Generally dry and hot with cool nights/mornings June-October; short rains November to mid-December; long rains March-May but the seasons can vary. The coastal strip is hot and humid all year round. Temperatures on Mount Kilimanjaro and Meru drop to below freezing.
This depends on your interests – for photography, birding and wildlife enthusiasts we recommend the following: Binoculars: Water proof binoculars are great as they are also dustproof. For most travelers stick with 8 or 10 magnification and 32 objective. These will be lighter than the 42 objectives which are heavy to carry all day. Cameras: Choose something which you know you can handle – a heavy camera with many settings will be off-putting for some people to use. For good wildlife shots, get atleast 8x optical zoom. Six to eight megapixels is fine unless you want poster –size photos. Bring a lens cloth to remove dust, several changes of batteries (even if you use rechargeable –not all sites have power points) and take several 1GB memory cards instead of one large one, to avoid losing all your photos if something goes wrong.
Most visitors require visas with the exception of citizens of certain countries of the Commonwealth. Check current requirements with the nearest Tanzanian High Commission, embassy or consulate. Visas, if required, can be bought on arrival at all international airports and overland borders.
The Tanzanian Shilling. This cannot be purchased outside the country. US dollars are accepted for the payment of the park fees. Many larger hotels will also accept US dollars, pounds and Euros. Note: All US dollars must be printed post-2000, and should not be damaged in any way. Higher exchange rates are given on larger values notes. Banks and Forex bureaus will exchange cash; alternatively you can use ATM machines to get local currency – common in the major towns. Visa and MasterCard’s is widely accepted in major city hotels and stores. Other credit cards are unlikely to work. Alert your bank before using your card abroad to avoid it being blocked.
A yellow fever vaccine is no longer essential but you are advised to consult your doctor before leaving your country. Malaria is endemic but it is preventable. Use insect repellent, cover up at sundown, sleep under mosquito net and take anti-malarial prophylactics as advised by your doctor. Bring all prescription medications with you – they may not be readily available in Tanzania. Be sure to purchase travel insurance before you begin your trip, including medical evacuation in case of emergency.
Prices are fixed in shops, but food and craft markets will be more flexible. You stand a better chance of getting a reduced price if you purchase several items from the same seller. Prices are very low – so do consider if what you are asking for is fair. Agree on charges for minibuses (dala dala) or motorbike taxis (boda boda) with your driver beforehand.
Even if you are taking anti-malarials, you should still wear insect repellent, long sleeved shirts, long trousers and closed shoes. This will also help protect you from other diseases carried by mosquitoes, and other insects such as tsetse flies. All accommodation in high –risk areas will have mosquito nets- be sure to use them. Tap water is not suitable for drinking, though bottled water is readily available throughout the country.
Tanzania is generally considered to be a safe, stable country with low crime rates. Use common sense in the cities – do not carry large amount of cash or valuables, and keep money and credit cards in an inside pocket.
Kiswahili is the national language and it is widely spoken all over the country as the medium of communication, even though English is used as an official language in many offices. There are about 126 ethnic/local tribes apart from Kiswahili, where by people of the same clan can communicate by using their own local language.
If your cell phone is compatible, you may be able to purchase an inexpensive SIM card, widely available throughout the country. The international dialing code for Tanzania is +255.
Internet cafes are common in many towns, though the connection sometimes likely to be very slow. Some hotels and restaurants also offer wifi. Time 3 hours + GMT Electricity 230V, but power failures, surges and troughs are common. Bring a universal adaptor and a torch (flashlight) or head lamp.