Tanzania Travel Tips, Tanzania Travel Information, Tanzania Visa

PASSPORTS & 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.

HEALTH
Visitors originating from or transiting through countries endemic with cholera or yellow fever should have valid vaccination certificates. Visitors are advised to take anti-malaria tablets and make use of mosquito nets and insect sprays where provided. Health insurance through your travel agent or any other agent is recommended.

CUSTOMS
Personal effects including binoculars, cameras, film, may be imported (temporarily) free of duty. A custom bond may be demanded from visitors bringing in professional video/filming equipment, radios, tape recorders and musical instruments to ensure the goods are re-exported. Firearms require special permit that should be obtained in advance. Visitors buying local handicrafts must keep cash sales receipts and ownership certificates for wildlife trophies for presentation to customs officials on departure.

CURRENCY
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 travelers checks may be exchanged at the commercial banks, authorized dealers, or at the bureau de changes operating at the international airports, major towns and boarder posts.

DEPARTURES
An airport tax of US$20.00 is levied on all visitors departing the country by air. In many instances, the fee is included in your airline ticket. Baggage is weighed at check-in counters and may be inspected by Custom officials. Airport departure tax for domestic flights is about US$ 5.00. All fees are subject to change. There is no departure tax when traveling by road.

LUGGAGE
Safari vehicles and small aircraft provided limited space for luggage. It is therefore recommended to travel with light bags since bulky suitcases will overload the vehicles and might not be taken on board.

CLIMATE
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 shorter rains fall between October and December. The hottest months are between October and February.

LANGUAGE
The national language is Kiswahili but English is widely spoken and is the language of the tourist trade and other international businesses. Big Time Safaris Ltd, however, boasts of quite a few multilingual operations and staff and driver-guides.

AIR TRAVEL
Several international airlines operate in and out of Tanzania through Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro International Airports. Travel within the country is by the national airline, Air Tanzania and by Precision Air, Regional Air and Coastal Travel.

FLYING DOCTOR MEMBERSHIP
A temporary Flying Doctor membership is recommended to cover air medical evacuation to Nairobi. Participation fee is US $30 for Northern Tanzania and US $60 for Southern Tanzania.

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

ELECTRICITY
215 – 230 Volts, 50 Cycles AC