What animals live in Tanzania?

Tanzania is one of the best places on earth to see wild animals up close! The Serengeti plain is home to lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest — sometimes in massive herds stretching as far as you can see. Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest mountain, towers over the land where all of this happens. Tanzania also has hippopotamuses wallowing in rivers, enormous Nile crocodiles, and flamingos that turn whole lakes pink with their color. Offshore, the Indian Ocean is full of sea turtles, dolphins, and colorful reef fish. God packed an incredible variety of creatures into this one country, and Tanzanian people who know Jesus get to be stewards — careful caretakers — of the land where they live and share the gospel.

What do kids eat in Tanzania?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Tanzania often eat ugali, which is a thick porridge made from cornmeal — you scoop it up with your fingers and use it to grab stew or vegetables. It fills you up fast, which matters when you have a long day of school or helping at home. Near the coast and on the island of Zanzibar, kids enjoy rice cooked with coconut and spices, plus fresh fish from the Indian Ocean. Mangoes, bananas, and cassava are everyday snacks that grow right there in the warm Tanzanian climate. Pretty different from a sandwich and chips, but just as satisfying after a busy morning!

How do people say hello in Tanzania?

In Tanzania, the most common greeting is 'Jambo!' in Swahili, which simply means 'Hello!' Swahili is spoken all across Tanzania and is one of the most widely spoken languages in all of Africa. If you want to be a little more polite, you can say 'Hujambo,' and the person will answer back 'Sijambo,' which means 'I'm doing well.' Tanzanians also love to ask 'Habari?' which means 'What's the news?' or basically 'How are you?' — and the friendly answer is 'Nzuri,' meaning 'Good!' Greetings are a big deal in Tanzania. People take time with them, because rushing past someone without a proper hello would feel quite rude. Missionaries who learn even a few Swahili words find that it opens doors and warms hearts, making it much easier to share the good news of Jesus.

What sports or games do kids play in Tanzania?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! In Tanzania, football — what we call soccer — is absolutely everywhere. Kids kick handmade balls in dusty fields, on beaches, and between houses in tight neighborhoods. It does not matter if the ball is stitched leather or a bundle of plastic bags tied together — the game goes on. Rusty wants you to know about a game called Bao, which is one of the oldest board games in all of Africa. Players move small stones or seeds around carved wooden cups, and it takes real strategy to win. Kids also play running games, jump rope, and a game called Kujificha, which is basically hide-and-seek. These games bring Tanzanian kids together the same way games bring kids together everywhere — and that is something worth smiling about.

What's the weather like in Tanzania?

Tanzania sits near the equator in East Africa, so it stays warm most of the year. The country has two rainy seasons — a long one from March to May and a shorter one from October to December. In between, the weather is dry and sunny. The land is not all the same, though. Near the coast and on the big island of Zanzibar, the air is hot and humid. But up on Mount Kilimanjaro — the tallest mountain in all of Africa — there is actually snow at the very top, even though it sits right near the equator. Tanzania is a place where you can go from tropical heat to icy peaks without ever leaving the same country.

Tell me a fun fact about Tanzania.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Tanzania is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in all of Africa. It rises so high that even though Tanzania is near the equator — one of the hottest parts of the earth — the very top of Kilimanjaro is covered in snow and ice year-round. Tanzania also holds something called the Serengeti, a vast open grassland where enormous herds of wildebeest travel across the land every year in one of the largest animal migrations on the planet. When you look out at Kilimanjaro or the wide Serengeti sky, it is easy to think of Psalm 19 — 'The heavens declare the glory of God.' Tanzania is a place that shows off just how creative and powerful God is as the Creator of all things.

What is school like for kids in Tanzania?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! In Tanzania, most children go to primary school for seven years, and classes are taught in Swahili. Schools are often simple buildings — sometimes just concrete walls and a chalkboard — and many kids walk a long way on dirt paths just to get there. Books and supplies can be hard to come by, so students share what they have. Rusty wants you to know that after primary school, not every child gets to continue studying, especially in rural villages where families need help working the land or fetching water. Secondary school is taught in English, which means kids have to learn a whole new language just to keep going! Many Tanzanian Christian missionaries and teachers work hard to bring education and the good news of Jesus to these children together, because they believe every child matters to God.

Who are the unreached people in Tanzania?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Tanzania has several people groups who have not yet heard the good news about Jesus in a real way. Some of the largest unreached groups are the Zaramo, the Digo, and various Swahili Muslim communities along the coast. Many of them follow Islam, which means they have heard the name of Jesus but do not yet know Him as the only Savior who died and rose again for them. Rusty wants to add this — Tanzania's interior also has smaller groups like the Maasai and some Sandawe communities where the gospel has not yet taken deep root. Some of these groups have very little of the Bible in their own heart language, which makes it hard to read and understand God's Word for themselves. That is why missionaries and Bible translators are working hard to bring the Scriptures to these peoples — so one day every tribe and tongue in Tanzania can hear that Jesus loves them and saves all who trust in Him.

How can I pray for the people of Tanzania?

Tanzania is a country with millions of people who have never heard the good news about Jesus — and that is something worth bringing to God! You can pray that Tanzanian families, kids, and villages would hear who Jesus really is and put their trust in Him as their Savior. There are also believers in Tanzania who need your prayers. Some face real pressure for following Jesus, so pray that God gives them courage and protects them. Pray too that Tanzanian church leaders grow wise and strong, and that missionaries there have open doors to share the gospel in every corner of this beautiful country — from the Serengeti plains all the way to the island of Zanzibar.

What is a holiday or celebration in Tanzania?

One of the biggest celebrations in Tanzania is Eid al-Fitr, a holiday marking the end of Ramadan for Muslim Tanzanians. Tanzania has a very large Muslim population, especially along the coast and on Zanzibar island, so this holiday brings colorful feasts, new clothes, and visits with family. Christians in Tanzania celebrate Christmas and Easter with great joy too — often with singing, drumming, and church gatherings that last for hours. Tanzania also marks Uhuru Day on December 9th, which celebrates the day the country became independent in 1961. 'Uhuru' means 'freedom' in Swahili, and people gather with music, dancing, and national pride. When we see Tanzanians celebrating, it reminds us that every person there — whether they are celebrating a national holiday or a religious feast — needs to know the freedom that only Jesus can give, freedom from sin and a real relationship with God.

What language do people speak in Tanzania?

Great question! Tanzania has two official languages: Swahili and English. Swahili is the language most Tanzanians use every day — at the market, at home, and with neighbors. It's spoken across much of East Africa, so knowing Swahili opens a lot of doors. Tanzania actually has more than 100 smaller tribal languages too, like Sukuma, Chaga, and Maasai. That means Bible translators have a big job to do — some of those smaller groups are still waiting for the Scriptures in their own heart language. Herman and Rusty think that's one of the most important works happening in Tanzania right now!

What's a famous place to visit in Tanzania?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the most famous places in Tanzania is Mount Kilimanjaro — the tallest mountain in all of Africa. It rises so high that snow sits on its peak even though Tanzania is near the equator. People travel from all over the world just to see it. Rusty wants to add that Tanzania is also home to the Serengeti, a vast, open grassland where huge herds of wildebeest and zebra roam together. But here is something even more interesting to us explorers — Tanzania has millions of people who need to hear the good news about Jesus. While visitors come to see the mountains and plains, missionaries come to share the greatest story ever told.

Tanzania — Kids Missions Explorer

African Elephant

Tanzania is home to one of the largest African elephant populations on earth, with tens of thousands living in Ruaha and Serengeti National Parks.

Wildebeest

Every year, nearly two million wildebeest make a massive circular migration across the Serengeti plain in one of the largest animal movements on the planet.

Flamingo

Millions of lesser flamingos gather at Lake Natron, a shallow soda lake in northern Tanzania, where they nest on the crusty alkaline flats.

Ugali

Ugali is a firm, dense porridge made from maize flour that Tanzanians eat almost every day, often scooping it by hand alongside beans or stewed greens.

Nyama Choma

Nyama choma means roasted meat in Swahili, and it is a beloved dish for celebrations, slow-cooked over an open charcoal fire until the outside is lightly charred.

Zanzibar Pizza

Despite the name, this street food from Zanzibar Island is a thin dough folded around fillings like egg, meat, and vegetables then fried flat on a griddle — nothing like Italian pizza.

Tanzania

Things you should know about Tanzania

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Tanzania

Missions in Tanzania

Pray for Tanzania