Welcome to United Republic of Tanzania

With its promise of grand safaris across wild savannah plains, Tanzania is the Africa of which you have dreamed. From the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro to the lion’s dens of Ngorongoro Crater to the wildebeest stampeding from the Maasai Mara to the Serengeti, Tanzania’s riches are plentiful.

This is where you can witness the great migration, get up close to massive crocodiles on the Rufiji River and photograph ancient baobab trees and the elephants that gather below them in Tarangire National Park. This, too, is where you can meet with the Maasai tribe and learn about their herding techniques, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stone Town in Zanzibar City and tour a plantation on Spice Island, surrounded by the heady scent of cloves, nutmeg and cardamom.

Summit Mount Kilimanjaro, spot the Big 5 in Ngorongoro Crate and lounge on the idyllic beaches of the Indian Ocean, marveling at how incredibly satisfying such an ancient destination can be.

Unique Facts

• Go back in time, way back, at Olduvai Gorge, where the earliest human skull in the world, dating back two million years, was found by a famous East Africa archaeologist.
• Serengeti National Park is much the same as it was more than a million years ago – it’s one of the planet’s oldest ecosystems.
• In Lake Manyara National Park, look up into the trees – you may just spot a lion up there. This is the first park to become famous for its resident tree-climbing lions.
• Tanzania boast the largest concentration of wildlife in the world. Look for leopards, giraffes, lions, baboons, chimpanzees, hippos, elephants, giraffes, flamingoes, warthogs, buffalo, hyenas, zebra, wildebeest … the list goes on.

Language

Tanzania has no official language. The many languages that are spoken are from all found of Africa’s language families: Bantu, Cushitic, Nilotic and Khoisan.

When To Go

The best time to go to Tanzania for game viewing is during the dry season (January to March and June to September). Northern parks may be visited year-round, while southern and western parks are best visited during dry season. Many accommodations are closed during the rainy season of April and May. The Great Migration occurs between June and October. The coastal region and Zanzibar enjoy warm weather year-round.

Airports

Julius Nyerere International Airport, Dar es Salaam

Passport Validity

Passport must be valid at time of entry for six months beyond arrival date.

Visa Required By US Citizen?

Yes

Vaccinations

The CDC recommends the following vaccines for most travelers when visiting Tanzania: Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Depending on where you are traveling, you may also need Hepatitis B, Cholera, Malaria, Rabies and Yellow Fever vaccines.

Electrical Outlets

Power plugs and sockets: types D and G. Standard voltage: 230V. Frequency: 50Hz.

Currency

Official local currency: Tanzanian Shilling

Getting Around

Domestic flights are available between remote locations, lodges and parks. The main highway from Nairobi to Arusha via the border town of Namanga is well maintained, as are the highways that connect Arusha, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam. Bus service is available across the borders with Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia. During the rainy season, many urban and rural roads are only accessible via four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Large bus, as well as small minibus, service is a good way to get around, though you should avoid traveling at night.

Taxi service and private car-and-driver services are available and recommended over renting a car. Do not enter a taxi that is already carrying a passenger and if a taxi stops to allow another passenger in, exit immediately.

When traveling between the mainland and Zanzibar, use a high-speed ferry and purchase your ticket from inside the ferry terminal, from a travel agency or online in advance of travel.

Driver’s License

Valid driver’s license from country of origin is required.

US Embassy Info

U.S. Embassy Dar Es Salaam
686 Old Bagamoyo Road,
Msasani
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Telephone: +(255) 22-229-4122
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(255) 22-229-4000, dial ‘1’ for an emergency operator
Fax: +(255) 22-229-4721
drsacs@state.gov

Local Visitor Info

Tanzania Tourist Board
Utalii House – Laibon Street/Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road
PO Box 2485
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel: +255-22-2664878/9
info@tanzaniatourism.go.tz
www.tanzaniatouristboard.go.tz

Local Emergency Phone Numbers

Ambulance: 114
Police: 112
Fire: 112

Safety and Security

Robberies are common in Tanzania, particularly while hailing taxis. Use caution when traveling between Julius Nyerere International Airport and Dar es Salaam, as robberies have occurred while cars are stopped at traffic lights.

In Dar es Salaam, use caution in the Coco Beach area, a regular spot of muggings, pickpocketing and theft from vehicles.