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Tanzania Travel Tips
12 Things you
should know before traveling to Tanzania
1: How to get into
Tanzania
Several major airlines
fly into Tanzania- KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines), Condor Airlines and
Ethiopian Airways fly into lands at Kilimanjaro International
Airport (KIA/JRO) and Dar es salaam International Airport (DIA)
daily. British Airways and Swiss Airlines lands at DIA at least
twice a week.
Other airlines operating flights to Tanzania are South African
Airlines (SAA), Emirates, YEMENAIR, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, and
Kenya Airways.
2: Immigration Requirements
An onward ticket and sufficient
funds are required when entering Tanzania.
Visas are required for all visitors except citizens of the
Commonwealth, Scandinavian countries and the Republic of Ireland.
Visas are easy to obtain at any Tanzanian embassy abroad, the Visa
fee is dependent on the type of passport held.
A visitor’s pass which can be obtained free from any Tanzanian
diplomatic mission or point of entry is required for all travelers.
It is advisable to get one before you leave home.
3: Health
A yellow fever vaccination
certificate is essential if arriving from yellow fever infected
areas and anti-malaria tablets are also recommended.
Travelers are advised to take their prescribed drugs a few days
prior to arrival, during their stay, and for a short period after
returning.
It is also necessary to boil or sterilize all local drinking water
and milk and cook or peel vegetables.
Private health insurance is recommended.
4: Currency/Exchanging Money
There is no restriction on the
importation of foreign currency. Under no circumstances should
travelers change money in the streets - no matter what rate is
advertised- as the chance are you will be cheated.
Travelers are encouraged to exchange money at a Bureau de Change,
which offer better rates than banks.
5: To tip or not to tip, that is the question Tipping
is not obligatory, instead it is left to the discretion of the
visitor.
6: You get what you pay for Beware
of the ‘dodgy’ tour operators who advertise unbelievably cheap
prices as you may be disappointed by sub-standard services, poor
accommodation and inadequate tour vehicles. Accept the standard
prices and research different companies to find a reputable tour
operator.
7: Street Smarts
It is not recommended that foreign
travelers walk unaccompanied at night in poorly –lit streets or
along deserted streets.
Always travel in groups and ride only in registered taxis.
8: Insurance You
are strongly advised to have your own insurance cover to cover
baggage, personal accident and medical expenses.
9: Take a walk on the Wild Side
Tanzania offers travelers a number
of adventure activities including: –
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Safaris, wildlife safaris, night game drive safaris and canoeing
safaris
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Climbing,
trekking, and mountaineering: Channel you inner explorer by
conquering Mountains
Kilimanjaro,
Meru and Oldonyo Lengai
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Walking Safaris and bird watching
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Beach
holidays: Tours
to Zanzibar island, Mafia island, Dare salaam and Pangani Tanga
coast offer a number of beach activities including swimming,
snorkeling, scuba diving, dolphin watching, fishing and water
sports.
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Cultural
Tourism: Learn
the customs and traditions of the local people in Maasai in
Ngorongoro Crater and Chagga near Mount Kilimanjaro.
10: BARGAIN, BARGAIN,
BARGAIN When
shopping in streets bazaars, travelers should always bargain.
However some prices e.g in restaurants are fixed and you could be
mistaken for a miser if you start haggling.
11: WHAT
TO WEAR:
It never gets really cold in Tanzania so light weight clothing is
the norm. On safari avoid brightly coloured clothes they may alarm
the animals. Browns, beiges and
khaki are preferred. Short sleeve shirts/blouses and shorts are
deal, but pack a sweater: it can be chilly in the early morning and
in the Evening.
Wear a hat
to avoid sunstroke and don’t forget a swimsuit. Shoes should be
sensible - walking through the bush is not like strolling through
Hyde park and for climbing Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru take thermal
underwear, a rain jacket. good Socks and sturdy boots. Short for
women are acceptable but not too short. Women should carry a wrap to
cover their legs in towns or villages as revealing clothes can cause
offence, especially in Zanzibar and other Muslim areas. On the
beach, and within the confines of beach hotels, normal swimmer is
acceptable but nudity certainly is not
12: WHAT
TO TAKE
Don’t forget the camera, camcorder and binoculars and take a torch
for finding your way around your camp at night. Stock up with
replacement batteries for all these goods. Take sunglasses, hat, sun
lotion, lip balm and some insect repellant. It is better not to get
stung even if you are taking ant- malaria tablets. It’s best to take
any medicines required for the duration of the visit. A spare pair
of glasses or contact
lenses is also a good idea. Take plenty of films; it is difficult to
obtain outside the main centres, while traveler's cheques can be
exchanged in cities and towns. Banking facilities in remote areas
are restricted, so take plenty of cash.
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