Glencoe World Geography

Chapter 20: The Physical Geography of Africa South of the Sahara

Web Activity Lesson Plans

"Tanzania"

Introduction
Many people dream of going on safari in Africa. In this activity students will learn about travel and safari possibilities in the African country of Tanzania. Students will learn more about Tanzania's many national parks and natural wonders, will read about possible problems that travelers may encounter, and will make travel plans for an African safari.

Lesson Description
Students will visit the Tanzania Tourist Board Web site to learn more about Tanzania and its natural attractions. They will answer four questions using information from the Web site and then, based on what they have learned, will make a list of things to be done and items to take with them as they prepare for a safari in Tanzania.

Instructional Objectives

Students will learn about natural attractions and protected areas of Tanzania.
Students will use what they have learned to prepare for a proposed safari in Tanzania.

Applied Content Standards
Standard 4: The geographically informed person knows and understands the physical and human characteristics of places.
Standard 6: The geographically informed person knows and understands how culture and experience influence people's perceptions of places and regions.

Student Web Activity Answers

Tanzania is the only country that has more than 25 percent of its land allocated to wildlife national parks and protected areas. The Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania is the largest single wildlife area in Africa.
The "northern circuit" is the most popular circuit of national parks. It usually includes several national parks and protected areas, including the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which houses Olduvai Gorge, the 20-km diameter Ngorongoro Crater, and at least one active volcano; Serengeti National Park; and Kilimanjaro.
Scientists have found many important fossil remains in Olduvai Gorge. They have found stone tools, fossilized footprints, and fossil remains that many believe belong to some of our earliest human ancestors.
Serengeti National Park is Tanzania's oldest park, and its ecosystem supports the greatest remaining concentration of plains game in Africa, including more than 3 million large mammals. An estimated 4 million different birds and animals roam the park freely, and the annual migration of the animals into Kenya in search of pasture and water is said to be a breathtaking event.
Students' "to do" lists should include passports, visas, shots, airline tickets, guide books, arrangements with the safari company, and money or traveler's checks. Their packing lists should include clothing, hiking boots, personal care items, and personal equipment such as cameras, film, and binoculars.