Travel Guide to Tanzania

Tanzania is the home of Africa's highest mountain, the world-famous Kilimanjaro, the country has dozens of beaches such as those found in Zanzibar and world-appreciated national parks like the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Top Destinations

Ngorongoro Crater - in Northwest Tanzania contains an old volcano that has collapsed with the steep sides of the crater a natural enclosure for a wide variety of wildlife.
Serengeti National Park - a large conservation area in the north of Tanzania which flows over into Kenya where it's known as the Masai Mara.
Zanzibar - semi-autonomous archipelago off the coast of Tanzania.
Tarangire National Park - famous for its huge number of elephants, baobab trees and tree climbing lions.
Lake Manyara National Park - in Northeast Tanzania with great elephant sightings and an endless sea of flamingos that make the lake appear almost pink.
Mt. Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest peak and the world's highest freestanding mountain. You can climb it with the help of a guide.
Selous Game Reserve - remote and one of the biggest game reserve in Africa.
Ruaha National Park - in Central Tanzania has an abundance of wildlife in a somewhat remote location.

Wildlife Viewing

When visiting wildlife parks be sure to stay as close to the viewing areas (center of the parks) as possible and leave as soon as you can in the morning as animals are typically most active soon after sunrise.

- Serengeti National Park hosts a wide range of wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, hippopotamuses, elephants, zebra, buffalo, water buck, crocodiles, gazelle, warthogs, and wildebeest. One major attraction is the wildebeest migration, which occurs continuously between the Serengeti and Masai Mara (Kenya).
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area also hosts an abundance of wildlife, particularly in the Ngorongoro crater. Ngorongoro consists of the highlands around the crater (rich in elephants) and the crater itself (similar animals to Serengeti, but at higher densities and with a small population of black rhino).
- Ruaha National Park and Selous Game Reserve are very enjoyable and you'll find much greater variety of wildlife than you would in the Serengeti. Ruaha is known for having the largest elephant and giraffe population of any park in Africa. Selous is the only other place besides Ngorongoro where you may see a rhino.
- Tarangire National Park is similar to Serengeti and has a high concentrations of wildlife during the dry seasons. Also, over 570 bird species have been identified, and the place is surely a birdwatchers' paradise.

Seasons

There are no discernible seasons, such as winter and summer - only the dry and wet seasons. Tanzania has two rainy seasons: The short rains from late-October to late-December and the long rains from March to May.

Many popular resorts and tourist attractions on Zanzibar close during the long rains season, and many trails in the national parks are impassable during this period.

Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa, world famous for its national parks and conservation areas and with some of the best, most unspoiled beaches in the world.

Tanzanias national parks and conservation areas cover an area in excess of 200 000 square kilometres. On a Tanzania safari one can gaze in awe as millions of herbivores cross the Serengeti in their annual migration, marvel at the Ngorongoro Crater, the worlds largest unbroken caldera and explore the remote Selous Game Reserve.

Tanzania Visitors Information

Population

37,187,939

Cities

Capital: Dodoma
Largest city: Dar es Salaam

Language
Kiswahili or Swahili (official); English (official, commerce); Arabic (in Zanzibar), and many local languages.

Time

UTC +3

Electricity

230V/50Hz (Indian or UK plug).

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.

Visas

All visitors require a visa except citizens of some African and commonwealth countries. It is advisable to obtain visa's in advance as some airlines may require it before allowing you to board.

You can also be issued with a visa on arrival at Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro international airports, but still need to obtain entry permit clearance.

Passports must be valid for at least six months.

Health and Vaccinations

Visitors entering Tanzania from yellow fever infected areas require yellow fever international certificate of vaccination. The northwestern forest region is considered a high-risk area for yellow fever.

Many countries (including South Africa) insist on a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you've been traveling to Tanzania.

- 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
- 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 centres.

Entry Points

There are two major airports; one in Dar es Salaam, Julius Nyerere International Airport and one in Kilimanjaro which is halfway between Arusha and Moshi.

Climate

Tanzania's weather varies from humid and hot in low lying areas, such as Dar es Salaam, to hot during the day and cool at night in Arusha. There are no discernible seasons, such as winter and summer -- only the dry and wet seasons. Tanzania has two rainy seasons: The short rains from late-October to late-December and the long rains from March to May.

Many popular resorts and tourist attractions on Zanzibar and Mafia Island Marine Park close during the long rains season, and many trails in the national parks are impassable during this period.

Best times to visit

- June to August: This is the tail-end of the long rainy season and the weather is at its best at this time of year -- bearable during the day and cool in the evening. However, this is not necessarily the best time of year for safaris, as water is plentiful in the parks and animals are not forced to congregate in a few locations to rehydrate, as they do in the middle of the dry season right after Christmas.

- January to February: This is the best time to visit the Serengeti. It is usually at this time that huge herds of Wildebeest, Zebra and Buffalo migrate to better grazing areas. Be advised this is most likely the hottest time of year.

Clothing

Tropical clothing is worn throughout the year, but in the cooler season, from June to September, jackets and sweaters may be needed, especially in the evenings. Clothing appropriate to temperatures below zero is required on the higher slopes of Kilimanjaro and Meru.

Also note that it can get very cold at night on the Ngorongoro Crater and early morning game drives may be chilly before the sun comes up.

Transport

There are two major airports; one in Dar es Salaam, nd one in Kilimanjaro - which is halfway between Arusha and Moshi. Regional Air provides almost daily service to all major cities, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, Mbeya, Zanzibar, and most national parks.

The bus is the most common way to travel around in Tanzania. Most buses have a simple design, and the roads are poor, although 1st class air-con buses are available on the Dar-Moshi-Arusha route. Nearly all buses go in and out of Dar es Salaam.

If you can afford it, flying around Tanzania is faster and safer.

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. Major currencies such as US dollars and the Euro and travelers cheques can be converted at major hotels, banks and forex bureaus in the main towns and tourist areas.

In Tanzania credit cards are not widely accepted. And when accepted the exchange rate is unfavorable.

See Wikipedia for more information.