About Zimba and the Motherland Tanzania

Tanzania Summary Facts

Capital City: Dodoma

Total Area: 943,000 sq km.

Population: 40 million people

Languages: English and Swahili.

Religions: Christians 40% to 45%, Muslims 35% to 40%, traditional beliefs are also important.

Government: Republic.

Independence Date: 9th of December 1961.

Agriculture: Coffee, Tea, Cotton, sisal, cloves.

Climate: Tropical

The United Republic of Tanzania is a nation in central East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south. The country’s eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.

The United Republic of Tanzania is a unitary republic composed of 26 mikoa (regions). The current head of state is President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, elected in 2005. Since 1996, the official capital of Tanzania has been Dodoma, where parliament and some government offices are located. Between independence and 1996 the major coastal city of Dar es Salaam had been the country’s political capital. Today Dar es Salaam remains the principal commercial city of Tanzania and the de-facto seat of most government institutions. It is the major seaport for the country and its landlocked neighbours.

The name Tanzania is a portmanteau of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. The two states united in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which later the same year was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania.

Passport & Visa

All visitors to Tanzania require a return or onward ticket and a valid passport with an entry or re-entry visa, duly endorsed. Visas are not required for visitors from some Commonwealth countries and other specified countries. Visas can be obtained from any Tanzania Diplomatic Mission or Consulate abroad, and at main entry points including international airports, sea ports and border posts. Kindly visit Tanzania e-VISA page for more information.

Vaccinations Needed for Tanzania

For vaccination services, you can go to the Regional Health Service or the tropical medicine clinic of a hospital.

The following vaccinations are recommended:

For travelers going to Tanzania: yellow fever, hepatitis A and a combined tetanus, diphtheria and inactivated polio vaccine (Td/IPV). Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is required if you are traveling to Tanzania from countries that have Yellow Fever Endemic or travelers who transit in Yellow Fever Endemic Areas, only if the transit period at the airport is 12 hours or more.

Other diseases that occur in Tanzania are: abdominal typhus, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, rabies and meningococcal disease. It is best to consult a qualified travel medical specialist on whether immunization is relevant in your case.

Malaria in Tanzania

There is no vaccine available against malaria. We recommend the use of anti-malarial medication, but again, it is best to take this up with a travel medical specialist. Malaria is an infectious disease that is caused by a parasite. You get it from the bite of a mosquito that carries the parasite. These parasites multiply first in the liver cells and then in the red cells of the blood. The symptoms include shaking chills, followed by fever, usually preceded by flu-like illness. To protect yourself against mosquito bites, you can spray yourself with insect repellent containing DEET and make sure to cover your body properly if you are outside after sunset..

Departures

An airport tax of US$ 30.00 is levied on all visitors departing the country by air. In many instances, this fee is included in your airline ticket. Visitors departing by air from Kenya must pay at the airport, however. Baggage is weighed at check-in counters and may be inspected by Custom officials. Airport departure tax for domestic flights is about US$ 6.00. All fees are subject to change. There is no departure tax when travelling by road.

Local and International Airlines Operating in Tanzania

British Airways fly direct to Dar es Salaam from Heathrow, three times weekly. KLM fly from Zurich to Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro and Swiss Air from Zurich to Dar es Salaam. Air India flies to Dar es Salaam via Mumbai, Emirates flies via Dubai and Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa. Check with your local travel agent for other airlines that operate to Tanzania via Europe and the Middle East. Regional carriers into Tanzania include Air Tanzania, Kenya Airways, Precision Air and South African Airways. Domestic carriers include Air Tanzania and Coastal Aviation. Precision Air, Regional Air Services and ZanAir link the major cities, tourist attractions and game parks in Tanzania. Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Coastal Aviation and ZanAir fly between the mainland and Zanzibar. International flights serve Dar es Salaam International Airport (DAR) recently named “Julius Nyerere International Airport” which is eight miles from Dar es Salaam city centre and Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), just 31 miles from the main town center of Arusha. Zanzibar Kisuani Airport (ZNZ) is just five miles from Kisauni.

We can help you book or hire regional/local flights and charters in Tanzania. We advise you to book for your International flights.

An airport tax of US$100 for US Citizens and US$50 for the rest of the world is levied (this is not fixed), which may be included in the price of air ticket. Note that this may change and should be confirmed while booking your flight. .

Other Languages in Tanzania

The national language is Kiswahili but English is widely spoken and is the language of the tourist trade and other international businesses.

Climate in Tanzania

The climate is tropical. The coastal areas are hot and humid with an average day temperature of 30 degrees centigrade. The central plateau is dry and arid with hot days and cool nights. In the northwest highlands around Arusha and Ngorongoro, the climate is temperate and cooler between June and September. The long rains are from March to May and the short rains fall between October and December. The hottest months are between October and February.

Time in Tanzania

Tanzania has only one time zone. Local time is GMT + 3 and Daylight Savings Time is not used.

Electricity in Tanzania

215 – 230 Volts, 50 Cycles AC

Currency in Tanzania

The unit of currency is the Tanzania Shilling (TShs) which is divided into 100 cents. Visitors can bring with them any amount of foreign currency but it is against the law to import or export Tanzania Currency. Foreign currency in cash or in travellers’ cheques may be exchanged at the commercial banks, authorised dealers, or at the bureau de changes operating at the international airports, major towns and border posts.

Game Reserves and Other Attractions in Tanzania

Serengeti National Park: A Safari Superstar

Synonymous with safari, the Serengeti is where to go in Tanzania for game viewing at its most dramatic. Hosting the lion’s share of the Wildebeest Migration (from about January to September), the Serengeti’s sheer size, accessibility, top-quality lodges and camps, and year-round abundance of wildlife make it one of the best safari destinations in Africa. It’s also a regular stop on the best Tanzania safari tours.

Ngorongoro Crater: Heaven for the Big 5

Take about 30 000 animals and place them inside the crater of an extinct volcano. Add wetlands, forest, grasslands and some out-of-this-world cliff-top accommodation, and the result is the Ngorongoro Crater. This superb Tanzania safari destination offers excellent game viewing in an unbelievably unique setting. It’s renowned for delivering the easiest and most reliable Big 5 sightings in East Africa, and it provides what is arguably the best safari in Tanzania.

Tarangire National Park: An Elephant Empire

Close to Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire is worth much more than the usual day visit. During the June to October dry season, animal – especially elephant – concentrations along the Tarangire River are among the highest in the country. The park’s bird count of more than 500 species means that a visit here is one of the most rewarding Tanzania safaris for twitchers, while its full range of large predators complete the appeal. Tarangire is a beautifully diverse wilderness featuring riverine forest, huge swamps and open woodlands that include Africa’s iconic baobab trees.

Lake Manyara National Park: Home to Tree-climbing Lions

Part of Tanzania’s famed Northern Safari Circuit, Lake Manyara offers easy game viewing in a beautiful setting. The park is home to a good range of heavyweight species, including buffalo, hippo, giraffe, elephant, leopard, and its famous tree-climbing lions. Lake Manyara is an exceptional bird-watching destination. You’ll often see flocks of pelicans and flamingos in the middle of the lake, and the floodplains, woodlands and evergreen forests are equally vibrant.

Arusha City: A Gateway to Safari

The undisputed safari capital of Tanzania, the city of Arusha is on the itinerary of virtually anyone visiting the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, as logistics often dictate an overnight layover in or around the city. Set in the shadow of Mount Meru, Arusha has its own international airport (Kilimanjaro International Airport) as well as the smaller Arusha Airport for charter flights to final destinations. If you spend some time in Arusha, you’ll have many opportunities to buy souvenirs, take in the cultural activities and visit local places of interest.

Zanzibar and Tanzania Islands: Indian Ocean Bliss

Crown your East Africa safari experience with a stay on Tanzania’s Spice Island: Zanzibar. Perfect for both families and honeymooners, it’s where to go in Tanzania for glorious beaches and coral reefs, dhow (traditional boat) trips at sunset, and exploring fragrant back-street markets. Tanzania’s other Indian Ocean islands won’t disappoint either. Pemba, Mafia and Chole are superlative beach holiday destinations with superb diving, exclusive boutique accommodation and all the indulgent pampering you could wish for.

Ruaha National Park: A Hidden Gem

Ruaha’s wild and unbridled character is what sets it apart from other safari destinations. This hidden gem is Tanzania’s biggest national park and there are only a handful of safari camps despite its size. You won’t see other tourists around – only a plethora of animals like buffalo, giraffe, kudu, sable, roan, lion, cheetah and leopard. It’s home to Tanzania’s biggest elephant population and a stronghold for rare African wild dogs.

Selous Game Reserve: A Wild Dog Sanctuary

Selous (pronounced ‘suh-loo’) is Africa’s largest game reserve – bigger than Switzerland. Its lifeblood, the colossal Rufiji River, forms an intricate network of channels, swamps and lakes from which one of East Africa’s most magnificent ecosystems is born. Buffalo, hippo, crocodile and lion thrive here, while the reserve is also one of Africa’s most important sanctuaries for endangered wild dogs. Don’t miss a boat safari, guided walk or fly-camping excursion in this breathtaking wilderness.

Lake Tanganyika: Rainforests and Chimpanzees

The world’s longest freshwater lake is hemmed in by the mountainous walls of the Great Rift Valley. It’s one of our planet’s most biologically rich habitats, not least due to the lakeside presence of the Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream National Parks. These two far-flung destinations are worth the effort it takes to get to them, as both deliver some of Tanzania’s most unique safari experiences: tropical rainforest wildlife viewing and remarkable chimpanzee trekking.

Mount Kilimanjaro: Africa’s Tallest Peak

Whether you’re content with standing in its mighty shadow or yearn to climb to its icy summit, the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro won’t fail to stir your soul. At 5 895 metres (19 340 feet), it’s Africa’s highest mountain and the tallest free-standing mountain on Earth. But its snow-capped peaks are far more accessible than you may think. If you climb Kili in the dry season between July and October or January and March, no technical climbing is required. But organizing and executing a hike to the summit does call for a fair amount of logistical planning.

Dar es Salaam: Access to the Islands

Most visitors to Dar es Salaam are on their way to Zanzibar or the Indian Ocean coast, but this thriving city provides easy access to Tanzania’s lesser-known reserves such as Selous. High-quality accommodation is available if you need to stay overnight.