Research Before You Go: 5 Awesome Tanzania Resources

Your summer is about to be anything but ordinary. In your near future is a trip to the heart of Africa – mysterious, colorful, culture-rich Tanzania. No question, you’re ready for the adventure – your suitcase is loaded and the itinerary is set. But while it’s clear you’re stoked to get started, you may want to enrich your experience even more by doing a little pre-trip research. Use these resources to get informed on Tanzania culture, language tools and even fundraising tips.

1. BBC Tanzania Profile

Study up on everything you need to know about Tanzania with this helpful profile from the BBC. To start, you’ll find a quick overview with an at-a-glance section that includes fast facts on:

• Political stability

• Economic status

• International activity

• Environmental concerns

After you get the at-a-glance overview of your destination country, you can dig in deeper with a list of Tanzania links that include news headlines and profile tabs that include Tanzania facts, leaders, media and a country history timeline.

2. Fund My Travel

Want to do fundraising like a boss? Tap into your social network to attract interest for your trip and ask friends and family for contributions. Fund My Travel helps you set up a free account to connect your social network to your trip. You’ll set a financial goal, then walk step-by-step through a super easy crowd funding process. In the end, you’ll have a site to tell your volunteer abroad story, share it with your online community, start collecting donations and track results.

3. My Language Exchange

Swahili is the official language of Tanzania, and it’s the most widely spoken African language in the world. Go beyond using a translation pocket guide and practice real conversations in Swahili with the My Language Exchange tool. This resources lets you practice the language with someone else in a chat. What a great way to prepare for your African adventure!

4. Swahilionline

Speaking of Swahili, learn why it’s important to Tanzanian culture with this language history tool. Swahilionline gives you a breakdown of the language, its connection to African culture and the religions and other practices associated with Swahili. You can read about the Swahili people and see a timeline of the Swahili history.

5. Lonelyplanet.com

You can gather other “before-you-go” information at Lonely Planet’s Tanzania page. Wondering what kind of weather you’ll experience? Visit the “When to go & weather” page. You’ll also find information on getting around the country and things to do with links to:

• Entertainment

• Shopping

• Tours

• Activities

• Restaurants

• Sights

Before you embark on your high school student abroad program, prepare the right way with these resources. You’ll find essential information that will ensure that you interact with the Tanzania people in an enriching, culturally appropriate way.