Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa and is known for its vast wilderness areas.  The northeast is mountainous and densely forested and the central region consists of a large plateau of plains and arable land. The country’s coastline extends 800 kilometers/500 miles along the Indian Ocean. The major gateway to most safari parks is Arusha in the northeast. Tanzania’s highest point is Mount Kilimanjaro at 5900 meters/19,350 feet in height. Its official languages are Swahili and English.  

Zanzibar is the semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, composed of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland. The archipelago is made up of small islands and two major islands, Unguja (the main island) and Pemba.   A popular tourist destination, many people visit the archipelago to learn about its rich history while others come to take advantage of the white sand beaches.  Today, Zanzibar offers a complete change of pace from that of the mainland on a Tanzania vacation.