Tanzania is a country of incredible contrasts. There's the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro, lush jungles, vast savannahs, bustling cities and the tropical island of Zanzibar on the warm Indian Ocean. People here are said to be among the friendliest in the world and the country is also one of the safest in Africa. "Hakuna Matata" is the watchword and sooner than you think you'll be swept along at a leisurely pace.
Tanzania is one of the longest inhabited countries in the world. Two million-year-old human skeletons have been found here and many scientists believe this is where we have our roots. Tanzania has a long history and its strategic location has led to that want to conquer it.
Portugal ruled the country in the 17th century and then it was ruled by Oman, Germany and finally England before it became independent in 1964, when Tanganyika merged with Zanzibar to form Tanzania. Tanzania's first president, Julius Nyerere, is something of a national hero and managed to unite the country without conflict despite the existence of 120 different ethnic groups. This has contributed to the nation being a culturally rich place, which is evident in many parts of the country.
Zanzibar is an autonomous part of Tanzania and elects its own state president. Zanzibar was the hub of the East African slave trade in the mid-19th century, from where slaves were shipped to countries around the Persian Gulf, among other destinations. The official languages are English and Swahili. Many people in the towns speak English, although they communicate with each other in Swahili. Today the country is still poor but has good economic growth. Compulsory education was recently introduced.
During a safari, it is a good idea to wear thin clothes as it is hot during the days. In the evenings, however, it can get cold so it's recommended to bring covering clothing and a thicker sweater.
Some insects are attracted to bright colours so neutral colours are preferable. In cities, for religious reasons, it is recommended to wear clothes that cover shoulders and knees. In Zanzibar, where 90% of the population is Muslim, this is particularly important to bear in mind when walking around the villages.
In Tanzania, the current is 240 volts. Power cuts are relatively common and in some areas electricity is cut off at certain times of the day. We therefore recommend that you bring a powerbank and a torch. Wi-fi is available in many restaurants in the cities and in most hotels. Out on the savannah, however, it is more rare.
Tanzania's location on the Indian Ocean means it's tropically warm all year round. The country lies just south of the equator, so temperatures vary very little throughout the year. Inland, the climate is drier and along the coasts more humid. There are two distinct rainy seasons. The first, known as the 'long rains', takes place from mid/late March to late May.
During this period it can rain for many days at a time without interruption. The second period, known as the "short rains", usually occurs from November to mid-December. During this period there are shorter showers, often in the evenings and at night. However, the days can be completely cloudless. These periods can vary slightly from year to year. Going on safari during the rainy season, especially April-May, is not optimal as access in many parks is limited.
In addition, many times it is necessary to keep windows and roofs closed to keep the rain out. The dry periods of December-March and June-October are therefore the best times for safaris. During this period it is easier to see animals as they often congregate at waterholes.
Tanzania is one of the safer countries in Africa and crime is relatively rare. However, it is worth bearing in mind that the population is poor and for this reason valuables should not be carried openly. Most accommodations have a safety box where you can store your valuables. When it's dark outside, don't walk alone unnecessarily, but rather take a taxi. Out in the safari parks, crime is very rare.
A tourist visa is required for entry. The visa is valid for 90 days and is valid for both Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania. Your passport must be valid for 6 months after the planned date of return.
You can choose to obtain a visa either before travelling via the Tanzanian Embassy or on the spot in Tanzania provided you are flying to Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar.
If you wish to apply in advance, you can do so via this link: Visa Tanzania
If you choose to apply on the spot, you will receive a visa form which you fill in at the airport. You will pay $50 for the visa.
It is important to contact a vaccination centre well in advance of departure to advise on the vaccinations needed for your trip. The most commonly recommended vaccinations are tetanus, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. In addition, you can take ducoral before travelling.
It is also recommended to take malaria tablets if you are travelling in mainland Tanzania. There is also a requirement to have a yellow fever vaccination if you have recently been to a country where this occurs. If this is the case, you will need to show a vaccination certificate for this as proof.
In Tanzania, two main currencies are used: the USD and the Tanzanian Shilling (tsh). Shillings can be withdrawn from ATMs and exchanged from USD to shillings at local currency exchange offices in towns and cities.
In Tanzania, the motto "cash is king" really applies and you should always carry cash with you. Some places take cards, but for an extra fee. It is possible to pay with USD, but usually at a poor exchange rate. Dollar bills printed in 2006 or later are not always accepted as exchange rates are much worse with these.
In Zanzibar, the airport and Stonetown are the only places you can safely withdraw money.
Tanzanian cuisine consists of a delicious mix of meat, fruits and various spices. There are many exotic fruit trees here and mango, papaya, passion fruit and banana are common in traditional cooking. These are also commonly pressed down into fresh juices which you can buy everywhere at low prices.
Seafood is common as Tanzania is on the coast. At feasts, goat is usually served. Chapati, an Indian bread, is often served with the meal. Zanzibar grows many spices, which is why it is known as the 'Spice Island'. Vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves are some of the spices that are often used in various dishes.
Bottled water is recommended and is available in most places. If you want an alcoholic drink, gin and tonic is common as there is a popular local gin here, Konyagi, or local beers such as Safari or Kilimanjaro. Coffee is grown in Tanzania, but tea is much more common.
Going on safari in Tanzania is an unbeatable experience and it is probably the best safari destination in the world. You are guaranteed to see lots of different animals and get very close to them.
A safari in Tanzania offers everything from an endless savannah with acacia trees and large grazing herds of animals, but also to hilly landscapes with Maasai villages, waterholes with hippos and a crater with thousands of wild animals.
In northern Tanzania you have the chance to see the big five. We offer a range of safari options suitable for all ages and for small and large parties. You'll stay in carefully selected accommodation with great locations and a lovely atmosphere and can choose from budget, standard and luxury.
If you have your own preferences about how you want your safari trip to be, we will tailor the trip for you. Whichever safari you choose, it will be a memory of a lifetime!
We have set up our own mini-project where we will plant mango trees in the northern region of Tanzania near Arusha. For each safari traveler, we will plant a new mango tree. The trees will be planted twice a year.
The lion is the only feline that lives and hunts in packs. In the pride, it is mainly the female lions that hunt and the males that defend the pride and its territory. Their roar is powerful and can be heard from 5 miles away. Usually the pride consists of a majority of females. They raise their cubs together and the cubs can be fed breast milk by any of the females. A lion can eat up to 40-50 kg of meat at a time, the equivalent of about 400 hamburgers.
The buffalo is one of Africa's most dangerous animals and is known by many as "the black death". They can sometimes even kill lions. They have poor eyesight, but an exceptionally good sense of smell. A buffalo can be unpredictable, especially when alone and injured. It is said that they never forget or forgive and on many occasions they have attacked hunters who have previously tried to kill them. This has made the buffalo the animal that kills the most hunters. This behaviour and the fact that they have sharp horns means that they have not been successfully tamed.
The elephant is the world's largest land animal and also one of the world's most intelligent animals. It can weigh up to 6 tonnes, heavier than a car. Elephants are emotional and can both cry and laugh. They can talk to each other from a few miles away by stamping on the ground and can even smell water up to 2 miles away. With its trunk, an elephant can pick up a single blade of grass, but it can also lift an entire tree. An elephant is pregnant for almost 2 years.
The rhino has been around for an unlikely 60 million years. There used to be 30 species of rhinos, but there are only 5 left. You might not believe it, but the rhino is a fast animal. However, they are poor swimmers and they have small eyes and very poor eyesight. Fortunately, they have no natural enemies on the savannah. But many poachers want their horns. The horn is made of heavily twisted hair and is used for defence, but also for digging. If a horn breaks off, it grows back.
Leopards are agile and fast and are not social animals, usually living alone. During the day they often rest on a branch in a tree and at night or dawn they hunt. Their vision in the dark is seven times better than a human's. They kill their prey in lightning-fast attacks. Leopards are very strong and to prevent lions and hyenas from stealing their prey, they drag their prey up a tree. Their catch can be anything from a baboon to an antelope.
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