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Entry requirements
All travelers must possess a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry plus a return ticket. These and any other relevant documents should be carried with you at time of entry as officers reserve the right of admittance. If travelling on business you will be required to present a letter indicating the nature of the trip and your business contact in Tanzania.
Visas are only valid for 3 months. They are frequently issued for a lesser period of time, in which case they may be extended at any immigration office. After 3 months, extensions are only granted under special circumstances. Visitors may obtain a visa on arrival at Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar airports.
GOOD ADVICE: Make photocopies of all important documents, including your passport, visas, travelers' cheques, insurance documents and vaccination certificates - this will ensure speedy replacement should they be stolen. Also, leave a copy of everything at home, with someone you can contact if you get into difficulties. |
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Getting there
Tanzania and Zanzibar are well served by International airlines. The points of entry are via Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar international airports. Air Tanzania has a daily flight from Johannesburg to Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar & Kilimanjaro airports.
Dar es Salaam International Airport:
Is located 15km southwest of Dar es Salaam and takes approximately 25 minutes to reach by car from downtown. Airport facilities include a duty-free shop, car hire, post office, banking and bureau de change, a bar and restaurant. Major international airlines flying to Dar es Salaam from Europe include KLM (via Amsterdam and Nairobi); Ethiopian Airlines (via Addis Ababa); Swissair (via Zurich); SAA (from Johannesburg); and British Airways (direct from London). Others include Emirates, Kenya Airways, Yemen Airways, Egypt Air and Air India.
Kilimanjaro International:
Is situated 40km from Arusha and takes approximately one hour to reach by car. Facilities include curio shops, a post office, a bar and restaurant. Shuttle bus services to the airport run regularly from both Arusha and Moshi. Major international Airlines flying to Kilimanjaro is: Precision Air (from Nairobi); Ethiopian Airlines, KLM and Air Tanzania.
Zanzibar International Airport:
Is located approximately 7km from the centre of Stone Town and takes approximately 15 minutes to reach by car. Facilities include a restaurant, bureau de change and curio shops. Major international Airlines flying to Zanzibar is: Air Tanzania, Kenya Airways and Precision Air. |
Getting Around
Tanzania's two main non-charter airlines are Air Tanzania and Precision Air, operating domestic flights. Service on both is generally good. For flights to the Zanzibar Archipelago you can make use of Coastal Aviation and ZanAir. Charter airlines are another option: prices are manageable if you can get a group together large enough to fill the plane (usually three- or five-seaters). |
Travellers with Disabilities
Disabled travelers to Tanzania have many practical difficulties and a frustrating lack of facilities, but find they are amazed at the help and understanding that they get from local people, Facilities for the disabled are not good in Tanzania. Even at the airport, everything is done manually - i.e., you are physically lifted on and off the plane. On the beaches there are no planks for wheelchair users. Even many streets in Stone Town are cobbled. |
Custom Regulations
There is nothing out of the ordinary with regard to customs regulations at Tanzanian entry points. Duty-free limits for those over the age of 16 are: 1 litre of wine or spirits; 0.5 litre of perfume; 200 cigarettes; 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco. Visitors buying local handcrafts must keep a receipt to present to custom officials on departure. |
Airport Tax
Departure tax from mainland Tanzania is included in the price of your ticket, however in Zanzibar there is a departure tax of $30 per person payable at the airport. This must be paid in hard currency, so save some cash to avoid delays. |
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Health Precautions
Travelers are advised to take medical advice at least three weeks before leaving for Tanzania. Those arriving from an infected country must hold a yellow fever vaccination certificate. There is a risk of malaria all year and most doctors will recommend medication. Cholera outbreaks are common throughout the country and visitors are advised to drink bottled or sterilised water only. Medical services are available in Dar es Salaam and other main towns, but facilities and supplies are limited; visitors with particular requirements should take their own medicines. Comprehensive medical insurance is advised. Have a dental check-up before you go and get a spare pair of prescription glasses if you wear them. If you are on medication, make sure you carry enough to last you, plus a prescription and letter from your doctor, to show to border officials who may suspect you of smuggling drugs.
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| Inoculations: |
Consult your travel clinic at about inoculations at least two months before you leave. A yellow fever inoculation is no longer required when entering Tanzania. Those arriving from South Africa or an infected country must hold a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Diphtheria and Tetanus vaccinations are also a good idea and Typhoid is recommended for stays over two weeks. Protection against tuberculosis is recommended for those living in the area for over three months, though the risk to travelers is low.
Guard your vaccination record as carefully as your passport.
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| Malaria: |
Malaria is one of the most serious health risks in East Africa. If you decide to protect yourself with anti-malarial tablets remember that none of them offer 100% protection, so it is wise to avoid getting bitten in the first place. The malaria-carrying female anopheles mosquito is only active between dusk and dawn. At these times, avoid perfumes and aftershave; make liberal use of insect repellent containing DEET; and wear light-coloured clothing that covers arms and legs and sleep under a mosquito net.
It is important to know that the most dangerous form of malaria often appears disguised as a heavy cold. If you start displaying flu-like symptoms at any stage within 6 months of your return home, you should consult a doctor immediately - be sure to tell them where you have been travelling.
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| Aids: |
Aids are a major problem in Tanzania, with up to a quarter of the sexually active population HIV positive. Avoid high-risk activities such as unprotected sex. Make sure your first-aid kit includes syringes suitable for Aids prevalent countries and avoid receiving blood transfusions, except in case of dire emergency and preferably only after consulting your consulate or embassy. |
| Hygiene: |
Many areas in Tanzania are subject to regular epidemics of cholera and dysentery due to poor sanitations and hygiene. Be conscientious about washing your hands regularly with soap and water. Good hotels will ensure your water supply is safe. Elsewhere, use bottled, boiled or otherwise purified water for drinking and brushing your teeth. Avoid ice and take care with juices as their water sources may be suspect. Milk should be avoided as it is often unpasteurized. You may also be better off avoiding uncooked vegetables, salads, unpeeled fruit of frozen products unless properly prepared.
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| Bilharzia: |
Avoid swimming in fresh water. Some lakes are known to harbor bilharzias parasites which live in snails that like reedy, still water. Fast-flowing, very cold or clear water should be safe. Remember that fresh water may also harbor crocodiles and hippos.
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| Sun protection: |
The African sun is strong: sun block and a head covering are essential - a wide-brimmed hat is ideal. If your skin is fair, use sunscreen whenever you are going to be out in the sun. Most first-time visitors experience a degree of heat exhaustion and dehydration that can be avoided by drinking lots of water and slightly increasing the amount of salt in the diet. |
| First-Aid kit: |
The following items should be included in your first-aid kit: strong mosquito repellent; malaria prophylactics; sting relief cream; antihistamine pills; antiseptic wipes and spray; several syringes; Imodium, for diarrhea etc; plasters for blisters and cuts. |
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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. |
1 January
12 January
05 February
04 April
17 April
26 April
01 May
07 July
08 Augus
09 December
25 December
26 December |
New Year
Zanzibar Revolution Day
CCM Foundation Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Union Day
Workers' Day
Industrial Day
Nane Nane (Farmers' Day)
Independence Day
Christmas Day
Boxing Day |
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) |
Holidays and Festivals
Zanzibar International Film Festival (July)
It is the largest cultural festival in East Africa, showcasing world film, music, art and theatre from Africa, India, the Middle East and beyond. |
Saba Saba Fair: (July)
Dar International Trade Fair, exhibiting various products in a festive atmosphere at the Saba Saba grounds (Kilwa Road) - including everything from cars to electrical goods to handicrafts, with gypsy tents and refreshments such as warm breads, wine, chocolate etc. |
The Village Museum:
Held in Dar Es Salaam - holds several cultural festivals celebrating different tribal groups in Tanzania, and other cultural groups such as the Tanzanians of Indian origin. |
Makunduchi New Year Festival (July)
Entertaining festival celebrating the Shirazi New Year. Men challenge foes of the year past with banana leaves. The contestants then flail one another and hopefully make amends. Meanwhile the town's women dance around the banana-beating men singing songs. A house of spirits is constructed and then set on fire as villagers run around the burning misery of last year. The evening sees a lot of drinking and dancing. |
Sauti za Busara (February)
This is a leading musical festival in the Tanzanian calendar. Held in the Old Fort along Stone Town's waterfront in Zanzibar during the first week of February, Suati za Busara is a celebration of Tanzanian music in all its diversity and attracts international acts and audiences. |
Communications
Most resort hotels will provide fax, telegram and internet services. Small shops often have fax, telephone and internet services too, which are much cheaper and of equal reliability to the hotels. International calls are very expensive, unless you use an internet phone - cheap but frustratingly unreliable. |
Important Numbers: Calling Tanzania (if dialing from abroad): +255 plus city code without the 0, followed by the number.
Directory Enquiries: 991
International Directory Enquiries: 0900
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.
Internet: There are numerous cheap and reliable internet cafes and bureau in Tanzania - all dramatically more effective as a form of communication than fax, phone or post. Most up market hotels offer internet service. |
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What to buy
The city and town centres usually have markets which sell curious such as African drums, beaded jewellery, Makonde carvings and an endless supply of colourful kangas (wraparound dresses) at very reasonable prices. Tingatinga paintings, batik prints and bao board games are also very popular. In Zanzibar, local spices are added to this and well worth the price, especially the saffron which is very cheap. Teas and coffees - there is an endless assortment with multiple names. Another popular item is the embroidered Kofia (traditional Muslim head covering), seen on nearly all Zanzibari men. |
Tipping
Tips are normally given for good service in Tanzania. In restaurants and hotels a 10% tip is normal. Tips for porters are normally USD 1.00. For guides and drivers USD 10-15 per vehicle per day is acceptable. |
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