Tanzania Travel Tips
Tipping
Tipping lodge staff and drivers/guides is customary for good service on a Tanzania safari, but check first to see whether a service charge has been added to your bill. Tipping is always in addition to the price quoted by your operator and the amount varies depending on the size of your group, the level of luxury of the safari and whether you thought an exceptionally good job was done. When travelling in the major Tanzania cities, a 10% tip is customary in restaurants and bars when a service charge is not included. For in-depth tipping guidelines, enquire with one of our Africa Safari Experts – they’d be happy to share their knowledge with you.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are only accepted by the major airline companies and by most of the bigger hotels and lodges. Do not rely on credit cards as a source of cash while in Tanzania. In some cases a surcharge will be added to credit card payments. We suggest that you take sufficient cash and use the credit card as a back-up only. Travelers checks are accepted at most banks and some hotels, however a surcharge normally apply to exchange travelers checks into cash. Please note many shops / hotels don’t accept travelers checks.
Climate
There are two seasons of rain in Tanzania: the long rainy period (monsoon) which runs from late March until June and a short rainy period, which runs from November until mid January. The long rains fall in heavy downpours, often accompanied by violent storms. The short rains tend to be much less severe. Average summer temperatures: 18°C to 29°C
Average winter temperatures: 15°C to 26°C
Rainy season: mid-March to May (“long rains”) and November to December (“short rains”).
Refer to “best time to visit Tanzania” for climate charts, details on the best wildlife-viewing times and when to witness the Serengeti migration.
Money & Spending
Tanzania’s unit of currency is the Tanzanian Shilling but our advice is to use US Dollars only – and in cash: credit cards and traveller’s cheques (although accepted in most establishments) incur hefty transaction fees. The current exchange rate is approximately Tsh 2260 = US$ 1. It is possible to change foreign currency at any Bureaux de Chance, which generally gives better rates than hotels and most banks. If you bring US $ cash or receive US $, please make sure the bank notes are in good condition with no cuts or damage
ATMs are found throughout the major towns in Tanzania but in case they are out of service you should always have a supply of back-up cash. Note that due to the number of fake notes in circulation, no US Dollar bills printed before 2006 will be accepted in Tanzania.
What to Pack
When packing for your Tanzania safari, light casual clothing in practical, neutral colours and a warm jacket for evening game drives are a safe bet throughout the year. For more on what to pack for a safari, refer to our Africa Safari Guide travel advice section. When visiting Zanzibar it is important for women to dress modestly out of respect for Muslim cultural beliefs. T-shirts that cover the shoulders, long skirts and pants are generally better options than tank tops and shorts.
Etiquette
Religious belief is strong in Tanzania with Christianity and Islam dominating. Most Muslims live on the coast and in Zanzibar; visitors should be aware of the conservative nature of these destinations and dress and behave accordingly. Tanzanians are renowned for being friendly and harmonious people; however it is courteous to ask permission before photographing people.
Flights & Getting Around
Dar-es-Salaam International Airport: Tanzania’s main airport is the gateway to the Indian Ocean coast and Zanzibar as well as Selous Game Reserve.
Kilimanjaro International Airport: Tanzania’s second international airport serves the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. However, you need to transfer to nearby Arusha Airport for charter flights to these destinations and, as international flights often arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport late in the day, a night in Arusha is usually necessary.
Arusha Airport: located 30km from Kilimanjaro Airport, this is the gateway to northern Tanzania’s fly-in safari airstrips. Given the size of Tanzania and the condition of its roads, charter flights are considered the best way to get around the country. Road transfers and game drives in Tanzania are conducted in open-sided 4X4 vehicles though visitors to Gombe and Mahale will enjoy a boat transfer across Lake Tanganyika.
Duty free
The following items may be imported into Tanzania, by travellers older than 18 years, duty free:
• 250g of tobacco or 50 cigars or 200 cigarettes
• One bottle of alcoholic beverage
• 580 ml of perfume
Prohibited Imports
• Unlicensed firearms and ammunition. Plants and plant products require a phytosanitary certificate.
Prohibited Exports
• The export of gold, diamonds and tanzanite, unless bought from a licensed jeweller is prohibited. Exporting souvenirs made from wildlife skins (this includes reptiles), shells and coral is forbidden.
Electricity
The local electricity supply is 230 volts, 50 Hz. You will need to supply your own international standard adapter for your electrical appliances. Most hotels in Tanzania use plugs with 3 large flat prongs (“British” type – BS1363 system), however some hotels also use plugs similar to the “French” type (2 parallel prongs), but with an earth connector.
Health requirements
Yellow fever Vaccination
A viral infection transmitted by a day-time biting mosquito (Aëdes aegypti) typically found in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Only travelers coming from a country with risk of Yellow Fever transmission will require a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate. If travelling through any of the following countries, will you need a vaccination card
AFRICA – Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda.
AMERICAS – Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela. Tanzania is considered a low risk area for Yellow Fever. If you are coming to Tanzania without a vaccination card, make sure you take precaution against mosquito bites. Travelers travelling from Tanzania to South Africa are required to have a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate upon entry to South Africa. Please recheck regulations before travelling, as the above is subject to change without notice.
Malaria
Tanzania has a moderate risk for Malaria. Malaria occurs in all areas below 1800 meters and we recommend that you take precautions against malaria prior to the commencement of your holiday. Please consult your doctor about these. Woman using oral contraceptives should consult their physicians before using prophylactics. If planning to use Diamox on your Kilimanjaro hike, please consult your doctor as some malaria prophylactics cannot be used in conjunction with Diamox.
The best way to prevent contracting Malaria is to try and avoid mosquito bites by using an effect insect repellent, by sleeping under mosquito nets and to wear proper clothing after sunset. Adequate precautions must also be taken to avoid yourself being bitten by a mosquito.
Kindly contact your closest Travel Clinic or medical practitioner.
Recommended Immunizations
As a sensible precaution we recommend that you consider getting at least some of the following recommended immunizations
-Hepatitis A – You can get Hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in Tanzania, regardless of where you are eating or staying.
-Typhoid – You can get Typhoid through contaminated food or water in Tanzania, especially if you are visiting smaller cities or rural areas.
Please check with your local travel clinic for the latest recommendations.
Insurance
It is strongly advised to take out travel insurance which should cover baggage as well as personal accident and medical insurance and specifically covering your Kilimanjaro expedition.
Language
The official languages are Ki-Swahili and English. There are more than 120 tribal vernaculars.
Security
As with any other town, walking alone at night is not advisable, and it is preferable to use taxis which are available at most hotels. Do not leave cash or valuables in your hotel room and use a safe deposit box. Make use of a safe deposit box to keep your belongings safe, and do not leave anything of value lying around in your hotel room.
Visa & Passport Requirements
Visas are required by most visitors to Tanzania. Visas are available at your local Tanzanian Embassy. Costs vary from country to country. Visas are valid for 3 months. An onward ticket and sufficient funds are required when entering Tanzania. Tanzanian people are friendly and will always offer a helping hand. Almost all visitors to Tanzania require a visa, which costs between US$20 and US$50 for a single-entry visa valid for three months. Visitors to Tanzania must possess a passport that is valid for six months after the initial date of travel. It is possible, however, to obtain a tourist’s visa for a single entry at any ONE of the FOUR MAIN ENTRIES into Tanzania -subject to the fulfillment of all immigration and health requirements-, for those who could NOT apply for visa from Tanzania Mission abroad.
These are:
Dar-es-Salaam International Airport
Zanzibar International Airport
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Namanga Entry Point (Tanzania-Kenya boarder point)
Payment, at all these points, is in US Dollars or its equivalent in Sterling. For all other entry points in Tanzania, visitors must hold valid visa prior to approaching those entry points in Tanzania. However, in order to avoid unnecessary delays, those who proceed to Tanzania from a country where there IS a Tanzania Diplomatic Mission or Consular Office are strongly advised to obtain their entry visa prior to departure to Tanzania.
Tanzania Diplomatic Missions
Below is a list of Tanzania Diplomatic Missions.
Belgium
363 Avenue Louise, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel.: (32-2) 6406500-27, (32-2) 64764749,
Fax: (32-2) 6468026
tanzania@skynet.be
Canada
50 Range Road, Ottawa, Ontario KIN 8J4, Canada
Tel.: (1-613) 2321509, 7331349
Fax: (1-613) 2325184
tzottawa@synapse.net
China
No.53 Dong Liu, San Li Tun, Beijing, China
Tel.: (86-10) 65322344, (86-10) 65321719, (86-10)65325572,
Fax: (86-10) 5321695, (86-10) 65322394
tzbeijing@iuol.cn.net or tzbeijing@info.ioul.cn.net
Democratic Republic of Congo
142 Boulevard 30 Jin B.P.1612, Kinshasa, DRC
Tel: 34364
Ethiopia
P.O. Box 1077, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel. (251-1) 518155, Direct Line: (251-1) 511063 Fax: (251-1) 517358,
tz@telecom.net.et
France
13 Av. Raymond, Poinacare, 75116 Paris, France
Tel: (33-1)53706368, 53706369,53706370
tanzanie@infonie.fr
Germany
Theaterplatz 26, 5300 Bonn 2, Germany
Tel.: (49-228) 358514 (49-228) 353219
Fax: (49-228) 358226
tzbonn.habari@t-online.de
India
10/1 Sav Priya Vihar, New Delhi 110016, India
Tel: (91-11) 6853046-7, 6968409, 6968406-7
Fax: (91-11) 6968410
Italy
Embassy of the Unite Republic of Tanzania
Via Cesare, Beccaria 88, 00196 Rome, Italy
Tel.: (39-6) 36005234, 32651471
Fax: (39-6) 3216611
tanzarep@pcg.it
Japan
21-9, Kamiyoga 4,Chome Setagaua-Ku, Tokyo 158, Japan
Tel.: (81-3) 34254531-3, 34284227
Fax: (81-3) 34257844,
Tancon@user.africaoline.co.ke
Kenya
Taifa Road, Re-insurance Plaza, 9th Floor, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: (005-2) 331056-7, 331104 , 218269
Fax (005-2) 218269
tanzania@user.africaonline.co.ke
Mozambique
Ujamaa House, Maputo, Mozambique
Tel: (258-1) 490110-3, 491165
Fax: (258-1) 494782
ujamaa@zebra.eum.mz
Nigeria
8 Agoro Odiyan Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Tel: (00234-1) 613604
Fax : (00234-1) 610016/618908
Rwanda
Boulevard de L`Uganda, Telecom House, Block C 2nd Floor, Cacyiru B.P. 3973, Kigali, Rwanda
tanzarep@rwandatel1.rwanda1
Russia
Pyatniskaya, Ulitsa 33, Moscow, Russia
Tel(7-095) 9538221, 9530940, 9566130, 9534975, 2349045
Fax : (7-095) 9566130
tzmos@wm.west.call.com
Saudi Arabia
P.O. Box 94320, Riyadh 11693, Saudi Arabia
Tel. (966-1) 4542833, 4549660
Fax: (966-1) 4565361
tzriyad@deltasa.com or nhende@deltasa.com
South Africa
845 Goont Avenue, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0007, South Africa
Tel: (012) 3424371-93, 3426378-9, 3424562
Fax: (012) 4304383
tanzania@cis.co.za
Sweden
Oxtorgsgatan 2 – 4, Box 7255, 103-89, Stockholm, Sweden
Tel.: 08 244870,
Fax: (46-8) 109815 or 203 526
mailbox@tanemb.se
Switzerland
47 Avenue Blanc, CH 1201 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: (41-22) 7318920/7323752/ 7319461/ 7328255
Fax: (41-22) 7328255
mission.tanzania@itu.ch
Uganda
6 Kagera Road, Kampala Uganda
Tel: (006-41) 256272/257357/342306
Fax (006-41) 343973/075-787838
tzrepkla@imul.com
United Kingdom
43 Heartford Street,London W1Y 8DB
Tel: (44-207) 4998951/ 4993627
Fax: (44-207) 4993627
tanzarep@tanzarep.demon.co.uk or balozi@tanzarep.demon.co.uk
United Arab Emirates
Street 12A, Al Safa 2, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: (971-4) 295 7770, 394 0200
Fax: (971-4) 394 9202
tzconsdb@emirates.net.ae
United State of America
205 East 42nd St. NY 10017, New York, U.S.A
Tel. (1-212) 9729160,9729123
Fax: (1-212) 6825232
tzrepny@aol.com
2139 R, Str, NW. Washington D.C. 200008 U.S.A
Tel: (1-202) 8841080, 8841082
Fax: (1-202) 7977408
Balozi@tanzaniaembassy-us.org
Zambia
Ujamaa House, No. 4200, United Nations Avenue, 10101 Lusaka, Zambia
Tel.(260-1) 243222-4, 250826
Fax ( 260-01) 254861
tzreplsk@zamnet.zm
Zimbabwe
High Commission for the United Republic of Tanzania
Ujamaa House, 23 Baines Avenue, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: (263-4) 721870/722627
Fax: (263)724172
tanrep@icon.co.zw