Traveling Tips

Once you have planned to visit Tanzania as a hub of tourism in Africa you will need to know a few things that will certainly help plan your trip.

 Language and Culture:

Tanzania has over 125 ethnic groups that are united by the Swahili language. However, all these ethnic groups speak their mother tongues but more than 98% of Tanzanians speak Swahili. Generally, the medium of communication is Swahili while English remains to be a medium of instruction and spoken by elites and mainly in towns. It is quite easier to access both traditional and western foods in different restaurants. People are very friendly and you can bump into anyone in public and pose a question however, the challenge may be language to the majority. The foreigner in Tanzania is commonly referred to as “Mzungu” a white person.

Country Accessibility

Tanzania has three main International Airports by which one can access the country namely Julius Nyerere International Airport, Kilimanjaro International Airport, and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (Kisauni Airport Zanzibar). The three international airports are capable of landing different international Airlines from across the world. Further, we have several local airports which can serve internal purposes. For the travelers who would wish to come through Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi, there is a daily transfer from Airport to Arusha (the Nothern Circuit) through the Namanga border by using shuttle buses scheduled for morning and afternoon departures every day.

Financial Services

Tanzania uses Shilling (TZS) as a medium of exchange but US dollars are also widely accepted in tourist areas. Dollar notes printed before 2009 are usually not accepted. Once you land in Tanzania you will have to change your currency into Tanzanian shillings which can be done in different authorized dealers, banks, and/or Bureau de Change some of them located in the airport and many in towns. Most tour companies would love to be paid in USD, Euro, or Pound since all the Park fee services are done in USD. Importantly, you don’t have to carry a bulk of money around since you can access ATM Machines in every significant town which accepts both credit and debit cards. Most ATMs in Tanzania offer TZS and not foreign currency. However, to minimize the risk of card cloning, only use ATMs located within the bank. Again, It is not recommended to change your cash on the street.

Visas

There are two ways to obtain Tanzania Visas:

1. The first way is to obtain Visas upon your arrival at the point of entry
2. The second one is Electronic Visa that can be obtained online (https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/ )

Currently, the Tanzania visa costs 50$ per person except for anyone holding an American and Canadian passport who should pay 100$ per person. Eagle Vision Safaris would recommend the online Visa to avoid unnecessary inconveniences at the point of entry.

COVID-19 info

Tanzania is open to travelers from all countries who meet the entry requirements. Tanzania is in COVID-19 level 1 which means the spread is very low. Travelers must provide proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test within 72 hours for unvaccinated travelers. Alternatively, passengers can present a vaccination certificate showing full vaccination at least 14 days before arrival. Likewise, Unvaccinated travelers will undergo rapid testing on arrival at their own expense and will need to do the COVID test on arrival. Children under 6 and fully vaccinated travelers are exempted from the COVID test. Quarantine may be required only for unvaccinated travelers who test positive in rapid tests on their arrival. Passengers traveling to Zanzibar must complete a Traveler’s Surveillance Form (https://healthtravelznz.mohz.go.tz/traveller/#/home ) no more than 24 hours before arrival. This form collects travel and health information and is available online (https://www.tanzaniaonlinevisa.com/travel-restrictions/ ).

Other health Info

To access Tanzania for any purpose as a foreigner you need a Yellow fever vaccination. It can be obtained from the point of entry but we recommended to have done it at least 10 days before arrival in Tanzania. Malaria is a common disease in Tanzania so one planning to visit Tanzania may think of taking Malaria prophylactic drugs before traveling. 

Photography

It is advised to take as many photos as possible but responsibly since taking a picture in some of the government buildings is not allowed. Make sure you ask permission from locals when you need to take pictures with them.

Safety and Security

Tanzania is one of the safest countries in East Africa. Despite the level of safety in the country, it is recommended to be vigilant as you are around Tanzania’s streets. We won’t recommend walking alone or in a group of foreigners without your host at night. Do not expose your cash, jewelry, and valuables to strangers. Most of the hotels and lodges you will be taking your nights are safe and it is recommended to leave your valuables at the reception so that they can keep them in a safe room until you come back even if you are going to Safari.