Travel guide to Tanzania

The largest country in East Africa, Tanzania, is a paradise for travellers who want safaris, hiking, mountain-climbing and grand vistas of nature. The nation was founded in 1964 when Tanganyika and Zanzibar were fused together. Today it is a very popular destination for travellers.

The normal tourist season is in January and February when the warm and dry weather is the most agreeable. If you come to see the wildlife of the savannah, the dry season is not the time to visit because many of the animals will have travelled to Kenya then.

Lonely Planet Tanzania, Zanzibar & Pemba

Shillings (TZS), 1 shilling = 100 cents

There are several Internet cafés in Tanzania, but only in cities such as Arusha, Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam.

To call for help in Tanzania, dial the following numbers: Ambulance and fire brigade: (999) Police: (0811-322-999) Airport police: (844-354)

In Tanzania it is customary to add five to ten percent to the bill in restaurants and to give the porter a small amount per suitcase. Tour guides on safaris are given a substantially greater amount.

When it is 12:00 in the UK (summertime), it is 14:00 in Tanzania. When it is 12:00 in the UK (wintertime), it is 15:00 in Tanzania.

The following weights and measures are used in Tanzania: Length: metres Weight: kilos The old Imperial units of measure - yards, pounds and gallons - are still used in some places.

If you want to take picture of the locals you should always ask in advance to prevent insulting the Masai or other tribe peoples. On a safari the best time to take pictures is either early in the morning or in the late afternoon with a good long lens.

Water from the tap should not be consumed unless it has been boiled and filtered. Bottled water can be bought in most shops and in hotels.

The following power source is used in Tanzania: 240 Volts AC, 50 Hz

On the coast and on Zanzibar most people are Muslim. Therefore visitors should always dress properly in clothing that covers shoulders and knees. It is unacceptable to be topless or to swim naked.

Shops are open form 9:00 to 18:00 (Monday - Friday) and from 8:30 to 12:30 (Saturday). Some shops are closed during lunch. Banks are open from 8:30 to 12:30 (Monday - Friday) and from 8:30 to 13:30 (Saturday).

Most hotels serve local food while the big chain hotels also have Western food on the menu. Usually there is a big selection of seafood such as prawns and lobster. Tropical fruit is another item which is usually included in the meals in the shape of coconuts, Paw-Paw fruit, mango, pineapple and bananas. Tanzania also offers a number of delicious alcoholic drinks, among these is the lager beer Safari, the local gin Konyagi, the coconut/chocolate liqueur Afrikoko and Dodoma wine.

The conditions for disabled travellers are not very good in Tanzania. Before you decide you should check with your travel agent if there are hotels with facilities.

New Year's day: 1 January The Revolution of Zanzibar Day: 12 January Union Day: 26 April Labor Day: 1 May Farmers' Day: 7 July Independence Day: 9 December Christmas Day: 25 December Holidays that can be moved Good Friday: March or April Easter Monday: March or April

There are many camping sites in Tanzania. Some have standard facilities with sinks, toilets, bivouacs and fire wood while others are more simple. If the camping site is situated in a national park it is necessary to get permission before camping and taking pictures. It is recommended to check out prices and rules before arriving in one of these camping sites.

The hotels in Tanzania are anything from very good and expensive to cheap with a minimum of facilities. Even when the hotel rooms are expensive, there is often the possibility that two people share a single room. This will not happen in the big hotels. The cheapest hotels are almost always full, but luckily new ones are under construction (on Zanzibar - among other places) .

Guesthouses in Tanzania, which are often extensions to local bars or restaurants, are a cheap form of accommodation. But it is a good idea to keep an eye on your belongings, as they are always in danger of being stolen. This form of accommodation can not be booked ahead and the prices are generally higher in the cities.

Hostels can be found in the national parks of Lake Manyara and Serengeti. Furthermore there are YMCA hostels in Dar es Salaam and Moshi and a YWCA hostel in Dar es Salaam, which accommodates women and couples.

The Tanzanian tourist agency hire out the so-called Wildlife Lodges, which are nice, well-equipped lodges placed in the national parks.

Tanzania has three big, international airports. They are: Dar es Salaam International (DAR), Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), and Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ). Buses and taxis take passengers to other destinations from all of these airports. Usually the big national parks have small run-ways for private airplanes. The national flight company, Air Tanzania, and a number of private companies fly national flights all over the country.

The State Travel Service ensures that there are cheap bus connections which cover most of the country. Unfortunately the buses are characterized by poor comfort, unreliability and frequent breakdowns. The worst times to take the buses are at the end of the month and during the rainy-season - when they are particularly crowded.

Tanzania Railway Corporation is responsible for the trains, which operate between all large towns and cities. There are three different classes, all at fair prices, but tourists should stick to first and second class - which have beds in the compartments.

Dar es Salaam is the only place which has set fares per kilometer. In all other cities it is necessary to negotiate the price before the ride begins in order to not be cheated. Taxi drivers expect a ten percent tip.

There are not many possibilities of renting a car in Tanzania, and if you do rent a car, it is often fairly expensive. Despite the freedom that a car will give you, it is rarely worth the trouble. Organized safaris are often much better.

There are speed boats which operate between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar daily. The trip takes about two-three hours each way, and there is also the possibility of continuing from Zanzibar to Pemba. There are also steamers on Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika .

A safari can be embarked upon in a lot of different ways. If you are up for trying something different than the average jeep-safari, there is also the possibility of going on a balloon-safari, a camel-safari, an elephant-safari, a horse-safari and a walking-safari. The last mentioned kind only takes place in private reserves as safari on foot is forbidden in the public parks.