TANZANIA NORTHERN HIGHLIGHTS – 10 DAYS

The name Tanzania conjures up images of wildebeest stampeding across vast savannah, rain forests teeming with monkeys and birdlife, and great plains brimming with legions of game. All of these natural wonders and more are on offer in this exceptionally diverse African nation. Visitors typically visit Tanzania to partake in at least one of the four well-known Tanzanian tourist experiences: a relaxing seaside vacation on the picturesque island paradise of Zanzibar, an underwater tour of some of the world’s most renowned dive sites around the gorgeous Spice Islands, a safari adventure in some of Africa’s most impressive game reserves, or a hiking excursion around Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. Whichever of these incredible holidays you choose, you will undoubtedly be welcomed by some fabulously friendly and peaceful inhabitants who, despite being divided into 120 different ethnic groups and cultures, live in harmony with one another and provide some of the most wonderfully exotic local cuisine you could imagine. With all of this diversity on offer, the most difficult part of your Tanzanian holiday experience is likely to be deciding where to go!

A passport with validity for at least six months beyond the last date of your stay in Tanzania is required.  Your passport must have 2 blank pages sitting side-by-side (a blank left side page sitting next to a blank right side page) to allow for official entry and exit stamps.  Please ensure you have additional pages as required for any other countries you may be visiting.

Visas are required for US passport holders entering Tanzania.  Travelers are strongly encouraged to obtain their visas in advance of arrival, online at: https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/. Visas can be secured upon arrival with payment of $100.00 per person, US currency, however this is no longer recommended and the wait times can be long. Requirements for passport holders of other countries vary. 

Proof of yellow fever inoculation (administered at least 10 days before arrival) is required ONLY WHEN travelers are arriving after having stayed in or transiting (more than 12 hours) through any yellow fever country.  Your (yellow) official medical card must be presented.

It is the sole responsibility of the traveler to understand and fulfill any entry requirements.

Currency

In Tanzania, 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 can high service fees and poor exchange rates be expected. Major foreign currencies - particularly US $ - are accepted in Tanzania and are convertible at banks and bureau de changes in the main towns and tourist areas. If bringing cash in US $, please make sure bank notes are in good condition, with no cuts or damage and are not older than 2004. Most banks offer higher exchange rates for US $ 100 / US $ 50 bank notes compared to US $ 20 / US $ 10 or US $ 5 bank notes.

Most camps, lodges or hotels cater specifically to tourists and serve Western-style food, ranging in standard, but generally excellent. Game lodges tend to offer a daily set menu with a limited selection, so it is advisable to have your tour operator specify in advance if you are a vegetarian or have other specific dietary requirements. First-time visitors to Africa might take note that most game lodges in and around the national parks have isolated locations, and driving within the parks is neither permitted nor advisable after dark, so that there is no realistic alternative to eating at your lodge. 

Tap water in Tanzania is generally not safe to drink, and most travelers try to stick to mineral water. Filtered and bottled water can be difficult to find you are travelling outside of main town and so it is advisable to stock up. Most camps, lodges and hotels have bottled water readily available.

Just south of the equator, Tanzania is huge and its sheer size means that the climate varies considerably within it. However, generally the main rainy season, or the 'long rains', lasts during about March through May.   During this time, afternoon tropical downpours are the norm, heavier and more predictable, the humidity is high and daily temperatures reach the mid-80's to mid-90's.

The long dry season lasts June through October, and rainfall is unusual during this time. Temperatures vary hugely with altitude and location, but it's usually a fine, clear sky and sunny weather – a great time to visit Tanzania.

During November and  December there's another rainy season: the 'short rains'. These are much lighter than the main rains and less reliable.  If it has rained during the short rains, then it normally dries up for a few months-- January and February-- which is Tanzania's 'short dry season', before starting to rain again in earnest in March.

It never gets really cold in Tanzania so lightweight clothing, preferably cotton or natural fiber, is recommended.  While on a game viewing safari, avoid brightly coloured clothing, stick to beiges, khakis and browns. There may be long days sitting in safari vehicles, so it is advisable to wear light comfortable clothing such as short sleeved shirts and cotton/linen trousers or shorts. Denim can become hot and uncomfortable. Comfortable walking shoes and socks will be your best footwear choice.

The evenings will be chilly, so long sleeved shirts and trousers should be worn.  A sweater may be needed. These will also prevent you being bitten by insects.  A hat should be worn at all times outside. The sun may sometimes not feel hot, but it can still easily burn, especially if it is cloudy and overcast.

If visiting Zanzibar or any coastal town don't forget to take a swimsuit, as it is invariably warm. Ladies are recommended to take cotton skirts, blouses and dresses. Sandals are a must for this environment! On the beaches and within the confines of hotels, normal swimwear is acceptable but nudity is not.

As over a third of the population in Tanzania is Muslim, it is therefore not polite etiquette for ladies to walk around in public displaying their legs and shoulders. Remember to dress modestly as short shorts, miniskirts, vests and tank tops will be frowned upon, especially on tours in Stone Town or when visiting any mosques or monuments.

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. 

Electrical sockets in Tanzania are one of three: Type G (BS-1363) and Type C (CEE 7/16 Europlug) and Type D (BS-546) electrical socket types: If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all types.

Electrical sockets in Tanzania usually supply electricity at 230 volts AC / 50 Hz frequency. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 230 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 230 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.