Tanzania Travelling Facts
East Africa is formed by three countries Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Tanzania is situated south of Equator and covers 938,000 sq km with the estimated population of about 45 million people. The country is more highly populated on the northern, eastern/coastal areas.
Climate: Tropical with two rain seasons March through May and October through November. The dry seasons deliver clear and sunshine filled days. Excellent beach weather with a bit more humidity and increase of temperature on the coastal region.
Visa: Coming to Tanzania has been made easy for visitors. Citizens of most countries can easily obtain a 90 Day Tourist visa upon arrival at any International Airport or border crossing. The fee is USD$50 for most passports (single entry) and USD$100 for American passports (multiple entry). ONLY cash is accepted and please be sure that all notes are dated 2006 and later as earlier currency will not be accepted anywhere in the country. As always please confirm the immigration policy for your country of citizenship to confirm.
Attractions: The country with a rich culture and history has a diverse offering to visitors. Tourism is one of the major economies boasting the most iconic safari game viewing in all of Africa, Kilimanjaro, The Rooftop of Africa and breathtaking beaches and islands in the coastal region.
Social Life: With more than 120 tribes peacefully co-existing each with it’s own dialect and cultural norms. “Kiswahili” officially become the national language in 1961 after the country’s independence. The language has spread and commonly used in the neighboring countries of Uganda, Kenya and Central Africa. English is the second official language of the nation and the majority of locals in tourism will easily be able to speak and communicate with you. You will find that Tanzanians are very welcoming and friendly.
Political System: Tanzania is one of the leading African countries for its political stability, peace and tranquility. The multi-party political system and the government is democratic. Freedom of speech is encouraged. Religious and tribal conflicts are very rare in the country because every citizen is free to worship as he/she pleases provided that one does not violate the law of the land. Conflicts are often resolved through mediation and dialogue.
Currency: The National currency of Tanzania is “shilling” (Tshs). Exchange rates vary and are subject to change as is the case with any other currency. Generally the consistent average is approx USD$1 for 2,100 Tsh. Occasionally credit cards such Master Card, and Visa are accepted by larger hotels and lodges but usually incur a high transaction fee. It is recommend to either bring cash to exchange or use your bank card at local ATM’s which will give you local currency and favorable rates.
Religions: Because of its historical diversity Tanzania is a land of various religions. Major religions are Christianity, Islam, Hindu and African Traditional Religions. In the coastal regions of Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, Zanzibar and Tanga the main religions are Islam and Hindu. This is due to the historical influx of Arabs and Eastern Indians. The mainland is predominantly Christian.
Infrastructure & Accesibility: Major roads are paved and accessible throughout the year. Side roads and those around and within National Parks are muddy with rough terrain. For this reason, a 4WD vehicles are most commonly used such as Toyota Land Cruisers and Land Rovers.
Time: The time zone is GMT + 3 and the electricity is 220 – 240 V AC, 50 Hz.
BEFORE COMING TO TANZANIA: We recommend that you consult our doctor before arrival coming to Africa for advice on changes of weather , malaria prevention, and other related conditions. Officially a yellow fever vaccination is only required if coming from another “Yellow Fever” country, however the majority of visitors are required to present proof of immunization at airport regardless of origin.
