Tanzania is an East African country known for its vast wilderness areas. They include the plains of Serengeti National Park, a safari mecca populated by the "big five" game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino), and Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa's highest mountain. Offshore lie the tropical islands of Zanzibar, with Arabic influences, and Mafia, with a marine park home to whale sharks and coral reefs.

Capital: Dodoma

President: John Magufuli

Population: 55.57 million (2016) World Bank

Currency: Tanzanian shilling

Points of interest Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park