About Tanzania

Tanzania is located in the African Great Lakes Region of East Africa, boasting a very diverse population of approximately 44.9 million people. There are 16 national parks in Tanzania and a large number of other game and forest reserves, with the most well known being the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti National Park!

QUICK FACTS

Languages Spoken: Swahili, English and many tribal languages

Time Zone: +3:00 GMT (local time zone is East Africa Time (EAT))

Electricity: Tanzania uses the same 3 prong plug as in the United Kingdom. An adaptor is recommended to charge cell phones, laptops or other electronic devices and can be purchased in country.

Currency

The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling. Most businesses involved in the tourism industry use and accept US dollars for their services. The banks of Tanzania will only accept notes that were issued after 2003. Most top hotels, lodges, restaurants  and tour companies accept Visa and Mastercard. ATMs can also be found throughout the country but be aware that there can be extra fees issued by your credit card for
international withdrawals.

Travel/Transportation

There are a few international airports in Tanzania. Julius K. Nyerere International Airport is located in Dar es Salaam, the biggest city in the country. The other international airports are Kilimanjaro International airport located between the popular tourism cities of Arusha and Moshi and also Abeid Amani Karume International Airport on the island of Zanzibar. Smaller airstrips are found around the country, including the National Park areas, and many domestic airlines service these areas. Coach buses are also available though the travel time can be quite long. If interested in renting a car during your stay, remember that in Tanzania we drive on the left hand side of the road and a 4×4 vehicle is often required.

VISA & PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS:

Most visitors will require a tourist visa to visit Tanzania. These can be obtained before traveling from the consulate/embassy for Tanzania in your country of residence. Tourist visas can also be obtained at the border entry points as well as the international airports. The fee is charged in USD and varies for different citizenships but is usually either $50 or $100. Change is often not available so it is good to have the exact amount.

Visitors must ensure that their passport is valid for 6 months beyond their stay.

Vaccine Requirements:

Proof of yellow fever vaccine is sometimes requested upon arrival. This should only be necessary if traveling from or through a country that has a high prevalence of yellow fever. Tanzania is also located in a malaria zone so it is best to seek advice from your doctor about malaria prophylactics