Travel Tips
Entry requirement
You have to have a valid passport and require a visa to enter Tanzania. Almost all nationalities of visitor require visas, with the exception of certain countries of the Commonwealth. You should acquire a visa before travelling, because some airlines insist on them prior to departure. Depending on nationality and country of origin, a visa may be obtained on arrival at Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro airports and at Namanga Gate on the Tanzania/Kenya border.
Official Language
There are two official languages; Kiswahili and English.
Currency
The Tanzanian shilling (Tsh or TZS), divided into 100 cents, is the national currency.
Banking
Banks and bureau de change are available at airports and in all major towns. Banking hours are from Monday to Friday (8:30am to 3:00pm), Saturdays (8:30am to 1:30pm).
Credit cards and travellers’ cheque
Credit cards (Access, MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Eurocard) are accepted only at major lodges, hotels and travel agents. A surcharge may be added for this service. ATM and 24-hour cash machines are available in branches of major banks. Traveller’s cheques in pounds sterling or US dollars are recommended, though it may be difficult to exchange them outside the main cities.
Time
Local time is GMT +3
Electric Current
220 volts AC50Hz
Communications
International Direct Dial is available. The country code for Tanzania is +255. The outgoing international code is 00 for the United States or 000 for all other countries. Public call boxes in post offices and main towns operate on a card system, available from most small shops. Internet cafes are many in major city centers. Several cellular phone companies operate in Tanzania and roaming lines work near most major cities and towns.
Health
Visitors must produce a valid yellow fever certificate obtained no less than ten days prior to travel. It is also crucial that you obtain malaria prophylactics before entering Tanzania. When purchasing these, please tell your doctor or pharmacist that you intend visiting Tanzania. Precautionary measures to take to prevent contact with mosquitoes include: insect repellent, cover up at sundown, sleep under a mosquito net and wear long sleeve clothing and long trousers in the evenings. Immunization against cholera, polio, hepatitis A & B, typhoid and tetanus is recommended if traveling by road. There is a current warning that Tanzania's immigration authorities are insisting on cholera certificates or will administer a vaccine themselves.
When to go
Tanzania offers an astonishing diversity and concentration of wildlife, from the immense Serengeti and towering Mount Kilimanjaro to the remote national parks of Katavi and Mahale. The best months for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro are from August to October and from January to March.
Tanzania is a year-round birding destination boasting over 1000 species, but it is particularly good at the height of the northern hemisphere's winter (December to February), when some 160 species of migrating birds make their way south. Tanzania is also a botanical treasure-trove, with habitats ranging from Afro-Alpine to semi-desert. January/February and June/July (the months after the bimodal rainy seasons) make for the best floral displays.
For game viewing, the best time to visit Tanzania depends on your priorities. Much of Katavi National Park is accessible only during the dry season (June to mid-October), and this is also the best time to visit Tarangire. In the Serengeti, the wet season is the best time to see the enormous herds of wildebeest, though the migration patterns vary and are difficult to predict. The dry season is best for seeing predators.
What to take
Generally, casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year. The most practical items to pack are:
* Safari trousers for evenings and cooler days
* Khaki, brown, white and beige colours
* Swimwear is a must for the beach and for Kleins and Grumeti Camps, which have pools
* A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
* Comfortable walking shoes
* Light cotton tops and cotton trousers/shorts in summer
* Long sleeved blouses/shirts for game drives. They will protect you from the sun and from mosquitoes
* Fleece, or sweater, and a warm jacket for game drives (and at Ngorongoro Crater)
* For climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and Meru, thermal underwear, light layers, a sweater, warm jacket, good socks, and sturdy boots
When visiting Zanzibar, it is important for women to dress modestly to avoid offending Muslim cultural beliefs. Men should not wear shorts on the main island, and women should wear dresses that cover their shoulders and knees. This does not apply on Mnemba Island.