About Tanzania
Tanzania Travel Guide
» Introduction to Tanzania » Tanzania Time Zone » Weather and Seasons » Money, Currency and Cards in Tanzania » Health Advice for Tanzania » Electricity and Plugs in Tanzania » Safety, Security and Travel Advice » Tanzania National Events » National Holidays in Tanzania » Facts and Figures (World Factbook) » Flights to Tanzania » Tanzania Visas » National Parks » Places to See » Books and Maps
Introduction to Tanzania
Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa. Situated south of the equator between 1° and 12° south, it has a long coastline of nearly 1,000 km on the Indian Ocean. It is bordered by Kenya and Uganda on the north, by Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia on the south and by Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo on the west. There is a fairly narrow coastal plain in the east, but most of the interior consists of a plateau 900 to 1,500 metres above sea level. There are a number of mountain ranges which rise to between 2,100 to 3,000 metres. In the north of the country the isolated peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, rises to nearly 6,000 metres.
Given its unique geography, Tanzania is a land of spectacular beauty. One of the most popular safari destinations in Africa, Tanzania's contrasts are remarkable - from big game viewing on the great plains of the Serengeti to trekking to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, or perhaps relaxing on the tropical white sand beaches of Zanzibar. With tropical coastal lowlands, idyllic Indian Ocean islands, volcanic highlands and the Great Rift Valley, Tanzania is the only country in the world which has allocated at least 25 per cent of its total area to creating national parks and protected areas for wildlife. Tanzania is a simply wonderful destination for anyone seeking a superb safari, beach, honeymoon or walking holiday in East Africa.
Time Zone
The local time in Tanzania is GMT +3.
Weather and Seasons
Because Tanzania lies below the equator, the coolest months occur during the northern hemisphere’s summer, and all-year round the weather remains pleasant and comfortable. Between June to October, temperatures range from around 10°C in the northern highlands to about 23°C on the coast. On the plains and the lower-altitude game reserves, the temperatures from June to October are warm and mild. On the coast, these months are some of the most pleasant to visit, with balmy, sunny weather much of the day and cooling ocean breezes at night.
From December to March, the days are hot and sunny with often not a cloud in the sky. Temperatures range from the mid-twenties to the low thirties throughout the country while visitors flock to the parks and beaches to escape the dreariness of late winter in colder climes. Clear sunny days are the norm in the northern highlands and the heat of mid-day is tempered by the golden light in late afternoon and the especially striking sunsets. In the game parks and central plains, the beautiful weather provides perfect opportunities for unhampered game viewing, and clear night skies offer perfect opportunities for star-gazing and romantic evenings in the bush. On the shores of the Swahili Coast, the Indian Ocean reaches its highest temperatures and is ideal for swimming at any time of day or night.
Seasons:
June-July Cool and dry
August-October Cool, dry season with pleasant temperatures and excellent weather
November Short rains, but often unreliable running into December
December-March Hot season, mainly dry with showers and increasing humidity
April-May Long rains, very wet with heavy downpours lasting all day
Tanzania’s equatorial climate brings two seasons of rain each year: the masika, or long rains that fall during April and May, and the mvuli, or short rains, that come intermittently throughout November and parts of December, and sometimes stretch into early January. During the long rains, heavy showers fall in the early mornings but usually clear up by mid-day, with the weather often remaining clear and sunny until late afternoon. By evening, impressive cloud formations build, breaking sometime after dark and the rain often continues throughout the night. During the short rains, light showers in the mornings and late afternoons are punctuated by stretches of clear weather and beautiful rays of sunlight. The beginning of both rainy seasons is marked by a change in the winds which historically, marked the time for trading boats to set off on expeditions across the Indian Ocean or return to their native lands.
Daily weather conditions, detailed 5-day forecasts and historical temperature and rainfall averages for many of Tanzania's towns can be viewed at Weather Underground.
Money, Currency and Cards in Tanzania
Local Currency:
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). There are 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, 500 and 200 notes and 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 shilling coins. US dollars are the main international currency and are usually always accepted in hotels, restaurants, national parks fees, large shops.
Money Exchange:
Cash can be exchanged in banks in all major towns, though you may need to be prepared to queue. In the larger towns, there are Foreign Exchange shops which tend to be faster than banks. Rates can vary everywhere so it is always best to shop around. If you are exchanging US dollars you will often get a better rate for larger denomination notes.ATM's:
Are becoming more widely available; however, they are subject to breakdowns and should not be relied upon. For more information check the Visa ATM locator, the MasterCard ATM locator or the American Express ATM locator for the addresses of ATMs around the world.Credit Cards:
Are accepted by some large restaurants, shops and hotels, always check in advance, some establishments will charge commission for this service. Credit cards and debit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity.Travellers Cheques:
In US dollars, pounds sterling and euros can be changed in banks and exchange bureau.Other Information:
You can re-convert Tanzania shillings into hard currency at Dar Es Salaam or Kilimajaro International Airports or in Exchange shops, make sure that you keep some of your exchange receipts, rates will always be poor.» Return to list of contents
Health Advice for Tanzania
Vaccinations:
Current advice and recommendations indicate that there are no mandatory required vaccines for Tanzania. Recommended vaccinations include Diphtheria, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Typhoid Fever, Yellow Fever. Vaccinations to be considered (depending on where you intend to visit in Tanzania, where you plan to stay, and what you intend to do) include Polio, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Meningococcal Meningitis, Cholera and Tuberculosis (TB).
Malaria:
Malaria is a risk in Tanzania predominantly due to 'P. falciparum' which exists throughout the year in the whole country below 1800 metres. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine have been reported. Recommended prevention includes protection against mosquito bites (cover-up at night with long sleeves and trousers, use of repellent, sprays, coils and sleeping under mosquito nets) plus use of mefloquine, doxycycline or atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone) tablets. We strongly advise all travellers to consult their local Travel Health Clinic, GP and highly respected online sources detailed below, for further information and advice on health requirements for Tanzania.
Fit for Travel is a public access website provided by the NHS (Scotland). It gives travel health information for people travelling abroad from the UK. The website is compiled and updated by a team of experts from the Travel Medicine Division at Health Protection Scotland (HPS). They produce detailed health advice for travellers to Tanzania.
MASTA offer a comprehensive Tanzania Health Brief. These are very detailed but do incur a small charge. Their Tanzania Health Brief provides travel and medical advice specifically tailored to your journey, expected living conditions abroad and dates of travel.
World Health Organisation (WHO) publish a very detailed guide 'International Travel and Health'. This publication offers guidance on the full range of health risks likely to be encountered at specific destinations and associated with different types of travel – from business, humanitarian and leisure travel to backpacking and adventure tours.
Malaria Hotspots is a good source of information for facts about Malaria, health and tips to avoid bites.
» Return to list of contents
Electricity and Plugs in Tanzania
Electricity:
Voltage in Tanzania is 230 V. Frequency is 50 Hz. Plug & Sockets:
These vary in Tanzania. Generally, there are two types of electrical sockets used in Tanzania, the British BS-1363 (3 rectangular pins) and Indian BS-546 (old British round pin with grounding pin) sockets.
Safety, Security and Travel Advice
Safety, Security and Travel Advice
For up-to-date information on safety, security and general travel advice for Tanzania we recommend that you consult the government sources detailed below. Generally, travelling on an organised, pre-arranged safari, tour or holiday in a country such as Tanzania, with a reputable Tour Operator such as ourselves, does offer a greater degree of security and peace of mind than independent travel and 'backpacking'. In addition to our many years of experience of operating holidays to Tanzania, we only work with long-established and well-connected local operators, who have exceptional local knowledge and are fully aware of 'high risk' areas (which we do not schedule on our safaris and holidays).
Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) - Tanzania Travel Advice
Stay Safe Overseas - Know Before You Go
The U.S. Department of State - Tanzania Country Advice
Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC) - Tanzania Travel Report
» Return to list of contents
Tanzania National Events
Event |
|
|
| Zanzibar Music Festival | February | Zanzibar Music Festival of Sauti za Busara |
| Goat Racing | May | Dar Es Salaam Goat Races |
| Craft Fair | June | Tanzanian Handicraft Fair in Dar Es Salaam |
| Wildebeest Migration | June/November | Wildebeest migrate across the Serengeti |
| Zanzibar Film Festival | July | Showings of both African and International films |
National Holidays
01 Jan 10 - New Year's Day; 12 Jan 10 - Zanzibar Revolution Day; 26 Feb 10 - The Prophets Birthday (Muslim); 02 Apr 10 - Good Friday; 05 Apr 10 - Easter Monday; 26 Apr 10 - Union Day; 01 May 10 - Labour Day; 07 Jul 10 - International Trade Fair Day; 08 Aug 10 - Farmer's Day; 11 Aug 10 - Eid al Fitr - End of Ramadan (Muslim); 14 Oct 10 - Nyerere Day; 16 Nov 10 - Eid al Adha - Feast of Sacrifice (Muslim); 09 Dec 10 - Independence Day; 25 Dec 10 - Christmas Day.
» Return to list of contents
