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Basic Facts
Full Name : United Republic of Tanzania (formerly United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar)Capital : Dodoma
Time : GMT +3 hours
Currency : Tanzania shilling (TSh or TZS)
Language : Swahili (Kiswahili), English and Arabic
Getting Around
Rail & BusTanzania has two rail lines. The Tazara line links Dar es Salaam with New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia via Mbeya and Tunduma. The central line links Dar es Salaam with Kigoma and Mwanza via Morogoro, Dodoma and Tabora. Rail is a safer, though a slower option of travel. Food can be purchased on board. Crime is not a major problem, but ensure you have your possessions with you at all times. Express and ordinary buses operate along major long distance routes. Express buses are slightly more expensive but are more comfortable. Ordinary buses tend to make more stops. Reservations are not always possible, so get to the bus with plenty of time before the scheduled departure. Buses are not permitted to operate at night. Ordinary buses and dalla-dallas (minivans) serve shorter routes. These are a slower and more dangerous option. Note that Tanzanian roads have a high accident rates, and buses tend to speed.
Airports
Domestic air services operate between the major airports:
Dar es Salaam (DAR)
Kilimanjaro (JRO)
Kishni, Zanzibar (ZNZ)
There are a total of 129 in Tanzania, of which only ten are paved. Air services have become the most significant form of internal transport for official and business travel. Small planes, from charter companies, fly to towns and to bush airstrips.
Roads
There are 88,200 km of highways in Tanzania, but only 3,704 km of these are tarred. The key roads are in good condition, though the majority are bad and hazardous. Road conditions in the reserves and national parks of Tanzania are extremely rough. During the rainy season, many roads are passable only with four-wheel drive vehicles. Tanzania is definitely not recommended as a self-drive destination. Any four-wheel drive vehicles for safaris usually have to be hired with a driver. Watch out for cyclists, pedestrians, livestock and wild animals. Most car rental companies do not allow self-drive outside of Dar es Salaam. Driving is on the left side of the road. Your home driving licence, with English translation if necessary, is accepted.
Passports and Visas
Entry Requirements(as at June 2000) This is a guide only - please check with your nearest Tanzanian Consulate for up to date information. Most visitors require visas with the exception of certain countries of the Commonwealth (British, Canadian and South African nationals require visas). It is advisable to obtain a visa in advance of travel as certain 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. Zanzibar remains independent although it is a part of the union of Tanzania. Passports and a Tanzanian visa are required even on a day's visit. Requirements may change so you are advised to contact your nearest Tanzanian Consulate before finalising your travel arrangements. Visas cost US$10-60 depending on nationality and are usually valid for three months. Requirements for obtaining a visa are: a passport, valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay, two passport photographs, two application forms and a detailed itinerary stating reason for visit.
General Accommodation Info
Most safari lodges vary in size and style, and are built to blend in with the environment. Accommodation tends to be of rondavel or banda type, with a lounge, central dining and bar in single unit hotels. Do not be misled by the term "tented accommodation" - this usually refers to luxurious insect-proof tents that are permanently pitched on concrete bases, often including en suite bathrooms with flush toilets. They are very popular and give the visitor the true experience of being close to nature without the inconvenience and discomfort that can be associated with camping in the open. All major towns in Tanzania have excellent luxury hotels. All towns will at least have a good guest house. Note that the word hotel (or in Swahili, hoteli) means food and drink only, rather than lodging. It would be better to use the word guesthouse (or in Swahili, guesti). Hotels often have their own restaurants. The main meal is at midday and many restaurants are closed in the evening. Local food is readily available. In the east, facing the rich Indian ocean, you will encounter wonderful seafood as well as great tasting fruit. National parks offer "ordinary" campsites which provide toilets, fireplaces and usually water taps. "Special" campsites usually only have a pit toilet. It is necessary to pre-book special campsites, and advisable to book ordinary ones. Camping is limited outside the national parks. Due to the distances travelled in Tanzania it is strongly recommended that you make all your arrangements in advance. During the migration and peak season, availability is at a premium.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 August to October and January to March. Tanzania boasts over 1 000 bird species, with Lake Manyara alone being home to more than 400. It is a year round birding destination, but at the height of the northern winter, some 160 species of migrating birds make their way south. Botanically, Tanzania is a treasure-trove, with habitats ranging from Afro-Alpine to semi-desert. The months immediately after the two rainy seasons provide the best floral displays. See under National Parks and Tourist Attractions for information on the migration. Tanzania offers excellent game viewing throughout the year as not all animals migrate and are year-round residents.Currency
The unit of currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TSh). Notes are issued as TSh10,000; 5000; 1000; 500; 200 and 100. Coins are TSh100; 50; 20; 10, 5 and 1.
Exchange Rate
The exchange rate is in your favour. Generally you will find that fine cuisine, wine and entertainment cost a fraction of the tariff charged by equivalent establishments elsewhere in the world. As a guide, petrol costs around TSh480 per litre.
Banks
Banks and forex bureaux are available at the airport and in all main towns.
Banking hours:
Mon - Fri: 08:30 - 12:30
Sat: 08:30 - 13:30
A few branches in the major towns open until 16:30 on weekdays. Foreign currency in cash or traveller's cheques may be exchanged through authorised dealers, commercial banks and at Bureau de Change at the international airports, major towns and border posts. Visitors are strongly advised against changing money on the black market. Some of the black marketers are undercover policemen, while others are likely to be con artists.
Credit Cards
Visa and MasterCard are accepted by most top hotels and lodges around the country. In addition to credit cards, clients should bring US dollars cash and traveller's cheques.
