The nature of Tanzania is one of the country’s great attractions. And without it, the richness and diversity of wild animals that live here, like the ones we have listed in this other post on our blog, would not be possible. Therefore, it would be unfair if our eyes (and our telephoto lenses and binoculars) only focused on the fauna: the different natural landscapes of this country hide trees and plant species of the most interesting kind, and we dedicate their well-deserved space to them in the following lines.
Different Areas, many National Parks
Tanzania is a very large and diverse country from a geographical point of view, with areas at different altitudes and different climatic conditions. And that has a direct influence on the nature of Tanzania: there are about twenty national parks spread throughout the country, which shows not only the plant biodiversity of this territory, but also the wild and virgin state of all the protected areas, not without risks for their sustainability and conservation.
Covering the entire biodiversity of the country would far exceed the size of this post, and therefore we will focus on the highlights of the two areas that our circuits cover: the north and the coast of the Indian Ocean, to the east. On the other hand, both the center, the south and the west are excluded from this review, although they are by no means lacking in natural ecosystems of extraordinary value.
The north of Tanzania is distinguished by the presence of several relatively small national parks (compared to others in the country) but with a magnificent concentration of biodiversity. This is the case of Arusha National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park and, above all, Serengeti National Park, which in reality also extends through its northern neighbor, Kenya. And we cannot forget Kilimanjaro National Park, the highest mountain in all of Africa.
Without intending to develop an exhaustive classification here (for this you can consult, for example, the WWF ecoregion catalog), we will then discuss the keys to the country’s main ecosystems, not with an academic purpose but to make them more understandable to the eyes of a traveler who visits the country and goes on a safari.
Shrub Savanna and Volcanic Grassland
According to WWF, shrub savanna and volcanic grassland are the two major ecosystems that occur in northern Tanzania, and they are closely related. At the soil level, shrub species serve as food for herbivorous animals, as well as a hiding place for them or their predators. The most numerous species are those of the Commiphora family (African bedelio) and Crotalia in the savanna, while in the grassland there are also grama, Rhodes grass and many other herbaceous species.
However, in both ecosystems, the most striking thing is the presence of spectacular acacias. This common name covers a huge number of trees spread throughout the world, but the most characteristic species in Tanzania is Acacia xanthophloea, which can reach between 15 and 25 meters in height, and has beautiful doubly compound leaves, with small leaflets that, by the way, are a delicacy for the giraffes that come to them to feed.
This species is popularly known as “fever tree”, although it can be said that unfairly: the first European settlers observed that malaria had a higher incidence in areas with the presence of these trees, although it was later discovered that this disease is transmitted by mosquitoes from swampy areas, without these trees having any responsibility for it.
In addition to this type of acacia, we must also mention here the other iconic tree of Tanzania’s nature. And to be more precise, of Tarangire National Park, where its presence is especially numerous: we are referring to the baobab. Its silhouette is unmistakable and imposing, characterized by a robust and wide light trunk, and an irregular and not very dense crown, which comes to resemble its own roots. Its longevity is worthy of admiration, as they can live for more than a thousand years.
That is why the locals call them “grandparents”, not only for their long age but also for symbolizing wisdom, since they are trees that adapt very well to the terrain and retain moisture, in addition to providing shelter to many animal species, especially in their trunk, which is usually hollow. The most numerous variety here is a type of Adansonia digitata, with a less straight and tall trunk, and a crown that does not adopt the parasol shape so characteristic in other countries. In this case, it serves as food for elephants (its bark) and, taking its popular name literally (monkey bread tree), its fruits are also appreciated by primates.
The Montane Moorland of Kilimanjaro
Although the term “moorland” is sometimes used as a synonym for “lack”, the truth is that the montane moorland that occurs in Kilimanjaro (5,890 meters above sea level, approximately) does not respond to this idea: although from 3,500 meters above sea level the density and size of the vegetation decrease, the truth is that other plant species of the most unique kind are given way: so unique, that some really interesting endemisms occur here.
For example, some types of Dendrosenecio (Senecio kilimanjari) and Lobelia (Lobelia deckenii), the latter of giant character, where numerous rosettes are produced that give it a recognizable and unique appearance. Above 4,500 meters above sea level comes the “kingdom” of cushion plants.
Mosaic Forest and Mangroves in the Indian Ocean
Most of our circuits combine some days of safari through the aforementioned national parks of northern Tanzania to then head to Zanzibar. This archipelago is located off the coast of the Indian Ocean, and it is in this environment where other ecosystems that are really characteristic of the country arise, very different from the previous ones.
On the continental coast there are numerous mangroves, that is, trees and shrubs that are characterized by their extraordinary tolerance to the flooding of their roots and, especially, to the salt water of the sea. Therefore, they cover large areas on the shore, which is a most admirable phenomenon.
There are different types of mangroves, and they are not only present on the continental coast of Tanzania, but also in Zanzibar, for example in the Jozani Chwaka Bay Forest Reserve, where these plant species offer shelter to red colobus monkeys, one of the most iconic animal species of this archipelago.
But the plant biodiversity of Zanzibar goes much further, to the point that the WWF speaks of “coastal mosaic forest”, that is, an environment of extraordinary richness of species and habitats, where there is also one of the highest concentrations of endemisms in the world, something that insularity itself favors. Here, lianas and epiphytic plants (which grow on other plants, without parasitizing them) are especially numerous.
As you can see, the nature of Tanzania is especially rich. And even if you only move through the north and the coast of the Indian Ocean, the biodiversity will quickly jump to the eye, with trees and plant species of the most iconic. So if you love flora and not just fauna, this country can also be an ideal destination.
