TAP OR CLICK TO READ -THE LATEST OFFICIAL TRAVEL ADVISORY FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF TANZANIA
Name: The United Republic of Tanzania Time: Zone GMT + 3 Capital City: Dodoma Independence was gained on 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent on the 9th December 1961 Zanzibar: became independent on 19 December 1963 (from GB); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar on 26th April 1964. National Language: Swahili or Swahili (official) Official Language: English Currency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS) Land Area: Tanzania covers 945,087 sq km. This includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar Drives on the: Left Country Code: 255
Location: Tanzania is in East Africa on the Indian Ocean. To the north are Uganda and Kenya; to the west, Burundi, Rwanda, and Congo; and to the south, Mozambique, Zambia, and Malawi.
International Flight & Domestic Flight British Airways fly direct to Dar es Salaam, from Heathrow, three times weekly. Other carriers operate in Tanzania via Europe. KLM, from Amsterdam to Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro daily, and Swiss, from Zurich to Dar es Salaam five times a week. In addition, Emirates flies to Dar es Salaam via Dubai; Egyptian Air via Cairo; Ethiopian via Addis Ababa; Oman Air via Muscat; Qatar Airways via Doha; and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul.
Domestic Flight Domestic carriers such as Coastal Aviation, Flightlink, Tropical Air, Fastjet, Precision Air, Regional Air Services, Safari Air link, Safari Plus, and ZanAir link the major cities, with tourist attractions and game parks. Air Tanzania, Coastal Aviation, Precision, and ZanAir fly between the mainland and Zanzibar.
Language English is widely spoken but a few words of Swahili can be useful and will be appreciated greatly by locals.
Money Major foreign currencies are convertible at banks and Bureau DE Changes in the main towns and tourist areas. Credit cards, particularly Visa, are accepted at most upmarket Lodges but not at more low-key enterprises. In large towns, several banks offer ATM facilities against international credit cards. National park fees for the main northern circuit parks (Serengeti, Tarangire, Manyara, Arusha, Kilimanjaro) are payable only by Master Card, Visa Card, or customized Tanapa cards sold at all branches of the EXIM Bank/CRDB Bank.
Health Yellow fever vaccination is no longer compulsory. Malaria is endemic but is preventable. Use insect repellent, cover up at sundown, sleep under a mosquito net, and take anti-malaria prophylactics as advised by your doctor. Bring prescription medicines, spare glasses, contact lenses, and solution as well as sunscreen, a first aid kit, cream for bites/stings, and diarrhea remedy. Drink only boiled or bottled water, bottled or canned drinks, and avoid ice cubes and salads. HIV/Aids is widespread, especially in the main tourist areas. (See the Mt. Kilimanjaro section for altitude sickness advice.)
Climate: Tanzania’s climate is predominately tropical. Coastal areas are usually hot and humid, but on the beaches, a sea breeze cools the air considerably. The average day temperature is 30 ‘C. Tanzania has two rainy seasons; the long rains from late March to June and the short rains from November to January. The long rains fall in heavy downpours, often accompanied by violent storms, but the short rains tend to be much less severe. The hottest time of the year is from December to March before the long rains begin. The coolest months are June, July, and August when the weather is often overcast. In high-altitude areas such as Kilimanjaro and Ngorongoro Highlands, temperatures can fall below freezing.
Clothes Pack lightweight, washable clothes plus a sweater for early morning game drives, as well as a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Long sleeves and trousers in light-colored fabrics help discourage insect bites. You can buy clothes in all the major cities. Shorts for women are acceptable (but not too short). Women should carry a wrap to cover their legs in the villages and towns are revealing clothes can cause offense, especially in Zanzibar and Muslim areas. On the beach and within the confines of beach hotels normal swimwear is acceptable (but no nudity). For climbing on Kilimanjaro or Meru, take thermal underwear, light layers, a sweater, a rain jacket, good socks, and sturdy boots.
On Safari Distances in Tanzania are vast, and travel by road can be tiring. Plan to spend more time in fewer parks. You’ll see more and won’t return home exhausted. Keep your distance from animals and be quiet to avoid distressing the wildlife. Follow the instructions of the ranger or guides. Don’t leave your vehicle in the parks except in designated places. Keep to recognized tracks to avoid damaging vegetation.
Whilst on a game drive • Please do not interfere with animal behavior. • No more than 5 vehicles around an animal at one time (please accept the decision of your guide to leave an animal if he feels it is becoming overcrowded). • Please do not get too close to the animals as this may distress them. • Please do not get out of the vehicle without consulting your guide. • Please try to be as quiet as possible when viewing wildlife close up. Your guide will turn off the vehicle’s engine whenever possible. • Please minimize off-road driving. • No speeding! The speed limit in the parks is 40kph.
Protect the Environment • Please do not litter, especially cigarette butts. • Please do not collect bones, feathers, stones or plants, etc; they are all mini-ecosystems. • Please do not buy bones, stones, feather displays or plants, etc.
Cultural Exchange • Please do not take photographs of the local people without asking their permission first. • Please do not encourage trade or give personal items away to the local people (if we support begging we promote begging). • If you have brought gifts to give to the local people, please give them to your guide for proper distribution. • Beware of anyone asking you for gifts or money and do not feel obliged to donate anything. • Please report back to us if you are harassed.
Our Vehicle All of our safari vehicles are supplied with 3-pin with the inventor for charging batteries (UK type) 230 Volt A/C sockets, which are available to clients for the charging of mobile phones and small electrical equipment. The Company owns a fleet of 4×4 vehicles driven by trained and experienced driver cum guides. Toyota Land Cruiser 4×4 jeep with pop-up roof, freezer or cooler box, binoculars, 1.5 litter per person per day drinking water during on-game drives.
Photography If you still use, film, bring all you need with you. For digital photography, most Lodges and Tented Camps now have facilities to charge camera batteries and the like. Protect your cameras from dust and keep equipment and film cool. It is courteous to ask permission before photographing local people.
Insurance Take out travel insurance to cover loss of baggage or valuables, personal accidents, and medical expenses.
Time 3 hrs + GMT.
Electricity The electricity situation in Tanzania is based on English standards, meaning it is (usually) supplied at 230Volts, 50Hz. This means that all European equipment should work, from laptop power supplies to mobile phone chargers. 3 square pin plug outlets are the main source of electricity. Your appliances should therefore have plugs as per the illustration. Therefore it is advisable to bring along a “multiple travel adapter”.
Immunization and Health It is essential that all visitors take a course of anti-malaria tablets commencing two weeks before departure. The UK Department of Health also recommends vaccination against hepatitis A, polio, and typhoid. Personal insurance is advised. Travelers arriving from, or via, countries where yellow fever is endemic will need a Certificate of Vaccination although vaccination is available on arrival. Hospitals provide good medical care in cities and towns. Flying Doctor’s facilities are also available.
Travel with Children Tanzanians love children and are especially helpful to mothers. However, canned baby foods, powdered milk, and disposable nappies may not be available outside major towns.
Visa Most visitors require visas with the exception of citizens of certain countries of the Commonwealth. It is advisable to obtain them in advance from Embassies and High Commissions as several airlines insist on them prior to departure. They can however also be obtained, on arrival, at all points of entry. The requirement may change so you are advised to contact the appropriate diplomatic or consular authority before finalizing your travel arrangements. Although part of the union of Tanzania, Zanzibar remains in depend so, so passports/Tanzania visas are required even on a day’s visit.
Security Tanzania is a generally safe country, but don’t invite temptation. Keep an eye on your belongings. Don’t walk in the town or cities at night take a taxi. Don’t carry cameras or large amounts of cash; beware of pickpockets. Use hotel safety deposit boxes to safeguard valuables and obtain a receipt. Leave valuable jewelry at home.
What to Wear It never gets really cold in Tanzania so lightweight clothing is the norm. On safari, avoid brightly colored clothes, they may alarm the animals. Browns, beiges, and khaki are preferred. Shorts-sleeved shirts/blouses and shorts are ideal but pack a sweater, it can be chilly in the early morning and in the evening. Wear a hat to avoid sunstroke and don’t forget a swimsuit. Shoes should be sensible – – walking through the bush is not like strolling through Hyde Park – and for climbing Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru take thermal underwear, a rain jacket, good socks, and sturdy boots. Shorts for women are acceptable – but not too short. Women should carry a wrap to cover their legs in towns or villages as revealing clothes can close offense, especially in Zanzibar and other Muslim areas. On the beach, and within the confines of beach hotels, normal swimwear is acceptable but nudity certainly is not.
Tipping Tanzania is a country that is growing and developing rapidly by world standards and so the relative value of the currency is beginning to come in line with the rest of the world gradually. With this in mind, we have put a few recommendations below as to what we tell our clients to budget. Please remember that all of our staff is paid and no one relies on tips as a substitute for wages. As with any tipping situation, if you enjoy your experience, give a generous tip, if you do not enjoy your experience, adjust the tip accordingly.
Below is a recommended guideline for tipping:
Safari Driver/Guide: US$10 to $15 per day.
Safari Cook: US$10 to $15 per day
Mountain Guide: US$10 per day per guide from the group
Mountain Cook: US$10-$12 per day per cook from the group
Assistant Mt. Guide: US$8 per day per asst guide from the group
Porters on Mountain: US$15-$20 per porter for a duration from a group
Porters at Lodges: US$1-2
Gratuity Box: These are found at most lodges. We recommend these as your tip is then distributed fairly among all the staff We recommend that tipping is usually done at the end of the trip and given directly to the person it is meant for. Whilst larger denomination bills are acceptable, we recommend you also bring some smaller denomination bills as sometimes change is not easily attainable.
Tanzania Plastics Bags Ban Plastic Bag Ban with effect from 1st June 2019: – tourists, can face very heavy fines for using Plastic bags. Using, manufacturing, or importation of plastic bags, including garbage bags and shopping bags, is illegal. Convicted offenders, including tourists, can face very heavy fines, imprisonment for up to two years, or both. Learn more about the plastic bag ban. Visitors are advised to avoid packing any plastic bags in their suitcases or in carry-on hand luggage before flying to Tanzania. Items purchased at the airport before boarding the aircraft should be removed from plastic bags. Please check hand luggage before disembarking at entry points and any plastic bags should be left on the plane. Similarly, the transparent “zip-lock” plastic bags that some airlines require passengers to use for keeping liquids, cosmetics, toiletries, etc separately in hand luggage are also not permitted to be brought and should be removed and left on the plane before disembarking.