Visa requirements

Visas are required by almost all nationalities and can be obtained well in advance of departure. The cost of a visa is generally USD $50,- depending on your nationality. (Tourist Visa Fees for American citizens USD 100,-) Tourist visas are usually issued for a 3 month period. For those who do not have a visa before arriving in Tanzania it is possible to obtain a tourist visa for a single entry at any one of the four main ports of entry into Tanzania: Dar Es Salaam International Airport, Zanzibar International Airport, Kilimanjaro International Airport and Namanga border crossing (Tanzania-Kenya border point). To determine whether you require a visa to enter Tanzania, contact the Tanzanian Embassy in your country.

Health care

Tanzania has reintroduced health desks at all ports of entry. Please ensure that you bring your yellow fever vaccination certificate with you to show on entry if requested. For other vaccinations that may be required, please check with your local doctor or health agency at least 6 weeks before your departure. It is strongly advisable to take malaria prophylactics before, during and after your visit to Tanzania. In addition, take precautionary measures to reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes: use insect repellent, sleep under a mosquito net and wear a long-sleeved shirt, long trousers and closed shoes in the evenings.

TrueAfrica automatically organizes for all our guests to be covered by a medical evacuation scheme. In case of a medical emergency, you will be evacuated to a nearby hospital.

Climate
When to visit? Although Tanzania is located just south of the Equator, climate and temperature vary depending on altitude and proximity to the ocean. Temperatures on Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru drop to below freezing temperature, while the coast and lakeside regions are almost always hot and humid. Tanzania can be visited year-round, but the climate varies a lot between the rainy and dry season. There are two rainy seasons in the country – March to May (long rains) and the period from November to December (the lighter short rains).

Game viewing: The best time to visit Tanzania depends in many cases on which part of the country and which National Parks you like to visit. The TrueAfrica team is happy to advise you!

If you are visiting both the coast and inland areas you should be prepared for changes in temperature. Lightweight casual clothing can be worn all year round, with some warm clothes for early mornings and evenings. When on safari keep clothes to a minimum and mostly of neutral colouring - khakis, browns and greens. A sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellant are a must. It is also advisable to bring closed shoes (sneakers are fine) or good walking shoes if you are going to hike during your stay and do not forget swim wear, binoculars and a camera.
Especially in Zanzibar it is important for women to dress modestly and appropriately out of respect for Muslim beliefs. It is especially important to cover shoulders and knees. Of course, in the various lodges and camps and on the beaches of Zanzibar, it is perfectly fine to wear shorts and shirts or beach wear.


Money
The currency unit is the Tanzanian Shilling. There are numerous banks in the major towns as well as many bureau de change. Hours of business vary from bank to bank, but most are open from 9h00 to 15h00, Mondays to Fridays, and from 9h00 to 12h30 on Saturdays. Hotels and lodges change money outside of these hours. It is advisable to take US Dollars with you, which are accepted everywhere. It is possible to change hard currency and travelers’ cheques in most banks and bureau de change. You can get Tanzanian Shillings from one of the ATMs. Barclay’s Bank, Standard Chartered and Exim Bank can be found in the major towns and their ATMs accept Visa and/or Maestro. Guests are advised to check with their bank regarding ATM use in Tanzania. It is possible to withdraw Tanzanian Shillings upon arrival at Kilimanjaro & Dar es Salaam International Airports. However, Stone Town is the only place in Zanzibar where you can find an ATM, there are no such facilities elsewhere on the Island. Credit cards are accepted in the major hotels and tourist shops, but are not widely accepted in Tanzania and a charge of up to 20% may be levied. Carrying cash is therefore often necessary.
Exchange rate: Of course the rates change all the time, but to give you an idea:
1 USD is about 1300 Tsh - 1 Euro is about 1800 Tsh - 1 GBP is about 1950 Tsh


Flights
International Flights: Tanzania has three international airports (Kilimanjaro International Airport, Dar es Salaam International Airport and Zanzibar International Airport). These are the major airports and the hubs for many airlines arriving from Africa and Europe. Some guests prefer to fly into Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) due to the many connections from overseas. TrueAfrica does not arrange your overseas (international) flights; we do organize all domestic flights. There are various domestic airports and airfields connecting all major towns and safari destinations. Moreover, we can also book flights to/from Tanzania to/from Nairobi (Kenya), Entebbe (Uganda), Lusaka (Zambia), Kigali (Rwanda), Johannesburg and Cape Town (South Africa).
Concerning baggage: many international airlines have now introduced a baggage allowance of 45 kg per person. However, please be advised that on domestic flights this is limited to one soft sided bag per person with a maximum weight of 15 kg.

Communication
Email, internet and fax facilities are available in the bigger towns and at major hotels. A direct international dialing service is also available from the major hotels. The international dialing code for Tanzania is +255. If you intend to stay for a longer period of time in Tanzania our advice would be to buy a prepaid number. These cards can be bought almost everywhere and we recommend Celtel or Vodacom as providers. If you are traveling with TrueAfrica, we are happy to purchase a SIM card in advance and let you know the number so that you can give it to friends and relatives before you depart. However, we do recommend however to enjoy the bush and forget about time and all modern ways of communication and take in Africa as much as you can!

Electricity
Electricity is available at 220/240 volts AC, 50 Hz. Plugs are square three-pin, fused or unfazed. These plugs can be bought at certain local shops. Power supply is subject to cuts and voltage fluctuation. On safari most lodges power supplies are from generators, and these are often turned off during parts of the day and night to reduce noise and fuel consumption.

Tipping
If you are pleased with the service you are more than welcome to tip your guide or the staff in the various lodges and camps. Obviously, tipping is an extra reward for excellent service. TrueAfrica pays their guides, drivers and other staff and no one relies on tipping as a substitute for their salary. As a guideline for tipping your guide, you can leave 10 USD per traveler per day. Tipping is usually done at the end of your safari. Most lodges and camps have a tip box; you can tip the staff individually, place a tip for all the staff in the box or do both. Tips can be made in Tanzanian Shillings, US Dollars, Euros or Sterling.