About Tanzania
In this chapter you will find some general information about Tanzania. It will help you to prepare for your Africa experience. If you have any more questions do not hesitate to send us an email.
Visa
Depending on your nationality, different visa regulations may apply. For most people it applies that you can buy your visa at an entry point in Tanzania. The tourist visa is valid for 3 months. For US citizens the cost for this visa are 100 US Dollar per person and for all others it is 50 US Dollar per person. Note that you are expected to pay cash in US Dollar and that bills dated before the year 2000 are not accepted in Tanzania. Ask at the Tanzanian embassy in your country which rules apply for you. Also make sure that your passport is valid. Valid meaning not expiring for at least six months after entering the country. If you are travelling via Kenya, you might need to buy a transit visa for Kenya. The Kenya transit visa is valid for 5 days and cost 10 US Dollar per person.
Climate
The weather in Tanzania is pleasant throughout the whole year. From December to March it is summer. In that period Arusha will have a nice climate up to 32°C (90 °F)during the day and in the evening it will cool down to about 25°C (77 °F). Arusha is located at a higher altitude than most of Tanzania and because of that it will never get too hot. The nature parks are situated lower than Arusha and it can get warmer there. Also in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar it will get a few degrees hotter than in Arusha and it is more humid. April and May is the rain season. The temperature is about the same but it can rain a lot. Most of the rain falls at night and during the day the sun will come back again. The water will flourish the beautiful flowers and trees and turn the landscape attractively green. July is the start of the cooler season. Temperatures will drop to 23°C (74 °F) in Arusha and 25°C (77 °F) in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. In the evening/night it can get 18°C (65 °F). The temperature will go up again at the end of August. In November there is a short rain season. Also then it mostly rains during the night and the temperature is very pleasant.
Money
The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (Tzs). You can pay anywhere with Tzs. On December 9, 2009, 10 US Dollar is worth about 13,500 Tzs. And 10 Euro is worth about 19,800 Tzs. Going out for dinner in a local restaurant is cheaper than in Western countries. Also drinks are cheaper. If you are buying souvenirs, you should keep in mind that bargaining is a must. You can get Tzs at the ATM’s in Tanzania. Sometimes the ATM’s have system problems and it is advisable to bring some cash money for the first (few) day(s). You can also change money at one of many exchange offices. The exchange rate in town is better than in most hotels and at the airport. Also a lot of places accept US Dollar, but only notes dated from the year 2000 and up are accepted. Most hotels accept Visa and MasterCard, but most other shops do not. The hotels might charge you a certain percentage for paying by these cards. Traveler’s cheques are difficult to cash and a high commission is charged.
Clothing
As the temperatures are high most of the year, light clothing is advisable. Also avoid wearing dark colors, because it captures the heat of the sun. In July, August it can get cooler and long trousers and a warm sweater for the evening are a must. Also if you are going to stay at the Ngorongoro Crater rim, warm clothing is strongly recommended as the crater rim is high and it is cool all year long. For women it is recommended to wear trousers/skirts no shorter than knee length and cover their shoulders. This is easy to do with a scarf. Also for men it is not appropriate to walk around without a shirt. It is appreciated to follow these guidelines when in public. In hotels people are used to tourists and you can feel free to wear what feels comfortable.
Getting there
Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) is the biggest international airport of Northern Tanzania. With only an hour drive from Arusha this is the most convenient airport to start your travel through Tanzania. These airlines fly to KIA; KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, Condor Air, Precision Air, Air Kenya, Air Tanzania and Rwandair Express. Another big airport is Dar es Salaam International Airport. From there you can take a bus or a flight to Arusha. The bus leaves every morning and takes about 9-10 hours. Flying will only take about 1 hour and 15 minutes. You can also fly to Nairobi, Kenya and take a shuttle bus to Arusha. The shuttle bus will take about 6-8 hours and leaves daily at 8 am and 2 pm from Nairobi city and 15 minutes later from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. It is also possible to fly from Nairobi to Arusha, this will take about 50 minutes.
Communication
You can check with your mobile phone provider if you will be able to use your phone in Tanzania. You can also buy a local phone card, available everywhere starting at 500 Tzs. (about 0,40 US Dollar) Internet is available in some hotels and there are decent internet cafes, although the connection might be slower than what you are used to. There are plans on supplying Tanzania with glass fiber to speed up the internet connection.
Safety
Tanzania is one of the safest countries in Africa. It is not a warn torn country and the people are very friendly. But as in most places you should keep an eye on your belongings. Have your handbag close to you and don’t leave luggage unattended. We advise you to leave valuable items like expensive jewelry at home. It is best to avoid walking in the dark and use a taxi recommended by your hotel rather than getting one from the street.
Health
Visitors from countries infected with cholera and yellow fever must produce international certificate of vaccination, this is particularly relevant for those travelling from neighboring African countries like Kenya. Before you go to Africa you should let your doctor or health centre advise you about health issues. They can determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities. In Tanzania there is a risk of getting malaria. There are different ways of protecting yourself against malaria. Especially in the evening you should use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and long pants. Almost all hotels provide mosquito nets and our tents are also well equipped against mosquito’s. On doctors prescription you can take anti-malaria medication. If you are planning on climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or Mt. Meru it is possible to take medication that can prevent height sickness. Ask your doctor if the height sickness medication interferes with the anti-malaria medication. At the height of 1800 meters and above there is no danger of getting malaria.
Language
The most spoken languages of Tanzania are Kiswahili and English. Kiswahili has its origins as a Bantu language from middle Africa. The language developed in the last few centuries with many influences from the Arabic language. This was the consequence of hundreds of years of contact with Arabic speaking traders. Kiswahili also contains some words of German, Portuguese, English and French as a result of European colonization. Some words that you will hear a lot during your travel; Jambo – is used to say hello, you can simple reply with ‘jambo’ Karibu – means welcome. It is used a lot and you can answer with ‘asante’ which means thank you. Habari – literally this means ‘news’ and is used to ask someone how a person is doing. You can answer with ‘nzuri’ which means good. Try using these words, you will be surprised by the joyful response of the local Tanzanians.
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