Tanzania: Travelling

Entry Requirements

Passport and Visa Service: Ministry of Home Affairs - Tanzania Visa Information
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Visa policy of Tanzania

For Further Information: Diplomatic Missions of Tanzania

Check IATA Travel Website for visa requirements and health advices.

Organising Your Trip

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Julius Nyere International Airport	12 km	TZS 35,000 - 45,000	TZS 400	-	Private hires are available. Check here for rates.

Major airlines

Name	Type	Domestic Flights	International Flights
Air Tanzania	National	Yes	Yes
Air Excel	Private/Charter	Yes	No
As Salaam Air	Private/Charter	Yes	No
Auric Air	Private	Yes	Yes
Coastal Aviation	Private/Charter	Yes	Yes
FastJet	Low-cost	Yes	Yes
FlightLink	Private	Yes	No
Precision Air	Private	Yes	Yes
ZanAir	Private	Yes	No

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Visiting

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical

Olduvai Gorge
Laetoli Footprint
Isimila Stone Age site
Engaruka Ruins
Kaole Ruins
Kunduchi Ruins
Kilwa Kisiwani Ruins
Songo Mnara Ruins
Historical towns: Bagamoyo, Kilwa Kivinje, Mikindani
Colonial Administrative Buildings (BOMAs)

Cultural

Kondoa Rock-Art Sites
Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara
Stone Town of Zanzibar
Cultural Heritage Centre (Arusha)
Old Fort of Zanzibar
Palace Museum (Zanzibar)
House of Wonders (Zanzibar)

Nature

Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Crater
Kilimanjaro National Park
Selous Game Reserve
Serengeti National Park
Olduvai Gorge & Laetoli
Kaporogwe Falls
Kalambo Falls
Amboni Caves
Udzungwa National Park
Tarangire National Park

Religious

St. Joseph Cathedral (Dar es Salaam)
Azania Lutheran Church (Dar es Salaam)
Gaddafi Mosque (Dodoma)
Great Mosque of Kilwa (Kilwa Masoko)
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church (Zanzibar)
Malindi Mosque (Zanzibar)
Kizimkazi Mosque (Zanzibar)

Thermal

Kikuletwa (Chemka) Hot Springs
Rundugai Hot Springs

Beach

Mnemba Island
Vamizi
Fanjove
Ras Kutani
Fundu Lagoon
Saanane Island National Park
Pangani Town

Winter Sports

Snow can be found year-round on Kilimanjaro; however, skiing is not allowed on the mountain.

Outdoor Activities

Tanzania is one of the most popular destinations for wildlife safari in Africa. Boating and canoeing, through the rivers, ocean bays (Swahili Coast as well as the islands of Zanzibar) and waterways, are also popular outdoor activities. Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia Islands are also ideal for diving and snorkelling. Mountain climbing trips to Kilimanjaro, Meru and Crater Highlands are also among popular outdoor activities.

Shopping

Kanga (colourful fabric garment)
Figurines of makonde
Wicker baskets
Maasai handcraft items (wood carving, wooden baskets, jewellery, etc.)
Tinga-tinga paintings
Asilia leather (in the city of Arusha)
Tanzanite gemstone
Coffee and tea
Spices (clover, pepper, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg) (in the islands of Zanzibar)

Tourism Organisations: Tanzania Tourist Board

Living Conditions

Health and Safety

Health Precautions: There are no specific vaccination requirements to enter Tanzania (except for vaccine against yellow fever if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission). Nevertheless, WHO and Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the following vaccines before entering Tanzania: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid, boosters for tetanus, diphtheria and measles. Cholera is also known to occur in Tanzania (with recent cases reported in Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Katavi, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Rukwa, Rumuva, Songwe, and Tanga).
For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions: Center for Disease Control and Prevention - Tanzania Travel Information
UK Foreign Travel Advice - Tanzania
For Further Information on Safety Conditions: U.S. Department of State - Tanzania Travel Information
Foreign and Commonwealth Office - Tanzania Travel Advice
Government of Canada - Tanzania Travel Advice

Emergency Numbers

Police, ambulance, fire	112
Dar es Salaam Police	+255 22 2117362

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference: It is %T:%M %A In Dar es Salaam (GMT+3)
Summer Time Period: None

Map of the Time Zone

Time zone

Type of Climate: Tanzania has a tropical climate and is divided into four main climatic zones. These can be described as: the hot humid coastline; the semi-arid plateau; the high-moist lake regions; and the temperate highland areas. Temperatures rarely drop below 20°C, except in the highlands, where they range between 10°C and 20°C during cold and hot seasons. The hottest time of the year runs from November to February whereas the coldest period is between May and August. The weather is hot and humid throughout the year in the Zanzibar Archipelago. Rainfall tends to vary significantly between different parts of the country, nevertheless only about half of the country receives more than 750 millimetres annually. Rainfall can reach well above 2,500 mm in the lake region and drop below 500 mm in parts of the hot and dry Central Plateau.
Hotel reservation websites: Climates of Travel - Tanzania Climate Information
Global Security - Tanzania Climate

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

Climate

Eating

Food Specialties: Tanzanian cuisine bears some of the characteristics of the East African cuisine along with many influences from the Arabic and Indian cuisines as a result of the Omani rule in Zanzibar. The diet is largely based on starches such as millet, sorghum, beans, pilaf, and cornmeal. Ugali, a stiff dough made from cassava flour, cornmeal, millet, or sorghum, is one of the most popular dishes of the country. It is often served with a sauce containing either fish, meat, beans or cooked vegetables. Pilau, the rice dish introduced by the Arabs, includes many spices that are not too common in Africa, such as curry, cinnamon, cumin, hot peppers, and cloves. Ndizi Kaanga, fried plantains, is another popular dish and is often served as a snack or as a side dish of a main course. Rice and fish cooked in coconut are widely eaten along the coastline. While meat consumption is less common than some African countries, nyama choma (grilled meat), consisting often of barbequed beef or skewered goat, is a popular national dish. Indian staples such as chai and chapatti (fried flat bread) are also part of the national cuisine.
Drinks: Chai tea is by far the most popular beverage in Tanzania and is usually served after meals. Coffee - locally grown - is another common drink and it is mostly sold by street vendors. Mbebe, a beer made from bananas, is a specialty of the Chagga ethnic group in Kilimanjaro region.
Dietary Restrictions: The people of Zanzibar are mostly Muslims and therefore do not consume alcohol and pork meat. Regardless, alcoholic drinks are widely available in the archipelago.

Paying

Domestic Currency: Tanzanian Shilling
ISO Code: TZS
To Obtain Domestic Currency: Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks or exchange offices. US dollars, followed by euros, are among the most widely accepted currencies and get the best rates. US dollar bills dated prior to 2006 are not accepted. Rates and commissions tend to vary considerably, therefore it is worth comparing before exchanging money. For after-hours exchange and exchanging in small towns, most Indian-owned businesses change money; however, often at unfavourable rates. ATMs are a convenient way to withdraw Tanzanian Shillings and readily available in large cities. ATMs accept most international cards; however, there are transaction limits (maximum of TZS 300,000 or 400,000 per transaction in large cities and TZS 1.2 million per day (less in small towns)).
Possible Means of Payment: Credit and debit cards (Visa and MasterCard) are widely accepted and a convenient method of withdrawing local currency. Cards are required for paying park fees at most national parks. Most hotels and tour operators do not accept credit cards and require cash payment. Some high-end hotels and tour operators may accept credit cards; however often with commission averaging from 5% to 10%.

Speaking

Official Language: Kiswahili (Swahili) (de jure), English (de facto)
Other Languages Spoken: Bantu (Bemba, Safwa, Digo, Hehe, Makonde, Nyamwezi, Yao, and Luguru) and Nilotic languages (Maasai, Datooga, Ngasa, Ogiek, Kisankasa, and Pare). Arabic in Zanzibar.
Business Language: English and Swahili

Useful Resources

To Find a Job: Zoom Tanzania - Job Portal
Brighter Monday - Job Vacancies

Any Comment About This Content? Report It to Us.