Things to know before visiting Tanzania

Things to know before visiting Tanzania : Before you go to Tanzania safari or any other African country, you should know a few things to make sure you have a safe and stress-free safari. Tanzania is a beautiful part of Africa that has a lot to offer tourists from other countries. Still, it helps to know ahead of time where to go, what to expect when you get there, and how to stay safe on the ground. From health standards that must be met to safety measures.

Visa.

Most people from outside Tanzania who go there for work or pleasure need to get a visa. Tanzania does let some foreigners (mostly from Africa and Asia) visit for up to three months without a visa. But unless they are from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, or Rwanda, they still have to get an entry permit.

Visa requirements: Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada can pay $50 USD to get a visa when they arrive. For $100 USD, US citizens can get a visa upon landing that allows them to enter and leave the country more than once. For the most up to date information, all nationalities should contact their consulate.

Check out our guide to see how to get an e-visa for Tanzania. There must be at least one blank visa page in your passport and it must be good for at least six months after the date you get your visa and/or arrive. Visitors with visas must show proof that they have a way to get back home and enough money to pay for their stay. When entering or leaving Zanzibar, or traveling across the mainland, be prepared to produce your passport and explain your visa status.

Volunteering is against the law for people with tourist visas, even if they pay for the experience. If you want to do business or commercial transactions in Tanzania, you need to call the Tanzanian Embassy in Washington, before you apply for a visa.

Language.

About 2,000 different languages are used in Africa. That’s a third of all the languages spoken on Earth. This is because the land has changed over millions of years and its environment has changed (Source). Tanzania has 26 official languages, but don’t worry one of them is English, which is widely spoken.

Money.

The currency of Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shilling. The currency of Tanzania is the shilling (TZS), and there are no smaller amounts. The average currency rate for individuals arriving from the United Kingdom is TZS 2000/1 UK pound, and the exchange rate for a dollar was TZS 1400/1 US dollar as of November 2010. Please inquire about current rates at the time of your travel.

Large currencies, like the US dollar, the British pound, and the Euro, are easy to swap in big cities, and bureau de changers are the most common way to do this. It takes longer to change money at a bank than at a bureau de change. Make sure the dollars you bring aren’t from the year 2000 series.

Keep your money safe in Tanzania by putting it in a money belt or bag, and only keep a few bills on you in case you need to use them right away. Even though your tour organizer will do everything they can to make sure your safari is as safe as possible, be careful about leaving large amounts of money on the street or in crowded places.

Health and Vaccinations in Tanzania.

Before you go on your safari in Tanzania, you should take a few steps to keep your health in good shape. Tanzania has a tropical climate, which makes it a good place for bugs, plants, and animals that most people have never seen before.

Malaria is the disease that most travelers to Africa fear the most, and you might be one of them, right? If you are worried about Malaria, you should talk to your doctor and get antimalarial drugs before you go on a safari. Also, bring a good bug repellent (preferably a deet spray) with you. All of the places you will stay will have mosquito nets over your beds, and before you go to sleep at night, the rooms will be sprayed with bug repellents.

Although the yellow fever vaccination is no longer needed for entry into Tanzania, many doctors will still recommend it as a preventative step due to the disease’s endemicity in surrounding countries such as Kenya. Let’s say you are going to Tanzania from a place where yellow fever is common. In that case, you must show a certificate of yellow fever vaccination at any place of entry, as must anyone who has spent more than 12 hours in a country like Kenya or Ethiopia where yellow fever is common while in transit.

Typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B, tetanus, and meningitis are some of the other immunizations that may be considered before traveling to Tanzania but are not required. Please contact your Tanzania safari operator or your doctor for more information on any required vaccines (since they may change from time to time).

Best time to visit Tanzania.

Seasons certainly have an impact on what kind of experience you’ll have and when you’ll have it, so make sure you study up before time to guarantee you get the Tanzania safari you want.

Safaris: The optimum months for game safaris are January-March for baby season and June-September for the end of the wet season.

Kilimanjaro Treks: The climb can be done at any time of year, however the rainy season runs from March to May.

Birdwatching: The best months to go birdwatching are October through April.