So lets start there. Tanzania is a nation in Africa, located on the eastern side of the continent, between one degree and 12 degrees south latitude. As such, it is
very warm (even hot!) there. From what I have seen, being located so closely to the Equator means that the sun rises at 6am and sets at 6pm (give or take a few minutes). Tanzania shares borders with Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The east coast of Tanzania runs smack into the Indian Ocean.Tanzania, as it currently exists, was "created" in 1964 when the nations of Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged. This came shortly after both nations were granted independence from Great Britain.
According to the CIA's World Fact Book, Tanzania hosts Mount Kilimanjaro, which is the highest elevated point on the continent (5,895 meters or just over 19,000 feet). Tanzania is about twice the size of California.
The main languages spoken in Tanzania are Swahili and English. The country's population is a little over 41 million; almost 1.5 million Tanzanians are HIV positive. According to the CIA, the average life expectancy is 52 years; the AIDS infection rate is over six percent. An estimated 96,000 people dies from AIDS complications in 2007.
The literacy rate is over 69% and on the Tanzanian mainland, religious preferences are just about split between Christianity, Islam, and "indigenous beliefs". On Zanzibar, the primary religious belief is Islam (99%).
That's just for starters, and that's also just the topical, "official" information. I am absolutely certain that as time goes on, and as I actually set foot in Tanzania, that I will learn much more about the nation and its people. I know its going to be pretty crazy dealing with 100 degree weather in January - it will almost feel like living in Texas again!
