8 Day Zanzibar: Stone Town and Nungwi

The name Tanzania conjures up images of wildebeest stampeding across the savannah, forests teeming with monkeys and birdlife, and plains brimming with legions of game. All of these natural wonders and more are on offer in this diverse African nation. Visitors typically visit Tanzania to partake in at least one of the three popular Tanzanian tourist experiences: an exotic seaside vacation on the island paradise of Zanzibar, a safari adventure in some of Africa’s most impressive game reserves, or a hiking excursion around Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. Whichever of these holidays you choose, you will be welcomed by friendly locals who, despite being divided into 120 different ethnic groups and cultures, live in harmony with one another.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Tanzanian Shilling, which is divided into 100 Cents. Notes are issued in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10000 Shillings. Coins are issued in denominations of 50, 100 and 200 Shillings.

Banking

Banks are open from 9:00am to 3:00pm Monday to Friday. Many banks are equipped with 24-hour ATM machines.

Credit cards and travellers checks are not widely accepted in Tanzania. Where they are accepted, you can expect high service fees and poor exchange rates. Major foreign currencies – particularly US Dollars – are widely accepted in Tanzania and are convertible at banks and bureau de changes in the main towns and tourist areas. If bringing cash in US Dollars, please make sure bank notes are in good condition, with no cuts or damages and are not older than 2004.

Roads in most of the wilderness and village areas are in poor condition and unmarked. For this reason, self-driving is not recommended. Operators will supply you with a driver who doubles as an informal guide. Elsewhere in Tanzania, towns and cities are linked by a steady stream of buses and dala-dalas (minibuses).

Precision Air runs regular services – mostly via Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar – to all main towns and other destinations in East Africa. All national parks and some of the top-end luxury lodges have airstrips. Coastal Air operates between these, as well as between the main airports on the mainland and the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia. ZanAir has frequent connections between Zanzibar, Pemba and the mainland.

Most camps, lodges or hotels cater specifically to tourists and serve Western-style food. When venturing into the city and village centres, you can expect a wide variety of food including plenty of seafood dishes.

Tap water in Tanzania is generally not safe to drink, so it is suggested to only drink bottled or filtered water. Most camps, lodges and hotels have bottled water readily available.

The sheer size of Tanzania means the climate varies considerably. Generally, the main rainy season occurs from March to May. Afternoon tropical downpours are the norm – which are heavier and more predictable along the coast and on the islands. The humidity is high and daily temperatures reach the low- to mid-30°s.

The long dry season lasts throughout June to October. Temperatures vary with altitude and location, but it's usually a fine, clear sky and sunny weather. This is the ideal time to visit Tanzania.

During November and December, there is another rainy season known as the 'short rains'. These are much lighter than the main rains and less reliable.

January and February is Tanzania's 'short dry season', where you can expect humid weather and days of unrelenting sunshine.

Because of Tanzania’s generally warm climate, lightweight clothing is recommended. While on a game drive, avoid brightly coloured clothing, opting for whites, beiges, khakis and browns instead. The evenings might get chilly, so long sleeved shirts and trousers should be worn. A hat should be worn at all times when outside. The sun may sometimes not feel hot, but it can still burn easily, especially if it is cloudy and overcast.

If visiting Zanzibar or any coastal town, don't forget to take a swimsuit. On the beaches and within the confines of hotels, normal swimwear and clothing is acceptable. However, in the villages and town centres, men and women are required to cover their thighs, chests and shoulders. Because Zanzibar is a Muslim destination, travellers should make an effort to dress modestly as very short shorts, miniskirts, vests and tank tops will be frowned upon.

Tanzania has good Internet Service Providers with email and internet services offered by many hotels and lodges (free / paid). In most towns there are plenty of private business centres and cyber cafes offering email and internet access, although the speeds might be somewhat slower than what you are used to.