Tanzania Travel Information
![]() | Languages |
Swahili and English are the official languages. Originally from the coastal part, the Swahili is a Bantu language with many words derived from Arabic. Other African languages of Nilotic and Khoisan origin are also spoken.
![]() | Children |
From an early age our children have participated in our expeditions and the family tents in our camps have been designed to meet the needs of a family. This also allows us to answer questions every parent ask themselves before taking children on a safari.
![]() | Climate |
Separated into two distinct climatic zones, with one side of the highlands (above 1500m altitude) where there is a tropical tempered climate and on the other coast, flat, humid equatorial climate. " / p>
Dry Season : May to October. The warmest months are December to February. Evenings can be cool. Pack one or two sweaters.
Rainy Season :
- The rainy season extends into April and May. The critical concentration of rainfall occurs over two months. At that time, the evenings are cool. Pack one or two sweaters. Li>
- The short rainy season, meanwhile, starts mid-October and goes until early December. Rainfalls just as shorter showers, photographers prefer this season because this wet period has the highest brightness and especially fewer tourists.
Pack lightweight cotton and linen, plus a raincoat for the coast and lakeside. Warmer Clothing in June and July for the cool mornings on the coast. Provide one or two sweaters all year long for the safari part. Light clothes almost all year in the mountains. Waterproof advised in April-May.
![]() | What to bring |
Apart from the coast and Zanzibar, the other locations are in altitude. Evenings and mornings are cool, it is essential to bring a sweater, whatever the season. Sunburns are also guaranteed if you do not take precautions (high protection sunscreen and mosquito net hat against the tsetse flies are very useful). Provide an anti-diarrheal in your medicine kit. Please have also an insecticide and drugs against motion sickness. Finally, do not forget your camera, your sunglasses and a pair of binoculars.
![]() | Health |
Vaccination against yellow fever and the International Vaccinations Booklet are no longer mandatory for entry into Tanzania from EU Zone. Although, if you live in an area at risk (especially the neighboring African countries), they will be asked. Similarly if you do visit the island of Zanzibar after your stay in Tanzania, the vaccine for yellow fever is required. Diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A / B and typhoid are recommended. Vaccination against rabies is also recommended.
Malaria is endemic in the country. Be sure to protect yourself against mosquito bites with repellents, mosquito nets and clothing covering arms and legs.
We recommend you make an appointment with your GP or a specialist for further information on this subject.
![]() | Customs |
You can import the following items in Tanzania without having to pay customs fees: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g tobacco, 1 liter of liquor, 250 ml of perfume.
![]() | Photos and Videos |
You can photograph and film the scenery without limit. For people, it is important to seek their consent.
![]() | Currency and Exchange |
The Tanzanian shilling (TSH) is the monetary unit. There are 500 notes, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10,000 shillings. Parts 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 shillings. Possible changes in major banks.
MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are accepted into the lodges. Traveler's checks in U.S. dollars can be exchanged at banks. The import and export of local and foreign currency is limited. Amounts in excess of U.S. $ 5,000 must be justified.
The current exchange rate is 2000 EUR for 1 TSH, TSH and 1500 for 1 USD.
For U.S. dollars, it is recommended to come with notes printed after 2004. Earlier notes are rejected in some places and changed at a lower rate in bureaux de change.
![]() | Tips |
Tanzania is a country once under Anglo-Saxon influence, like all of East Africa and tipping is commonplace here. It is customary to tip in the various accommodation where you will be staying. Most lodges and camps have tip boxes at reception where you can leave between 5 and 10USD if you were satisfied with the service. The money is then shared among employees. Obviously there is no obligation to tip everywhere.
Park employees or local guides can also be paid, but in all cases this must reflect a true service and not a mandatory "tax".
For your safari accompanying team, it is also customary to tip at the end of the trip. Overall we recommend around 20USD to 15USD per day of safari between your guide and your cook, if you take a camping safari. Again, there is no obligation and the amount is left to your discretion.
![]() | Shopping |
Haggling : it is in the curio (souvenir) shops that you will experience the delights of shopping. Bargaining is advised, but in the best shops that offer a quality guarantee, the margin for maneuver is limited. You'll also have opportunities outside the major cities, particularly in the curios of the Masai country.
Crafts : The quality of work of artisans in Eastern Africa is undeniable. Be, however, under no illusions about the supposed authenticity of documents that will be presented. Worse yet, beware of hawkers who offers jewelry made of ivory or made from the body of a wild animal, such as bracelets called elephant hair. This trade is strictly prohibited in Tanzania and risks of buying pure junk are extremely high.
Souvenirs : if you love bringing back souvenirs, you will not find it hard to find your happiness. The carvings are beautiful. The jewelry of semi-precious stones (malachite, tanzanite and tsavorite especially) are often very beautiful; beautiful solitaire games made of all different stones are found everywhere. You can also bring great animal sculptures in soapstone and colorful fabrics.
![]() | Electricity |
220 and 230 volts, 50 Hz. Power outages are fairly common. The sockets are UK type. We advise you to bring before leaving, an adapter for your electrical appliances in case of doubt.
Warning! In the lodges, electricity is supplied by generators which usually stop working after 10pm or 10.30pm and over again around 6.00 or 7.00am
We recommend you bring a torch for your stay.
![]() | Post and Telecommunications |
You can buy stamps at post offices and receptions of international class hotels. A stamp for Europe costs 600 TSH (0.5 €). A letter takes about 10 days to reach Europe.
To call from UK to Tanzania: 00 255
To call from Tanzania to UK: 000 44 or +44
The cost of an international call is very high. Find out from your operator before you leave.
![]() | Time Zone |
3 hours compared to UK (GMT + 3) in winter, 2 hours in summer.