3.Travel Basics: 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.
