Travel documents
You must have a passport valid for six months after the return date. Visa upon arrival. Please contact your embassy in case you have an other nationality.
Money
The official currency of Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shillings (Tsh). The rates of November 2015:
| 1 Euro = | 2309 Tsh |
| 1 US$ = | 2165 Tsh |
(For the current rates, please see Internet sites such as xe.com)
Many lodge and restaurant prices will be set in US dollars while outside of lodges (souvenirs, snacks, etc.) Shillings will be necessary. Most items can be paid for in dollars on Zanzibar.
US dollars printed before 2004 are not accepted in the country. When you exchange money, use big notes (50 or 100 US dollar). The exchange rate of smaller notes is much lower. Make sure notes are not cut, or damaged in any way. They will not be accepted.
We advise that you budget your cash needs per person:
US$30 per day on full-board tour packages to cover drinks and other personal expenses.
US$60 per day on bed & breakfast tour packages to cover meals, drinks and personal expenses not included.
Plugs and voltage
In Tanzania, British-style plugs with three square pins: 240 V, 50 Hz are the norm.
Climate
Tanzania is close to the equator and therefore has a tropical climate with an average temperature range of less than five degrees throughout the year. The coastal area and the islands of Zanzibar are warm and humid with temperatures between 22 and 30°C and a humidity between 75 and 80% almost year round. In mountainous areas, including Mount Kilimanjaro, the Usambara Mountains and the northern and southern highlands, the temperature between May and August can get below 12°C with regular frost.
The warmest time of the year is generally October to February, the coolest is from June to October. In some places in the interior, the temperature can be as high as 40°C.
Precipitation amounts are influenced by the prevailing monsoon winds. Much of the country has two rainy seasons: October to November with the so-called small rains, and March to May, with the so-called big rains. Precipitation varies widely and is irregularly spread over the country.
Language
In urban areas and tourist centres, you'll be able to get by fine with English. In rural areas, knowledge of basic Swahili phrases will make your travels easier and more fun.
Courses
Tanzania is the best place in East Africa to learn Swahili, the country's official language, together with English. Swahili in coastal areas, especially the Zanzibar Archipelago, is generally considered more pure than the Swahili spoken inland. Some schools can arrange home stays.
Health
As long as you stay up-to-date with your vaccinations and take basic preventive measures, you’re unlikely to succumb to most of the possible health hazards. While Tanzania has an impressive selection of tropical diseases on offer, it’s more likely you’ll get a bout of diarrhoea or a cold than a more exotic malady. The main exception to this is malaria, which is a real risk throughout much of the country. Road accidents are the other main threat to your health. Never travel at night, and choose buses or private transport over dalla-dallas (minibuses) to minimise the risk.
Tap Water
Unless your intestines are well accustomed to Tanzania, don’t drink tap water that hasn’t been boiled, filtered or chemically disinfected (eg with iodine tablets) and be wary of ice and fruit juices diluted with unpurified water. Avoid drinking from streams, rivers and lakes unless you’ve purified the water first. The same goes for drinking from pumps and wells; some bring pure water to the surface, but the presence of animals can contaminate supplies. Bottled water is widely available, except in very remote areas, where you should carry a filter or purification tablets.