Tanzania, located in East Africa, is bordered by eight countries and the Indian Ocean. Its diverse landscape includes the tropical beaches of Zanzibar, the expansive plains of the Serengeti, Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, and its lowest point, Lake Tanganyika. The country's rich cultural and ethnic diversity can be traced back to 6-million-year-old hominid fossils. Tanzania's wildlife is equally remarkable, with national parks teeming with elephants, lions, giraffes, and other iconic species. The terrain varies from mountainous forests in the northeast to a hot, humid eastern shore and a central plateau with arable plains, creating diverse climates with temperatures as low as 10°C in some areas and rarely below 20°C elsewhere. Introduced by German colonialists in the 1880s, Tanzania's cacao industry has long prioritized quantity over quality, serving large commodity companies. Today, 90% of cocoa is still grown in the southern highlands of Rungwe and Kyela for the mass market, limiting farmers' ability to earn higher incomes. However, there has been a recent shift with the emergence of Kokoa Kamili in the Kilombero Valley. This cooperative works directly with 2,500 local farmers and employs 30 staff locally to manage the on-site fermenting and drying of premium fine cocoa.
There's a whole world to explore
Discover the world’s diverse cocoa growing regions – from sun-drenched islands to tropical rainforests to lush mountainsides.