The roads between the major cities are in good
condition, whilst many roads in the towns and
cities are in a state of repair. Arusha has
recently undergone major renovations to its
roads.
The only public transport is the rail facility.
Many privately owned bus services operate within
the towns (know as dala dala's or kifordi) and
these are the cheapest forms of transport.
Long haul bus services are available between
most major cities, but these are sometimes
unsafe and are not recommended. Should you want
to travel between for example Arusha and Dar-es-Salaam
or Nairobi and Arusha, please make sure you
contact us, so we can recommend the best
operator.
One can not really say when the best time of the
year is to go to Tanzania. The country is so
diverse that pretty much all seasons are
fantastic, depending on where you wish to go.
The best times to climb Kilimanjaro are January,
February and March have the best weather, being
warm and almost devoid of cloud. This is also
the busiest time on the mountain. April through
to mid June is still warm but there may be some
rainfall on the lower slopes and bands of cloud
may reduce visibility around the forest area.
The upside is that this is probably the quietest
time in terms of climber traffic. The best times
to visit the northern circuit range from June to
August and December to March. This co-incides
with the migration patterns through the
Serengeti and avoids the rainy season. Be that
as it is, Tanzania is an awesome country
basically all year round due to the many
resident bird and animal species who reside in
their specific areas.
Tanzania is only 5 degrees south of equator thus
tropical equatorial climate. Coastal areas have
two distinct wet seasons with the longest from
March to May and the shortest from November to
December while the rest of the country has one
wet season from November to May. Around 50% of
the country receives an annual precipitation of
760 mm (30 inches) with the maximum being 2,540
mm (100 inches) at Lake Nyasa and the minimum,
510 mm (20 inches) on the Central Plateau. The
prevailing winds are the NE and SE trade winds.
Average temperature ranges in Dar-Es-Salaam are
from 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit)
to 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit)
all year.
Communications
and Electricity:
Communications in the country are easily
accessible with most hotels in towns having
international telephone facilities and internet
facilities. The country has 4 cellular phone
operators and international roaming facilities
are available. Please phone your service
provider to ascertain in facilities are
available for your network. Certain camps and
lodges in the National Parks have satellite
phone facilities but are quite expensive with
calls being charged from $10 per minute. They do
however have radio communication with bases in
major towns and messages can be relayed in this
way.
Electricity is 230V AC but you will have to buy
flat 3 pin plugs should you wish to use any
electrical appliances. These are available at
most shops in major towns and cities.
The local currency is the Tanzania Shillings.
Almost every hotel and resort accepts US$ but
beware, some of their exchange rates are not
very favorable. It is best to exchange your
currency at a local Bureau de Change into
Tanzania shillings as their rates are normally
the best.
Barclays Bank - all towns
Bank of Tanzania - most major towns
Standard Chartered Bank - most major towns
Stanbic Bank - most
major towns
Banking hours are from 8:30 to 15:00 (except
Bank of Tanzania) weekdays and 8:30 to 13:30 on
Saturdays.
Credit Cards and
Traveler's Cheques:
Credit cards are accepted at some of the major
hotels, restaurants and resorts. Traveler's
Cheques are the safer option as these are more
widely accepted than credit cards.
The official language of Tanzania is Kiswahili.
Most residents have a good knowledge of English,
Italian and various Arabic dialects. Some
important words in Swahili are:
Mambo - slang greeting like habari
Tanzania's culture is a result of African, Arab,
European and Indian influences. The African
people of Tanzania represent about 120 tribal
groups. The largest group are of Bantu origin
including Sukuma, Nyamwezi, Makonde, Haya and
Chagga. The Maasai are of Nilotic origin, as are
the Arusha and the Samburu. Tanzania is one of
the least urbanized countries in Sub- Saharan
Africa, but traditional African ideals are being
deliberately adapted to modern life. The
Tanzanians are friendly people, to foreigners
and amongst themselves. Politeness, respect and
modesty are highly valued. It is recommended
that you learn some Swahili greetings.
Handshakes are very important and you may
continue holding hands during conversation. Note
that the right hand is usually used for eating,
while the left is traditionally used for toilet
duties. Immodest attire, public affection and
open anger are disrespectful to the Tanzanians
people. In Zanzibar, it is important for women
to dress modestly out of respect for Muslim
cultural beliefs specifically when in town
(famous "stone town").
Healthcare facilities in Tanzania are not up to
Western standards. It is highly recommended that
you obtain sufficient medical insurance prior to
your departure to Tanzania. Flying doctor
facilities are available with the nearest
hospital.
Possibly the most well known is:
The annual migration involves some 1,500,000
wildebeest and 250,000 zebra migrating in a
circular pattern throughout the year. Contrary
to what many people believe, this affair is
continuous and certain areas of the Serengeti
experience major concentrations of animals at
certain times of the year:
During late November/ early December, the
animals migrate from the Maasai Mara in Kenya
down through the Loliondo controlled area and
into the upper portion of Ngorongoro
Conservation Area (NCA) and the Naabi Hill Gate
section of the Serengeti. During January they
settle in the short grasses of the Serengeti
Plains. February sees them move deeper into the
NCA.
During March the animals begin to leave the NCA
and move back closer to Naabi Hill Gate and the
Serengeti plains. During April, they start
shifting to the central portion of the
Serengeti.
May sees the animals migrating from the central
Serengeti heading off to the Western Corridor
and the Seronera region. During June, they are
firmly placed in the Western Corridor. This area
contains wet black cotton soil plains and is
treacherous for animals and tourists if the
rains are late. During July, they move on to the
Grumeti Controlled area and a few of the head
off for the Lobo area of the Serengeti.
During August, the animals are spread between
the Lobo area and the Ikorongo controlled areas
of the Serengeti, and slowly start moving
towards the Maasai Mara. This is one of the
better times to see the animals being caught by
predators as they have to cross the Mara River,
Bolongoja River and Grumeti River to get to the
Mara.
During this period, the animals are in the
Maasai Mara Game Reserve, where water is always
available for them.
Late November see the migration returning the
Tanzania down the Loliondo Controlled Area,
where they are following the new rains coming
from the south to the north.
There are no set patterns that the animals
follow, so you can't be absolutely certain of
there exact location.
Olduvai Gorge is situated in the Ngorongoro
Conservation Area, about 1/2 an hour drive from
the Ngorongoro Crater. This is by far one of the
most fascinating places to see on your Northern
circuit safari. It's claim to fame is the
discovery of the first homonid footprints by
Louis and Mary Leaky in 1959. It is an
archaeological wonder and excavation still
continues to this day, although you are not
permitted to view these sites. At the main site
there is an information center where you can see
many of the fossils that have been discovered in
the area and copies of the original footprints.
You will also be given a lecture about the area
and the excavation processes.
The Shifting Sands are situated in the
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, about 40 minutes
drive from the crater rim. These sands which
have religious associations for the Maasai
people are remarkable in that they move along in
the exact same formation at a rate of about 5m
per year. This is actually volcanic ash deposits
from Oldonyo Lengai which is too heavy for the
winds to blow away. In 1969 it was noticed that
year after year they seem to be in a different
position so a marker was laid to measure the
distance. Since that time they have drifted some
2 km's. Take some time out from your safari to
stop over and have a look. Look out for the
original marker, you will be amazed.
There are many fascinating places to visit, too
many to list here. Your driver guide on safari
is very knowledgeable and will be able to take
you to many places of interest whilst on safari.
Please feel free to let us know your story, so
we can publish it in our travel features
section.
The most important items to pack are the ones
you feel most comfortable in. There is nothing
worse than being on safari and feeling
uncomfortable. Here is a guideline for you to
work on:
Lighter colored cotton clothes are generally
cooler (beige, white or khaki)
Shorts can be worn in summer, so bring a pair
Warm jackets and sweaters for evening wear,
especially in Ngorongoro Crater
Long sleeved shirts/ blouses to wear at night to
protect against mosquitoes
Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
Comfortable walking shoes
Thick socks for protection if you enter tsetse
fly areas
For Kilimanjaro equipment kindly contact us for
more details.
Tanzania is situated in a malaria zone, so it is
recommended that you consult your physician on
the prescription right for you. Pregnant women
are not allowed to take Malaria prevention
drugs, and are cautioned before entering any
malaria area.
Insect/ Mosquito repellent.
Mosquitoes, like little vampires, favor night
conditions. Be sure to take a repellent, and
cover all exposed areas of your body (e.g. neck
and arms). We recommend that you wear trousers
at night and long sleeved shirts should you be
outdoors. If the heat is too much and you wear a
short sleeved shirt, make sure you smear/ spray
your arms with repellent. At night before you go
to bed, make sure your mosquito net is either
touching the ground, or is tucked in, and your
exposed areas (especially your ankles) are
protected with repellent.
It is imperative that you have travel insurance.
Even though they do not check any certificates
when you enter the airports, for your own peace
of mind, make sure that you are adequately
covered.
As with all cities, Tanzania is not free of
crime. Unfortunately it has been on the
increase, so make sure you do not take valuables
on holiday with you. If you do take expensive
jewelry, make sure it is either locked up when
you go out, or hidden from sight.
Be careful not to walk the streets at night
alone, this invites trouble. If you are
confronted, do not resist, and try to report the
matter to the police as soon as possible.an
attempt will be made to recover your property.
A visa and a yellow fever inoculation
certificate are pre-requisites to enter
Tanzania. Visas cost $50 per person and are
obtainable from your nearest Tanzania embassy.
however, people from Lebanon & Pakistan requires
pre-entry visa.
You will need 2 passport photographs and 2
completed application forms. Should you not have
the time, please let us know and we will do it
for you for a nominal fee.
Yellow fever inoculations are available at
travel clinics around the country.
Possibly one of the most important requirements,
although not a pre-requisite is travel
insurance. Visitors must make sure they are
adequately covered. If you are unsure about what
you should take out, please contact us and we
will gladly help you.
National Parks
and Reserves:
Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area
Lake Manyara National Park.
Kinapa Waterfalls (on the foot of mount
Kilimanjaro)
other small National parks.
Top 10
destination in Tanzania;
1. Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area
2. Serengeti National Park
3. Zanzibar and Pemba Islands
4. Tarangire National Park
5. Lake Manyara National Park
Although Mt. Kilimanjaro tops the list as
Africa's most famous -- and highest -- mountain,
Tanzania boasts many other mountain ranges and
attractive peaks. Most of the country's
mountains and volcanoes are located in the north
and east of the country. They vary from the
dramatic crater of Mt. Meru and the active
volcano of Ol Donyo Lengai to tamer options like
the Usambara Mountains and comparatively gentle
slopes of the Crater Highlands. Hiking trips and
mountain climbing in Tanzania is becoming a
popular option for visitors not content to
observe the country from the back of a game
viewing vehicle. Instead, adventurous types are
taking advantage of the many trails and peaks
Tanzania has to offer.
Overlooking Lake Natron and the bushland of
Kenya to the north, Ol Donyo Lengai, which means
'the home of God' in Masaai, is an active
volcano and one of Tanzania's most spectacular
and undiscovered climbs. The volcano erupts
sporadically, sending small streams of grey lava
down the crater rim and spitting hot ash high
into the air. The climb, undertaken overnight so
hikers can experience sunrise over the Rift
Valley escarpment, is highly challenging.
