Tanzania

Tanzania Summary Facts

Capital City: Dodoma

Total Area: 943,000 sq km.

Population: 40 million people

Languages: English and Swahili.

Religions: Christians 40% to 45%, Muslims 35% to 40%, traditional beliefs are also important.

Government: Republic.

Independence Date: 9th of December 1961.

Agriculture: Coffee, Tea, Cotton, sisal, cloves.

Climate: Tropical

The United Republic of Tanzania is a nation in central East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south. The country’s eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.

The United Republic of Tanzania is a unitary republic composed of 26 mikoa (regions). The current head of state is President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, elected in 2005. Since 1996, the official capital of Tanzania has been Dodoma, where parliament and some government offices are located. Between independence and 1996 the major coastal city of Dar es Salaam had been the country’s political capital. Today Dar es Salaam remains the principal commercial city of Tanzania and the de-facto seat of most government institutions. It is the major seaport for the country and its landlocked neighbours.

The name Tanzania is a portmanteau of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. The two states united in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which later the same year was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania.

Passport & 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. Kindly visit Tanzania e-VISA page for more information.

Vaccinations Needed for Tanzania

For vaccination services, you can go to the Regional Health Service or the tropical medicine clinic of a hospital.

The following vaccinations are recommended:

For travelers going to Tanzania: yellow fever, hepatitis A and a combined tetanus, diphtheria and inactivated polio vaccine (Td/IPV). Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is required if you are traveling to Tanzania from countries that have Yellow Fever Endemic or travelers who transit in Yellow Fever Endemic Areas, only if the transit period at the airport is 12 hours or more.

Other diseases that occur in Tanzania are: abdominal typhus, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, rabies and meningococcal disease. It is best to consult a qualified travel medical specialist on whether immunization is relevant in your case.

Malaria in Tanzania

There is no vaccine available against malaria. We recommend the use of anti-malarial medication, but again, it is best to take this up with a travel medical specialist. Malaria is an infectious disease that is caused by a parasite. You get it from the bite of a mosquito that carries the parasite. These parasites multiply first in the liver cells and then in the red cells of the blood. The symptoms include shaking chills, followed by fever, usually preceded by flu-like illness. To protect yourself against mosquito bites, you can spray yourself with insect repellent containing DEET and make sure to cover your body properly if you are outside after sunset..

Departures

An airport tax of US$ 30.00 is levied on all visitors departing the country by air. In many instances, this fee is included in your airline ticket. Visitors departing by air from Kenya must pay at the airport, however. Baggage is weighed at check-in counters and may be inspected by Custom officials. Airport departure tax for domestic flights is about US$ 6.00. All fees are subject to change. There is no departure tax when travelling by road.

Local and International Airlines Operating in Tanzania

British Airways fly direct to Dar es Salaam from Heathrow, three times weekly. KLM fly from Zurich to Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro and Swiss Air from Zurich to Dar es Salaam. Air India flies to Dar es Salaam via Mumbai, Emirates flies via Dubai and Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa. Check with your local travel agent for other airlines that operate to Tanzania via Europe and the Middle East. Regional carriers into Tanzania include Air Tanzania, Kenya Airways, Precision Air and South African Airways. Domestic carriers include Air Tanzania and Coastal Aviation. Precision Air, Regional Air Services and ZanAir link the major cities, tourist attractions and game parks in Tanzania. Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Coastal Aviation and ZanAir fly between the mainland and Zanzibar. International flights serve Dar es Salaam International Airport (DAR) recently named “Julius Nyerere International Airport” which is eight miles from Dar es Salaam city centre and Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), just 31 miles from the main town center of Arusha. Zanzibar Kisuani Airport (ZNZ) is just five miles from Kisauni.

We can help you book or hire regional/local flights and charters in Tanzania. We advise you to book for your International flights.

An airport tax of US$100 for US Citizens and US$50 for the rest of the world is levied (this is not fixed), which may be included in the price of air ticket. Note that this may change and should be confirmed while booking your flight. .

Other Languages in Tanzania

The national language is Kiswahili but English is widely spoken and is the language of the tourist trade and other international businesses.

Climate in Tanzania

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

Time in Tanzania

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

Electricity in Tanzania

215 – 230 Volts, 50 Cycles AC

Currency in Tanzania

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 travellers’ cheques may be exchanged at the commercial banks, authorised dealers, or at the bureau de changes operating at the international airports, major towns and border posts.