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Area
Approximately 945 000 sq.km (365,000 sq.miles). It is the largest country in East Africa, and is approximately half the size of Western Europe. The majority of the country consists of savanna and desert bush. The coastline has over 800km (500miles) of unspoilt white sandy beaches.
Neighbouring Countries
Anti-clockwise from north, Tanzania shares borders with Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
Time Zone
GMT + 3; EST + 8. No daylight-saving time.
Population
Approximately 35 million.
Capital City
Dodoma - Administrative capital / Dar es Salaam - Business capital.
Languages
Kiswahili and English are the official languages. English is mainly spoken in larger cities only. Kiswahili is the lingua franca in Eastern Africa, but there are numerous other languages and dialects associated with Tanzania 129 officially recognized tribes.
Ethnic Groups |
| Mainland: |
Native African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (Asian, European and Arab). |
| Zanzibar: |
Swahili, native African, Arab, Indian and Chinese. |
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Religion
| Mainland: |
Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 20% |
| Zanzibar: |
Over 99% Muslim, additional 1% made up of Hindu, Christian and Zoroastrian. |
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Public Holidays
Unless otherwise advised, the public holidays in Tanzania remain the same every year. If any of the public holidays listed below falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the holiday moved to the following Monday. |
01 January
12 January
05 February
04 April
17 April
26 April
01 May
07 July
08 August
09 December
25 December
26 December |
New Year
Zanzibar Revolution Day
CCM Foundation Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Union Day
Worker's Day
Industrial Day
Nane Nane (Farmers' Day)
Independence Day
Christmas Day
Boxing Day |
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Islamic holidays change from year to year and may vary by 1-2 days, depending on the sighting of the new moon.
September to October Ramadan
October Eid el Fitr (end of Ramadan) |
Money Matters
| Currency: |
Tanzania shilling (TSh or TZs) divided into 100 cents, which are rarely used. |
| Exchange: |
You should have no problem changing cash or travelers' cheques in major towns (they also offer a better rate). When taking cash US$ are preferred and Tanzania only except Dollars with the large heads. There is no black market, and the people who approach you offering to exchange money are simply asking to rob you. As a general rule banks offer a better rate, especially on travelers' cheques. The National Bank of Commerce (NBC) seems to offer the best rates. |
| Travellers' Cheques: |
Travelers' cheques in pounds sterling, Euros or US dollars are recommended, though it may be difficult to exchange them outside the main cities. They are accepted at National Parks for fees and though rates are always lower than cash, the difference is minuscule. Many banks and bureau de change will not cash them without the receipt, normally kept separate for security purposes. |
| Credit Cards: |
This should be your last option. Master Card, Visa & American Express are accepted only at major lodges, hotels and travel agents. A surcharge anything from 5 - 15% commission may be added for this service. Please note: Where credit cards are accepted, the payments will normally be recorded in US$ regardless of the card's default currency. |
| ATM's: |
ATM's and 24-hour cash machines are available in branches of major banks in Tanzania and Zanzibar but they often go down for lengthy periods of time. |
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Electricity
230V, 50Hz, Sockets are UK style, 3 pin square plugs. |
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Communication
International Dialing code is +255. The outgoing international code is 00 for the United States, or 000 for all other countries (e.g. 00027 for South Africa). Public call boxes in post offices and main towns operate on a card system, available from most small shops. Several cellular phone companies operate in Tanzania and roaming lines work near most major cities and towns. Internet cafes are plentiful in major city centres. |
Climate
Tanzania's climate is predominately tropical and can be visited during all seasons. Coastal areas are usually hot and humid, but on the beaches a sea breeze cools the air considerably. The average day temperature is 30C. The hilly area between the coast and the northern highlands averages a pleasant 20C from Jan - Sept, while mountainous areas register lows of 12C in May to Aug.
Tanzania has two rainy seasons - the long rains from late March to June and the short rains from November to January. The long rains fall in heavy downpours, often accompanied by violent storms, but the short rains tend to be much less severe. The hottest time of the year is from December to March, before the long rains begin. The coolest months are June, July and August, when the weather is often overcast. In high-altitude areas such as Kilimanjaro and the Ngorongoro Highlands, temperatures can fall below freezing. |
Best times to visit
Northern Tanzania
Southern Tanzania
Zanzibar and the coast
Western Tanzania |
July to March
June to March
June to March
May to March |
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Security
Tanzania is a safe country to travel in. Tanzanians are warm-hearted and generous people and are eager to help visitors get the most out of their stay. Tanzania is a politically stable, multi-democratic country. As in all countries, a little common sense goes a long way and reasonable precautions should still be taken, such as locking valuables in the hotel safe and not walking alone at night. |
Food & Water
Food throughout most areas of East Africa is similar. Whenever a dish has a Swahili name, it invariably contains coconut and/or bananas. There is coconut milk in curry, soups, vegetables, egg dishes, fish, meat and poultry, as well as in dessert dishes. The bananas are used in meat stews as well as with fish and poultry. Ugali, the perennial cornmeal porridge, is the major staple. Rice is also frequently eaten. |
Tanzania national drinks:
- Beer - Safari or Kilimanjaro lager which is produced loclly
- Konyagi is a popular gin
- A chocolate and coconut liqueur called Afrikoko
- A wine called Dodoma, which comes in red or rosé
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Photography
Ensure you bring enough camera film/memory cards with you for your entire stay - and then some more. Film is not always available, and specialist films are very hard to get in Tanzania. Please be careful when photographing public buildings, airports, bridges, the national flag and people in uniform. If you do not get permission then do not take a picture. If in doubt, don't photograph it! Please make sure permission has been sought before photographing local people, and their villages. They may charge for pictures to be taken. Please check with your guide. High-speed film is recommended for those using print film. |
Wildlife Books & Binoculars
When visiting wildlife areas it is essential that participants have a pair of binoculars for their personal use, in order to benefit fully from the safari. Also please bring your preffered wildlife & bird books with you. Our safari vehicle has x 1 binoculars and x 1 wildlife book. |
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| eXplore Plus tips for Safari |
- Do not travel without travel insurance
- Keep you own small medical kit with you with basics - just in case you need it
- Bring snacks you can enjoy while doing game drives - you are allowed to take biltong into Tanzania
- Take extra Ziploc or plastic bags to protect your camera or binoculars from dusk
- Drink only bottle water
- Wet wipes
- You are very close to the equator - use a high factor lip balm & sun block
- If you love coffee or tea, please take a thermal flask with you
- Take extra batteries and for camera
- Please make copy of your e-tickets and your passport and keep it separately
- Always keep emergency number close by
- Keep your travel insurance details with you
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