TANZANIA CULTURE

While exploring Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar, you can go a little off the beaten track to meet some of the friendliest people in the world. Over a hundred Tanzanian villages welcome visitors to experience their unique cultures. Among the many ethnic groups are the Maasai, Hehe speaking kihehe, Hadzabe, Wabena, Bantu and more.

They will give you an authentic and unforgettable experience — plus you will have the satisfaction of knowing you have helped support local communities generate income and build sustainable livelihoods.

Tanzania has over 120 ethnic groups on the mainland that mostly migrated from other parts of Africa over the millennia whilst on the coast, the original of the Swahili people originated from an eclectic mix of traders- Arabic, Persian and Chinese among others who arrived from as early as the 8th century to late-15th century where the first European Vasco da Gama ‘Portuguese explorer in east Africa’.

After the littoral regional came under Portuguese control they also took a control of Zanzibar Island until 1699 where they were ousted from the island by the Oman Arabs.

In the late 19th century along with Tanganyika, Rwanda, Burundi, was absorbed into the colony of German East Africa until the end of WWW1 then, following German defeat, it was administrated by the British under successive league of nations under united nation Mandates where later in 1961 Tanganyika become independent under charismatic socialist leader, Julius Nyerere who was president until 1985. In 1964 Tanganyika Joined with Zanzibar and become Tanzania.