History of Tanzania
Discover the heritage and history of Tanzania with our travel tips.
The first humans in Tanzania were hunters and gatherers and agriculture is thought to have begun around 1,000 BC. By the 4th century AD, Bantu people, with their iron tools and weapons, began migrating to Tanzania, followed by the Persians, Romans, and eventually the Arab merchants who brought Islam to the country in the 8th century.
Renowned Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama traveled to Tanzania in 1498 and captured many of the islands. By the early 18th century, the spice island of Zanzibar was held by the Sultan of Oman, before the British took over and abolished the slave trade that was renowned in Zanzibar in the late 19th century. The mainland area of what is known today as Tanzania, is thought to have been named by a British civil servant in 1920, derived from the Swahili words ‘tanga’ (sail) and ‘nyika’ (bright arid plain).
Independence reached Tanzania in 1961 and by the following year the country became a republic with Julius Nyerere as Prime Minister and the father of the nation. A policy of socialism was adopted but failed, causing the country to go into debt until the mid-1980s.
Today, after political and economic reform, the country is recovering and Tanzania tours have prospered. The country is not only strong but also graciously offers refuge to over a half a million civilians fleeing violence from surrounding countries.
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North or South: Which is the best Tanzania Safari?
Discover the best Tanzania safari for your African vacation with these travel tips from our experts.
Tanzania, Botswana and Zambia: From Kilimanjaro to the Falls
15 Days: $ 17,190 / person
Lavish Luxury Northern Tanzania
10 Days: $ 12,190 / person
Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia: Safari and the Falls
12 Days: $ 9,690 / person
“This was truly an “Enchanting” adventure! The value and service was beyond excellent! The entire team ensured every detail was taken care of and went out of their way to welcome us! And every hotel and excursion was amazing, and we were greeted with welcoming open arms every where we stayed! Nothing was left to chance…and we felt so secure knowing Enchanting Travels had everything lined up for us! Even our lodges said Enchanting Travels was a top-notch company!”
“We have used Enchanting Travels twice to help us with our African adventures, and totally appreciate the details and planning. Visiting several countries in Africa requires transfers and planning, and Enchanting were on top of everything.”
“We received complete support from Enchanting’s travel experts from day 1. They were very prompt in developing an itinerary that fit into our budget and interests; answered all our questions with clarity and advised on various options and special arrangements we wanted to make.”
“This was the trip of a lifetime for my husband and I. It was first class service from the moment we landed. The ease of having everything pre-booked for us really allowed us to enjoy our trip. I would highly recommend this service for anyone looking to plan a trip like this.”
“We chose Enchanting Travels for a Kenya, South Africa and Botswana trip. We will not hesitate to rely on them in the future. Everyone from start to finish was informative and dependable. Enchanting Travels even surprised us with an awesome dinner experience for just the two of us.”
“We have traveled with Enchanting five years in a row. The travel experience with Enchanting has always been unique and memorable for us, for they offer fully customized itineraries that perfectly suit our needs. They always go above and beyond to fulfill our needs throughout our travel.”
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