Travel in Tanzania

Introduction

A combination of Africa’s highest mountain, an array of phenomenal wildlife, pristine beaches and islands, and a richly diverse tribal culture, make Tanzania one of the most captivating and enjoyable countries to visit in Africa. From the snow covered peak of Kilimanjaro to the enchanting tropical islands of Zanzibar, there’s a corner of Tanzania that will appeal to the taste of any traveller.

Tanzania has always been a little less savvy in attracting tourism than it’s neighbouring country of Kenya. Even with staggering sights to be seen in every corner of the country, much of Tanzania apart from the very Northern wildlife area, has remained less traveled and sights remain preserved in their natural beauty. Yet as Tanzania looms in the shadows of Mount Kilimanjaro, it unobtrusively boasts a slew of destinations that demonstrate just how magical Africa can be.

In Tanzania people often greet each other with a ‘Habari gani,’ or ‘Habari yako.’ This phrase doesn’t exactly mean hello, but translates to ‘what’s the news?’ This common Kiswahili greeting is a great way to start a conversation and relate to a person instead of just saying a brief walk-by ‘hello.’ Local Tanzanians are extremely friendly, willing to help you, and grateful to see you in their home country. Taking advantage of world class attractions and the diversity of cultures, will ensure that a stay in Tanzania is the trip of your lifetime!

Visa & Border Crossings

Visa prices and application requirements vary for different nationalities. American citizens are required to purchase a 3 month multiple-entry visa that costs a steep US$100 and can be purchased upon entry. Citizens of most other Western countries pay US$50.

Crossing into Kenya

• Namanga - The major border crossing between Tanzania and Kenya, always the most reliable option.
• Horohoro - On the coast, good if you are going from Dar Es Salaam to Mombasa, pass through Lunga Lunga in Kenya)
• Holili - Closest border to Moshi and takes you into Kenya via Taveta.
• Sirari - Border crossing near Lake Victoria.

Crossing into Uganda

• Mutukula - Main border between Tanzania and Uganda).
• There are also possibilities to take a bus from Tanzania through Kenya and onwards to Uganda on the Dar to Kampala route.

Crossing into Rwanda

• Benako – Must walk across the bridge over Rusumo Falls.

Crossing into Burundi

• Ngara – Over the Kobero Bridge.
• Kigoma – A ferry that runs sporadically goes between Kigoma and Bujumbura, Burundi.

Crossing into Zambia

• Tunduma to Nakonde – Most popular road crossing into Zambia.
• Kasesya
• There is also the TAZARA train that crosses the border from Tanzania to Zambia.

Crossing into Malawi

• Songwe/Kyela – A common border crossing and I’ve heard it is quite a hassle free process.

Crossing into Mozambique

• Land border crossings into Mozambique can be challenging and involve long walks and a few days to accomplish.
• Kilambo/Mtwara – Most common border crossing on the Eastern Coast of Tanzania to the town of Moçimboa da Praia, in Mozmbique.

Tourist Trail

• Northern Safari Circuit – The Northern circuit is the the hugely popular and very accessible safari region of Tanzania. Comprising of the world famous Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, and Tarangire National Park, the area is a sanctuary of African wildlife. The Serengeti is home to the annual Wildebeest migration that takes place sometime between May and June, depending on the rains. The natural land migration is a fascinating event to see as over 1.5 million wildebeests and zebras migrate across the plains. Ngorongoro Conservation Area is set within a caldera, making it a haven of concentrated wildlife.
• Arusha – Set amidst some of Tanzania’s most famous landmarks and a backdrop of Mount Meru, Arusha is one of the most well known cities to visit in the country. Arusha provides access to the Northern circuit and a jump off town to beautiful destinations in the region.
• Moshi – Beautifully set on the slopes of the rising Mount Kilimanjaro, Moshi is a small town with a charming atmosphere, fresh air, and all around great place to spend a few relaxing days.
• Mount Kilimanjaro – Rising 5,895 meters, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak and the world’s highest free standing mountain. The prominent snow covered table top peak is a world class trekking destination for mountaineers and those seeking to ascend to the top of Africa! The costly hike can take from 6 – 10 days and can set you back anywhere from $1000 – $2000 (all-inclusive) depending on hiking route and company.
• Zanzibar – The Zanzibar archipelago, located just 25 kilometers off the Northeastern coast of Tanzania, is an exotic island chain to explore. Unguja island (most famous and usually referred to just as Zanzibar), is the most popular island, home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Stone Town and stretches of pure white sand. Accommodation ranges from classy resorts to budget camping and bungalows. Nungwi and Kendwa on the Northern coast of Unguja are two of the best places to relax on the island and two of my favourite places – in the entire world!

Off the Beaten Path

• Dar Es Salaam – The largest city in Tanzania is a place that most travellers pass through for convenience, attempting to be there for as little time as possible. Though Dar Es Salaam lacks the list of normal tourist attractions, the city has a share of interesting sites, local neighbourhoods, art exhibitions, shopping locations, and fantastic restaurants. Dar Es Salaam is an exotic mixture of ethnic tribes coming together into a single city, a place where traditional Maasai warriors can be seen walking the streets next to men in business suits.
• Gombe Stream National Park – Though it’s one of Tanzania’s smallest national parks, Gombe Stream is the place to go in order to see Chimpanzee’s in their natural habitat. The park is located near the town of Kigoma in Western Tanzania on the edge of Lake Tanganyika.
• Selous Game Reserve – A vast 50,000 square kilometer area makes Selous one of the largest protected areas of wilderness in Africa. The game reserve has a diverse range and concentration of African wildlife in a natural and undisturbed environment.
• Mount Meru – Overshadowed by the popularity of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru is an active volcano that presents a challenging climb. The summit is reached by navigating narrow trails and traversing gnarly ridges.
• Kigoma – Located on the edge of Lake Tanganyika, Kigoma is a pleasant place and the entry town for travellers that wish to visit Gombe Stream National Park or the Mahale Mountains.
• Pemba – Much less visited than it’s neighboring Zanzibar island of Unguja, Pemba is a beautiful green and very fertile island. Besides the gorgeous scenery, Pemba is becoming more and more famous for it’s incredible dive sites.

Transportation

For all the information you could ever hope to need about this topic, head to the transportation in Tanzania page.

Weather

The majority of Tanzania, apart from the highland areas of high elevation, experiences a warm tropical climate. Coastal areas are warm and humid year round, while further inland areas are usually quite warm during the day but cool off in the evening. The high altitude areas around Arusha can be comfortable during the day and get quite cool at night.

Dar Es Salaam averages in the upper 80’s – 90’s F with lows in the 70’s F, while Arusha averages with highs in the 70’s – 80’s F with lows in the 50’s F.

There are two major rainy seasons: March to May is the long rainy season and November to December is the short rainy season. During the long rainy season, it often rains steadily every single day like clockwork, but in the short rainy season the pattern is more sporadic.

Money & Costs

Tanzania uses the Tanzania Shilling / Shillingi (TZS), roughly 1,500 TZS to 1 USD.

Traveling in Tanzania on a whole is not a real low budget destination. By laying low and hanging out in a single place for a long period of time it’s possible to get away with spending $15 to $30 per day, but doing any sort of adventure activity really raises the cost of traveling in Tanzania. Consistently taking safaris, visiting national parks, and spending time on Zanzibar can elevate travel costs to $50 or much more per day.

ATM’s that accept Visa and Mastercard are available at banks within the main cities of Tanzania like Dar Es Salaam and Arusha. Prestigious hotels and many safari tour organizations also accept credit cards at the expense of commission.

If you would like to exchange money, it’s best to bring US Dollars that are printed from the year 2000 or after. To get the best exchange rate try to use crisp $100 bill notes with as few creases and bends as possible. Not everyone is picky, but some exchangers like the nice new bills.

People

• Locals – From the moment you step into Tanzania, you will be enthusiastically greeted and welcomed into the country with warm receptive smiles. Tanzania comprises of over 100 different ethnic groups, each with different cultural traditions and practices. Tanzanians love to visit and spend time chatting with each other. It’s common to spend hours drinking chai or beer and hanging out with the company of others. Tanzanians will throw greetings your way, willing to help out and go the extra mile to ensure you are satisfied and confirm that your stay in Tanzania is among the best trips of your lifetime!
• Expats -Tanzania is not as popular of a destination for foreign investment and expat communities that often choose to base out of neighbouring Nairobi, Kenya. However, lately there have begun to be more expats and foreigners permanently living in Dar Es Salaam and places like Moshi and Arusha. In Dar, the main diplomatic foreigner area is on the Msasani Peninsula and Oyster Bay.
• Travellers – There are a number of different categories that can describe the varying range of foreigners that visit Tanzania. First and foremost, there are the safari enthusiasts, out to tour the Northern circuit and see as much wildlife as they can in just a few days. Next are the mountaineers and adventurers that mainly come to trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Lastly, there are a host of beach seekers that hang out and spend their time relaxing on the beaches of Zanzibar. Some tourists do a combination or all of these activities on their Tanzania trip. Overland tour groups are also popular throughout the country, traveling as an all-inclusive group through the major sites of Tanzania.

Accommodation

There is an assortment of accommodation options available ranging from luxurious to very cheap. The very cheap accommodation usually comes at the cost of being very unclean and not overly secure, though rooms can be found for $1-2 per night (sometimes frightening). On the opposite side, there are many luxury resorts in Zanzibar and around Kilimanjaro.

If you are looking to avoid the very cheap as well as the high end resorts, there are also plenty of guest houses and hostels in the major tourist areas of Arusha, Dar Es Salaam, and Zanzibar. Private rooms can run anywhere from $15 – $30, while decent single dorm beds can usually be found from $7 – $15 per night.

• City

Communication

• Language – The official language throughout Tanzania is Kiswahili. Though each tribe has their own dialect, Kiswahili is the common language spoken in the cities and used within the government. In the very popular tourist destinations (around Arusha and on Zanzibar), there are more locals that can speak English. However, unlike Kenya where nearly everyone knows some English, Tanzanians on a whole feel more comfortable with Kiswahili.
• Phones – There has been a boom in the rise of mobile telecommunication and competition of providers. The main companies are Vodacom, Zantel, Zain, and Tigo. Previously, it was simple and cheap to purchase a SIM card off the street and load it into an unlocked mobile phone. However, recently Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority decided to change the policy and make it mandatory to register the SIM card before it can be validated. It’s easiest to go to a mobile provider store in order to take care of the registration.
• Internet – Internet is available in the larger cities and there are a few cyber cafes around touristy areas of Tanzania. Nicer hotels and some guest houses offer wifi, but it takes some searching to find cafes with wifi. Vodacom, Zantel, Zain, and Tigo all offer USB modem Internet connections. The lower plans can run quite slow, but higher costing plans are usually sufficient for handling most Internet tasks. Zain offers an unlocked 3G modem that provides high speed access.

Food & Drink

Tanzanian food is characterized by filling starches, beans, and vegetables. The most wide spread starch and also Tanzania’s national dish is known as ugali, a doughy mush made from cornmeal, cassava flour, millet, or sorghum. Ugali is often served with a combination of vegetables, beans, or a thin meat sauce. Cooked plantain bananas and rice are eaten as other starch substitutes.

Tanzanians do love their grilled meat (nyama choma) if they can afford it. Usually the choicest type of meat is goat or beef, and can it be found all over the country. Much of the meat roams freely, so it retains it’s lovely gamy texture and unaltered meaty flavor! I like to eat my nyama choma with a bit of salt and a pile of chilies!

Coastal Tanzanian food is usually a little different from the interior. In addition to ugali, rice is very common. Some of the dishes are a combination of Arab or Indian original tastes with an African twist. Zanzibar style biryani rice (spiced rice) is one of my favourite dishes to eat on the coast. Dishes that use coconut milk and curry sauce are also popular.

The tropical climate also makes Tanzania a haven of fresh fruit! Don’t miss the glorious pineapples, mangoes, avocados, jackfruit, and bananas.

Many Tanzanians enjoy a few social pints of beer if it can be afforded. The great selection of local beers include Kilimanjaro, Ndovu, Serengeti, and Safari Lager. Konyagi is Tanzania’s very own and very popular spirit liquor.

Safety

Crime is not as common as it is in Kenya, but Tanzania is not exempt from theft and criminal activity. As usual, the crime rate is much higher in the main cities, especially in Dar Es Salaam. Most of the crime that takes place is in the form of muggings, pick-pockets, and occasional vehicle theft.

In the end, if you are a foreigner, there’s no real way to fully blend in and you must accept the fact that you will stand out and be a potential target. For this reason, try to avoid displaying flashy jewelry, electronics, or fancy clothes. Normal precautionary measures like walking around with a small group and paying attention to suspicious situations should always be a priority. Be especially careful when walking around crowded areas or taking public transportation, places where foreigners are easily targeted.

Throughout many visits to Tanzania, I’ve never been in a situation where I really felt in danger; I do focus on looking after my possessions closely and being mindful with the way I dress and act. For single women, there’s not a need to worry, but it is not advised to walk around solo or go out at night by yourself. A group of 2 to 3 is always a smarter way to proceed.

Music & Dance

Music is widely popular with locals in Tanzania and the industry consists of a variety of musical styles from traditional folk songs to reggae beach music. Tanzanians are passionate about their music and enjoy singing and dancing to the beats.

The modern hip hop dance music movement, mostly produced in Dar Es Salaam, is known as Bongo Flava. The unique blend of Tanzanian hip hop and R&B is characterized by beats that are reminiscent to an East African dance-hall scene. There’s nothing like attending a Tanzanian party while pulsating to the thumps of the latest Bongo Flava tracks!

A popular form of music on the coast of Tanzania and especially on the island of Zanzibar is known as Taarab. The genre is an interesting mix of Arabic and Kiswahili lyrics paired with African percussion instruments to create an island jazz like sound.

Tanzanians (like many Africans) have a passion for dance and born with great dancing skills. All forms of dancing, from traditional to club inspired can be found in abundance around Tanzania.

Art

Tanzania is known around the world for it’s famous works of art. Many antique connoisseurs are especially fond of ancient tribal pieces of artwork from Tanzania. Tinga Tinga is a well known modern style of abstract painting that developed in Tanzania and is recognized by it’s bright colours and cartoon modified figures.

Volunteering & Good Causes

Arranging to volunteer while avoiding the high fee based organized programs is easiest to accomplish by just showing up in Tanzania and doing some networking. Ask your hotel or guest house if anyone knows of a place you can spend some time helping out. From there, you might be able to find a more long term opportunity or commitment.

Read & Watch

• The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior: An Autobiography - An excellent first hand account of growing up into the Maasai culture and going through the stages of life.
• Tanzania: Culture Smart! - Provides great cultural insights into the multifaceted Tanzanian culture.
• Guidebooks – Lonely Planet, Rough Guides and Frommers each have a substantial guide to Tanzania. There are even guidebooks by these companies specifically pertaining to only safaris or the island of Zanzibar.