com). E-mail can be accessed in Internet cafes in main urban areas.

Telegram
Telegrams can be sent from most post offices and major hotels.

Post
Airmail to Europe takes one week. Courier services take less than 24 hours.

Press
The English-language newspapers are the Business Times, Daily News, The Express, The Family Mirror, The Guardian and Sunday News printed in Dar es Salaam.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.