African Safari Tours

About Tanzania

Some information about Tanzania - interesting facts about Tanzania - need to know

Tanzania's capital city is Dodoma (it used to be Dar es Salaam).
Some other big cities are Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, Tabora and Zanzibar city. Tanzania has some beautiful islands like Zanzibar and Pemba. These islands are great for diving and a beach visit. Famous in Tanzania is its wildlife.

You can find several different game reserves and national parks in Tanzania like Serengeti, Ngorogoro crater and Selous. In these reserves you can find big game like zebra, giraffe, elephant, lion and leopard.

Tanzania has Africa's highest mountain. Mount Kilimanjaro is 5895 meters high. Climbing the mountain is a popular activity for tourists.
Tanzania is a poor country but has several raw materials in the ground like gold, diamond, gas and oil, but they don't have the money to reach them.

COVID-19

Please read this document for the air travel related measures for the outbreak of Coronavirus. This refers tot the Travel Advisory no. 5 of 5 August 2020 issued by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania.

The latest information can be found via the website of iatatravelcentre.

The best period to travel Tanzania

July until September are the best months to travel Tanzania.
During these months you avoid the high temperatures and the rainy season.
January until March and December are the best months to see the countries wildlife.
During these months the big migration of gnoes (wildebeest) is in full swing in the Serengeti National Park.

Wildebeest (gnoes) migration map:

Weather and climate

Tanzania has a tropical climate. Whole year around the temperature is between 20-30 degrees (Celsius).
In the mountains the temperature is about 10 degrees (Celsius) lower. Summer and winter periods are the opposite of the summer and winter in Europe.

Travel documents

Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months from the moment you enter Tanzania. You need a visa for Tanzania which you can buy when entering the country.

The cost for this visa is $ 50,- per person for non USA citizens.
The cost for this visa is $ 100,- per person for USA citizens.

To avoid delays at customs have USD in cash available. The USD bank notes must be from the year 2000 or younger.
​Older USD notes will not be accepted.

VISA ISSUES IN TANZANIA

New visa process at Kilimanjaro Airport

Please be aware that with immediate effect Kilimanjaro airport has changed the process of issueing visas on arrival.

Clients arriving in Kilimanjaro without a visa now need to complete the following process:

•    Queue for a Government Control Number
•    Queue to pay for this at the bank
•    Queue for Immigration to check and issue the visa

We strongly recommending that those that still have time before they travel apply for their Tanzania visa online at www.immigration.go.tz.

The online process asks for more information than a visa on arrival, and are issued within 2 - 3 weeks.

Security

Tanzania is a generally a safe country but don't invite trouble. Keep an eye on your belongings. Don't walk in the towns or cities at night - take a taxi. Don't carry cameras or large amounts of cash; beware of pickpockets.
Use hotel safety deposit boxes to safeguard valuables and obtain a receipt.
Leave valuable jewellery at home!!!

Malaria

All around Tanzania there is malaria.
Medical bring prescription medicines, spare glasses, contact lenses and solution as well as sunscreen, a first aid kit, cream for bites/stings and diarrhoea remedy. Drink only boiled or bottled water, bottled or canned drinks, avoid ice cubes and salads.

Malaria is endemic but is preventable: use insect repellent, cover up at sundown, sleep under a mosquito net and take anti-malaria prophylactics as advised by your doctor. Malaria is transmitted by some female Anopheles mosquitoes, which are active in the early evening and throughout the night. Malaria is not a serious problem if people are sensible and take basic precautions from being bitten by using mosquito repellents and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants in the evenings. Safari camps and lodges are not located in any densely populated areas, and many are at high altitude. This greatly reduces the risk of becoming infected. Consult your physician, for recommended malaria prophylactics.

In the United States, the drug Lariam is the most commonly prescribed malarial prophylactic, but it has unfortunate side effects for some people. It should not be taken by anyone with a heart problem or high blood pressure. It should not be used during pregnancy or lactation and it should not be used by people with tendencies towards depression. On July 14, 2000 the FDA approved a new malarial prophylactic called MALARONE. Although it has to be taken daily, it is seems to have few side-affects.
HIV/Aids is widespread, especially in the main tourist areas.

Vaccinations

Please check the link below for your vaccinations which are necessary for Tanzania or contact your doctor https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tanzania

For our Dutch clients please check the link below
https://klmhealthservices.com/inentingen/tanzania/

Nice to know

Alcohol is only permitted to buy and/or drink from the age of 18.
The maximum alcohol promillage is 0.5 if you want to drive a car.
Buying tobacco is only permitted when you are 18 or older.
Smoking tobacco might be done from all ages.
No smoking is allowed in public buildings by law.

A few useful words in Swahili Swahili is a derivative of the Bantu language and remains loyal to Bantu grammar, however its vocabulary has been influenced by Arabic (through culture and trade) and more recently by English (through technology).

The word swahili comes from the Arabic word for coast, since the language developed along the East African coast where several distinctive dialects still remain. Swahili has been described as "One of the twelve great languages of the world" and is spoken by millions of people in Central and Eastern Africa. More details can be found at wikipedia.

​Hello - Jambo
Good bye - Kwaheri
Please - Tafadhali
Thank you (very much) - Asante (sana)
Yes - Ndiyo
No - Hapana
How much/many? - Ngapi?
Okay - Sawa sawa
How are you? - Habari?
Very well - Mzuri sana
Food - Chakula
I'd like a cold beer - Tafadhali nataka bia [pombe] baridi

Tipping guideline

Guests often ask us for a guideline for tipping their guides. This is a difficult question but to give some advice we would say:

• 15 - 20 USD per verhicle per day

This is just an indication. Feel free to tip at your own discretion.

Our 4x4 LandCruisers

We have a 4 seater and a 6 seater 4x4 LandCruiser in the fleet. Both vehicles have WIFI available during the drives (where available)

Overview of the amazing National Parks of Tanzania

We go where you want us to go, whenever & however with respect for wildlife and the Park rules. The comfort of the wild animals and the safety of our guests are our top priority.