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Tanzania
Travel Information :
Tanzania's
natural endowment as a wildlife safari destination is unrivalled. Wild
animals roam in vast areas as God intended on that sixth day of the creation.
These areas are designated as national parks and game reserves and have
a high reputation for being uncrowded and unspoilt. The magnificent collection
of game sanctuaries to the north of the country, near the border with
Kenya, is referred to as The Northern Circuit. This is the most popular
and accessible wildlife safari route in Tanzania. You can positively say
that this is one of the finest game viewing areas anywhere in the world.
The game aside, the spectacularly diverse cluster of eco-systems and habitats
is a dazzling experience for many a visitor. Below is some basic travel
info for the visitor to Tanzania
Health
Visitors entering Tanzania from yellow fever infected areas require yellow
fever international certificate of vaccination. Exemptions are made for
visitors arriving from non-endemic areas such as Europe, North America,
Australia and New Zealand. The northwestern forest region is considered
a high-risk area for yellow fever. Malaria is common in Tanzania. Visitors
are strongly advised to take anti-malaria medication commencing two weeks
before travel.
It
is recommended to take vaccinations against hepatitis A, polio and typhoid.
HIV-AIDS is prevalent in the country and I cannot emphasize enough the
need for protection measures. Some fresh water lakes and rivers carry
the risk of Bilharzia and you are advised not to swim in such areas. Though
proof of vaccination is not required, cholera is a risk throughout the
country and precautions are necessary. Modern hospitals and chemists are
available in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and other major urban centres.
Visas
All visitors require a visa except citizens of some African and commonwealth
countries. It is advisable to obtain visa's in advance from Tanzania Embassies
and High Commissions as some airlines may require it before allowing you
to board. But you can also be issued with a visa on arrival at Dar es
Salaam, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro international airports and at the Namanga
Gate on the Kenya /Tanzania border. Passports must be valid for at least
six months.
Nationals of countries exempt from visa requirements will be issued with
a free visitors pass at the same entry points. Those traveling to Zanzibar
should be aware that the Islands are nominally independent and passports
and Tanzania visas are required even for a days visit. Visa requirements
however vary from time to time and you are advised to check on prevailing
status well ahead of travel.
Peoples & Culture
Tanzania is made up of 100 or so tribal groups of mainly Bantu origin.
None of these groups comprise more than 10% of the population and this
perhaps contributes to the tranquility the country has experienced. The
most numerous groups are the Sukuma of Lake Victoria, Chaaga of Mount
Kilimanjaro, Nyamwenzi of Tabora, Hehe of Iringa and the Gogo of Dodoma.
Arab
and Persian influence is strong in Zanzibar. The interaction of Arabs
and Bantu Africans has resulted in the Swahili language now widely spoken
in Eastern and Central Africa. Those in the know say that the purest Swahili
dialect is spoken in Zanzibar. Swahili is now the Lingua Franca of Tanzania
although English is widely understood in urban centers.
Make
sure to experience the traditional food at the coast and Zanzibar. This
is quite good and is based on seafood and rice dishes. Food in the mainland
is generally a little bit stodgy and less exciting. The most popular drink
is a very decent brew known as Safari Lager. Tanzania music and dance
is popular throughout Eastern Africa and this attests to its quality.
The lyrics are usually in Swahili. Get to listen to some of it and this
may even help improve on your Swahili.
Communications
Telephone, fax, telegram, post and Internet services are available in
urban centers and locations popular with tourists. Direct dialing to many
countries is available at most hotels in urban areas. In rural areas international
calling is through the operator. The country code for Tanzania is 255.
Mobile
phones are based on GSM 900/1800 network. Coverage is however limited
and you are advised to check beforehand whether your GSM phone has access
if you are traveling outside the main urban centres. Mobile telephony
operators include Celtel, Mobitel, Tritel, Vodacom and Zanzibar Telecom.
You can obtain a GSM card that will allow you to make international calls
to any country. E-mail is accessible at Internet cafes to be found in
urban centres around the country.
Accommodation
You will find good quality accommodation within the main routes popular
with business travelers and tourists. This includes Dar es Salaam, Moshi,
Arusha and the northern game parks such as Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire
and Manyara. In the parks, accommodation varies from 5 star lodges and
tented camps at the upper end to basic camping at the lower end.
In
Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar at the coast there is a wide range of accommodation
to meet the needs of most travelers. Camping is however scarce outside
the parks. Outside the main urban centres and tourist routes finding rated
accommodation is a doubtful proposition. See our Tanzania Hotels &
Lodges page to book accommodation for your business or leisure travel
needs.
Money
The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (Tsh). Visitors can take
in any amount of foreign currency, subject to declaration. Taking out
of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared upon arrival. Import
and export of Tanzanian currency is however prohibited. Major currencies
such as US dollars and now the Euro and travelers cheques can be converted
at major hotels, banks and forex bureaus in the main towns and tourist
areas.
In
Tanzania plastic is not highly rated and credit cards are not widely accepted.
And when accepted the exchange rate is unfavorable. But it is still a
good idea to carry your credit cards, as the conversion rate will not
matter in case of urgent need. If saying at one of the bigger hotels,
however, your card will very likely be honored. Do not be tempted to change
money in the streets however favourable the exchange rate may appear.
Climate
Zanzibar and the coastal areas are hot and humid and average daily temperatures
hover in the 30°C range. October to March is the hottest period. Sea
breezes however temper the regions' climate and June to September is coolest
with temperatures falling to 25°C. In the Kilimanjaro area, temperatures
vary from 15°C in May-August period to 22°C over December - March.
As you head to the peaks of Kilimanjaro, temperatures can drop to below
freezing, especially at night.
The
climate is temperate in the northern national parks. The central plateau
suffers a dry and arid climate with hot days and cool nights. The highlands
in the south and northeast are cool and temperate. For the country as
a whole the hottest months are October to February. The long rains fall
between March and May and the shorter wet season falls in November.
International
Travel
Tanzania's international air gateways are at Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and
Kilimanjaro (50 Km from Arusha). British Airways flies direct to Dar es
Salaam from London, taking about 11 hours. A few European carriers fly
to Dar es Salaam or Kilimanjaro via European hubs. Gulf Air and Emirates
fly to Dar es Salaam using mid eastern connections. Other airlines flying
to Tanzania include Air Tanzania - the national carrier, Air India, Ethiopian
Airlines, KLM, South African Airways and Swiss.
Tanzania
can also be reached through regional hubs at Nairobi and Johannesburg
and to a lesser extent Addis Ababa. There are more flights into Nairobi
than Kilimanjaro and a popular route for those heading for the northern
parks is to fly into Nairobi and then connect to Arusha by
shuttle bus service. There is a ferry service between Mombasa in Kenya
and Dar es Salaam. On Lake Tanganyika, a passenger service runs from Kigoma
to Bujumbura in Burundi, Congo (DRC) and Mpulunga in Zambia.
The
Tanzania - Zambia Railway Authority runs a passenger train service from
Dar es Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia. But note that you will need
to change trains at the border. Tanzania has good road links to Kenya
and Zambia. Road connections to Rwanda and Mozambique are poor and are
adequate only for those traveling for adventure.
Local
Travel
All the major towns in Tanzania are connected by tarmac all weather roads.
But outside this network, quality deteriorates. You can enjoy speedy connections
by bus or car to Arusha, Morogoro, Moshi, Lushoto, Tanga and Dar es Salaam.
It is useful to find out first the quality of the roads and estimated
travel time when traveling overland. Between Air Tanzania and Precision
Air you will access the main internal routes. Check out our Tanzania Domestic
Flights page to do your reservation for scheduled services. Charter flights
are available mainly from Arusha, Mwanza, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar to
other parts of the country.
Rental
cars are reliably available from Arusha, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. See
our Tanzania Car Rental page to do your reservation for a self-drive or
chauffer driven vehicle. Rail service is available to the main towns except
Arusha. Long haul bus service can connect you to the main towns in the
country. It is advisable to find out beforehand if the quality of rail
and long haul bus service is acceptable to you. For short haul travel,
the popular way to get around is by means of dalla dalla (shared taxi).
Travel
Insurance
Health and the usual travel insurance are recommended. Ensure your travel
insurance includes emergency evacuation.
What
to Wear
Tanzania never really gets cold and light clothing is recommended. Warmer
clothing such as sweaters is however necessary to get you through the
evenings and early mornings if you are heading for the highlands. Climbing
Mount Kilimanjaro of course requires special clothing and shoes.
On
safari, bright coloured clothing may get you in trouble with wild animals.
If you are wise you will pack brown, beige and khaki clothing. Short sleeve
shirts, shorts and trouser for men are sufficient. For ladies, short sleeve
blouses, slacks and skirts are ideal though in the national
parks and touristy places such as Arusha and Dar es Salaam you may get
along with shorts (not too short) and trousers.
At
the coast and Zanzibar where Muslims are predominant women need to dress
modestly so as not to offend local sensibilities. But swimwear is perfectly
acceptable at beaches and hotel premises. Nudity is totally unacceptable
in the whole country. It is advisable to travel light and
some safari and air charters have a baggage limit of 10-15 kilograms maximum.
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