Tips for taking an African Safari Kenya, Travel Tips in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, Safari tips, Tour tips in Africa, Safari tips in Kenya and Tanzania
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Tips for taking an African Safari Kenya, Travel Tips in Kenya, Tanzania and
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Tanzania's natural endowment as a wildlife safari destination is
unrivalled. Wild animals roam in vast areas as God intended on that
sixth day of the creation. These areas are designated as national parks
and game reserves and have a high reputation for being uncrowded and
unspoilt. The magnificent collection of game sanctuaries to the north of
the country, near the border with Kenya, is referred to as The Northern
Circuit. This is the most popular and accessible wildlife safari route
in Tanzania. You can positively say that this is one of the finest game
viewing areas anywhere in the world. The game aside, the spectacularly
diverse cluster of eco-systems and habitats is a dazzling experience for
many a visitor.
Below is some basic travel info for the visitor to Tanzania
Health
Visitors entering Tanzania from yellow fever infected areas require yellow
fever international certificate of vaccination. Exemptions are made for
visitors arriving from non-endemic areas such as Europe, North America,
Australia and New Zealand. The northwestern forest region is considered
a high-risk area for yellow fever. Malaria is common in Tanzania.
Visitors are strongly advised to take anti-malaria medication commencing
two weeks before travel.
It is recommended to take vaccinations against hepatitis A, polio and
typhoid. HIV-AIDS is prevalent in the country and I cannot emphasize
enough the need for protection measures. Some fresh water lakes and
rivers carry the risk of Bilharzia and you are advised not to swim in
such areas. Though proof of vaccination is not required, cholera is a
risk throughout the country and precautions are necessary. Modern
hospitals and chemists are available in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and other
major urban centers.
Visas
All visitors require a visa except citizens of some African and
commonwealth countries. It is advisable to obtain visa's in advance from
Tanzania Embassies and High Commissions as some airlines may require it
before allowing you to board. But you can also be issued with a visa on
arrival at Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro international
airports and at the Namanga Gate on the Kenya /Tanzania border.
Passports must be valid for at least six months.
Nationals of countries exempt from visa requirements will be issued with a
free visitors pass at the same entry points. Those traveling to Zanzibar
should be aware that the Islands are nominally independent and passports
and Tanzania visas are required even for a days visit. Visa requirements
however vary from time to time and you are advised to check on
prevailing status well ahead of travel.
Peoples & Culture
Tanzania is made up of 100 or so tribal groups of mainly Bantu origin.
None of these groups comprise more than 10% of the population and this
perhaps contributes to the tranquility the country has experienced. The
most numerous groups are the Sukuma of Lake Victoria, Chaaga of Mount
Kilimanjaro, Nyamwenzi of Tabora, Hehe of Iringa and the Gogo of Dodoma.
Arab and Persian influence is strong in Zanzibar. The interaction of Arabs
and Bantu Africans has resulted in the Swahili language now widely
spoken in Eastern and Central Africa. Those in the know say that the
purest Swahili dialect is spoken in Zanzibar. Swahili is now the Lingua
Franca of Tanzania although English is widely understood in urban
centers.
Make sure to experience the traditional food at the coast and Zanzibar.
This is quite good and is based on seafood and rice dishes. Food in the
mainland is generally a little bit stodgy and less exciting. The most
popular drink is a very decent brew known as Safari Lager. Tanzania
music and dance is popular throughout Eastern Africa and this attests to
its quality. The lyrics are usually in Swahili. Get to listen to some of
it and this may even help improve on your Swahili.
Communications
Telephone, fax, telegram, post and Internet services are available in
urban centers and locations popular with tourists. Direct dialing to
many countries is available at most hotels in urban areas. In rural
areas international calling is through the operator. The country code
for Tanzania is 255.
Mobile phones are based on GSM 900/1800 network. Coverage is however
limited and you are advised to check beforehand whether your GSM phone
has access if you are traveling outside the main urban centres. Mobile
telephony operators include Celtel, Mobitel, Tritel, Vodacom and
Zanzibar Telecom. You can obtain a GSM card that will allow you to make
international calls to any country. E-mail is accessible at Internet
cafes to be found in urban centres around the country.
Accommodation
You will find good quality accommodation within the main routes popular
with business travelers and tourists. This includes Dar es Salaam,
Moshi, Arusha and the northern game parks such as Serengeti, Ngorongoro,
Tarangire and Manyara. In the parks, accommodation varies from 5 star
lodges and tented camps at the upper end to basic camping at the lower
end.
In Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar at the coast there is a wide range of
accommodation to meet the needs of most travelers. Camping is however
scarce outside the parks. Outside the main urban centres and tourist
routes finding rated accommodation is a doubtful proposition. See our
Tanzania Hotels & Lodges page to book accommodation for your business or
leisure travel needs.
Money
The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (Tsh). Visitors can take in
any amount of foreign currency, subject to declaration. Taking out of
foreign currency is limited to the amount declared upon arrival. Import
and export of Tanzanian currency is however prohibited. Major currencies
such as US dollars and now the Euro and travelers cheques can be
converted at major hotels, banks and forex bureaus in the main towns and
tourist areas.
In Tanzania plastic is not highly rated and credit cards are not widely
accepted. And when accepted the exchange rate is unfavorable. But it is
still a good idea to carry your credit cards, as the conversion rate
will not matter in case of urgent need. If saying at one of the bigger
hotels, however, your card will very likely be honored. Do not be
tempted to change money in the streets however favourable the exchange
rate may appear.
Climate
Zanzibar and the coastal areas are hot and humid and average daily
temperatures hover in the 30°C range. October to March is the hottest
period. Sea breezes however temper the regions' climate and June to
September is coolest with temperatures falling to 25°C. In the
Kilimanjaro area, temperatures vary from 15°C in May-August period to
22°C over December - March. As you head to the peaks of Kilimanjaro,
temperatures can drop to below freezing, especially at night.
The climate is temperate in the northern national parks. The central
plateau suffers a dry and arid climate with hot days and cool nights.
The highlands in the south and northeast are cool and temperate. For the
country as a whole the hottest months are October to February. The long
rains fall between March and May and the shorter wet season falls in
November.
International Travel
Tanzania's international air gateways are at Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and
Kilimanjaro (50 Km from Arusha). British Airways flies direct to Dar es
Salaam from London, taking about 11 hours. A few European carriers fly
to Dar es Salaam or Kilimanjaro via European hubs. Gulf Air and Emirates
fly to Dar es Salaam using mid eastern connections. Other airlines
flying to Tanzania include Air Tanzania - the national carrier, Air
India, Ethiopian Airlines, KLM, South African Airways and Swiss.
Tanzania can also be reached through regional hubs at Nairobi and
Johannesburg and to a lesser extent Addis Ababa. There are more flights
into Nairobi than Kilimanjaro and a popular route for those heading for
the northern parks is to fly into Nairobi and then connect to Arusha by
shuttle bus service. There is a ferry service between Mombasa in Kenya and
Dar es Salaam. On Lake Tanganyika, a passenger service runs from Kigoma
to Bujumbura in Burundi, Congo (DRC) and Mpulunga in Zambia.
The Tanzania - Zambia Railway Authority runs a passenger train service
from Dar es Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia. But note that you will
need to change trains at the border. Tanzania has good road links to
Kenya and Zambia. Road connections to Rwanda and Mozambique are poor and
are adequate only for those traveling for adventure.
Local Travel
All the major towns in Tanzania are connected by tarmac all weather roads.
But outside this network, quality deteriorates. You can enjoy speedy
connections by bus or car to Arusha, Morogoro, Moshi, Lushoto, Tanga and
Dar es Salaam. It is useful to find out first the quality of the roads
and estimated travel time when traveling overland. Between Air Tanzania
and Precision Air you will access the main internal routes. Check out
our Tanzania Domestic Flights page to do your reservation for scheduled
services. Charter flights are available mainly from Arusha, Mwanza, Dar
es Salaam and Zanzibar to other parts of the country.
Rental cars are reliably available from Arusha, Dar es Salaam and
Zanzibar. See our Tanzania Car Rental page to do your reservation for a
self-drive or chauffer driven vehicle. Rail service is available to the
main towns except Arusha. Long haul bus service can connect you to the
main towns in the country. It is advisable to find out beforehand if the
quality of rail and long haul bus service is acceptable to you. For
short haul travel, the popular way to get around is by means of dalla
dalla (shared taxi).
Travel Insurance
Health and the usual travel insurance are recommended. Ensure your travel
insurance includes emergency evacuation.
What to Wear
Tanzania never really gets cold and light clothing is recommended. Warmer
clothing such as sweaters is however necessary to get you through the
evenings and early mornings if you are heading for the highlands.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro of course requires special clothing and
shoes.
On safari, bright coloured clothing may get you in trouble with wild
animals. If you are wise you will pack brown, beige and khaki clothing.
Short sleeve shirts, shorts and trouser for men are sufficient. For
ladies, short sleeve blouses, slacks and skirts are ideal though in the
national parks and touristy places such as Arusha and Dar es Salaam you
may get along with shorts (not too short) and trousers.
At the coast and Zanzibar where Muslims are predominant women need to
dress modestly so as not to offend local sensibilities. But swimwear is
perfectly acceptable at beaches and hotel premises. Nudity is totally
unacceptable in the whole country. It is advisable to travel light and
some safari and air charters have a baggage limit of 10-15 kilograms
maximum.
You will hear varying ideas about the timing of your trip, but keep in
mind that people travel year round to all the destinations on this
website. Each season has its advantages, so if you have fixed dates for
travel, chances are you will be able to have a great trip no matter
where you are going. It is important to understand the seasonal trends
and how they will affect your trip; but remember that weather is
variable and so it is quite possible to go for days without rain during
the peak of the rainy season, or have thundershowers in the middle of
the dry season. The drier seasons are generally considered preferable
for game viewing. Dry weather offers more reliable road conditions and
in the winter months, milder daytime temperatures. Dry spells force game
to congregate around the limited water sources, and sparser foliage
makes the animals somewhat easier to Amani and see. While these are
prime game viewing conditions, bear in mind that naturally, all
properties enjoy their highest occupancy, and game reserves and parks
endure more traffic, during these dry seasons. When considering smaller,
more intimate, safari camps and lodges, it is necessary to book well in
advance, particularly for travel from June through October.
EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA
The long rains are from early April through early June, and the short
rains from late November through December. It is often less expensive to
travel during these rainy seasons. Dry seasons offer excellent
visibility and more reliable road conditions, and game tends to
congregate around the limited water sources, making the animals easier
to Amani. July and August are generally extremely busy in East Africa,
offering comfortable temperatures in addition to being a popular time
for travel worldwide, so be sure to book well in advance. December sees
increased local tourism, so expect holiday surcharges and limited
availability. In the Masai Mara and Serengeti, the movements of the
migrating wildebeest contribute to the desirability of certain areas at
certain times, and this might influence your itinerary, selections or
costs.
