I want to visit Tanzania, but is it safe?” This is a question that regularly comes up from our clients seeking Tanzania travel advice, The short answer? Yes! Tanzania is one of the safest destinations in Africa, with more than 1 million tourists visiting the country every year Travelling with the travel experts at King of Africa Safaris & Trekking, safety is paramount. Our private safari experiences with knowledgeable professional guides enhance your experience in Tanzania and ensure your total peace of mind. Don’t walk in dark areas, especially during the night. It is preferable and usually more enjoyable to walk in groups or better take taxi. Taxis are available at a reasonable rate, but the rates are not fixed, therefore you should be able to negotiate before the start of the trip. However, hotels can arrange taxi for you on request. Be aware of the possibility of pick-pockets and bag snatchers in crowded areas, please do not carry large sums of cash in your pocket or display expensive jewelry. Most hotels offer safety deposit box services, please don’t leave money or valuables stuff in a hotel room.

The population of Tanzania is almost 60 million. One of Africa’s most ethnically diverse countries, around 120 different ethnic groups live in Tanzania, with more than 100 different languages spoken nationwide The Tanzanian people are well-known for their hospitality, often warmly welcoming tourists to experience their beautiful nature, wildlife and culture. Meeting the locals is one of the best ways to really learn more about a country and its culture and is well recommended on your Tanzania discovery!

Most international travellers will need a visa to travel to Tanzania Your visa can be requested online through the official Visa website from the Tanzanian government. It is also possible to get a tourist or business visa for a single entry on arrival at the main ports of entry to Tanzania OR thru our embassies. This visa for Tanzania is valid for three months. You may be asked to provide proof of your return journey, and costs are $50 per person, US Citizens $100 per person When arranging your trip to Tanzania with King of Africa Safaris & Trekking, we guide you through AND as well if you need any assistance, kindly let us know.

Passports should have at least six months of validity after the final day of travel.

A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is only required for travellers one year of age and older coming from – or who are in airport transit for more than 12 hours within – a country with risk of Yellow Fever transmission. In addition to standard vaccinations CDC and WHO recommend vaccinations for Tanzania. Hepatitis A & B, typhoid. Yellow fever and rabies vaccinations are also recommended depending on the traveller’s activities. As with all international travel, we always advise you to consult your physician for professional health advice before travelling to Tanzania. Travel insurance through your travel agent or any other agent is recommended.

We are members of The Flying Doctor’s Society of Africa. In that respect all our clients are covered with an aero-medical evacuation insurance.

Light tropical clothes, especially cotton slacks, shirts and skirts are most suitable. Some warm clothing is needed in the higher altitude areas around Ngorongoro Crater, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Arusha, especially in the evenings and early in the morning. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended on safari and guests are advised to carry some insect repellents.

Personal effects including binoculars, cameras, film, may be imported (temporarily) free of duty. A custom bond may be demanded from visitors bringing in professional video/filming equipment, radios, tape recorders and musical instruments to ensure the goods are re-exported. Firearms require a special permit that should be obtained in advance. Visitors buying local handicrafts must keep cash sales receipts and ownership certificates for wildlife trophies or stones for presentation to Customs officials on departure. We can help you arrange all these.

Tanzania is GMT + 3. To put that into terms we all understand, check out the time difference from
Tanzania to LA, New York, London and more below:
Los Angeles: -10 hours
New York: -7 hours
London: -3 hours
Berlin: -2 hours
Hong Kong: +5 hours
Tokyo: +6 hours
Sydney: + 8 hours
Auckland: +10 hours

The Tanzanian Shilling is the official currency of Tanzania. You can use the Tanzanian Shilling for smaller expenses like shopping at local markets, restaurants and supermarkets. The US dollar is used in many places, in tourist areas where many locals prefer to receive US dollars over local currency Bring as much cash as you wish and in any currency, but mostly used are US($) or UK(£) or Euro(€). Please bring notes from years 2006 onwards. Please change your money to an official banks and/or bureau de change. We don’t recommend you to change money on the street.

Tanzanian cuisine is simple and tasty, portions are big and typical dishes include:
 Ugali, stiff maize or cassava porridge.
 Wali, cooked rice.
 Chipsi, deep-fried potatoes (chips or French fries).
 Chapati, a round bread cooked like a pancake.
 Chipsi mayai, an omelette made with chips.
 Kuku, chicken.
 Samaki, fish.
 Nyama choma, roasted meat.
 Mchuzi, meat or vegetable sauce.
 Ndizi choma, fried vegetable bananas (plantain).
 Mishkaki, grilled meat on a skewer.
 Samosa or Sambusa, fried triangular-shaped pastry filled with a mixture of meat, onions,
vegetables and spices.
 Pilau, mixture of rice and spices.
 Matoke, cooked banana with meat or fish and different vegetables.

On the mainland coast and Zanzibar you can enjoy fresh tropical fish, lobster and shrimps. Larger towns have a good selection of international cuisine including Indian, Chinese and Italian restaurants. Vegetarians will enjoy a wide selection of exotic fruits, most restaurants cater well for vegetarians. Price of a meal in a local restaurant vary from US$1 to about US$10. Middle-range restaurants with international cuisine offer meals from US$5-30, upper class will charge from US$25-50 for a meal. Non-alcoholic drinks beside water include chai (tea), kahawa (coffee), sodas and different types of juices.

Bargaining is particularly used in markets and curio shops. Requesting for the final best price is almost expected and starts off knowing you are being charged tourist prices and end up paying what you think the item is worth to you.

It is a common courtesy to tip your driver guide, cook and porter or waiters. Tip is just an expression of thanks – as always you should tip based on your satisfaction & budget.

Driver guide or Mountain guide: US$15-20 per day, Cook: US$15 per day,

Porters: US$10 per day.

Waiters/room stewards: US$2-5 per person per

service. Can give more as you wish.

Power supply is 220/240 volt. Plugs are usually 13-amp 3 pin square (British type)

There are over 100 different languages spoken in Tanzania. The official languages, however, are Swahili and English. You can expect all your Tanzania guides and hosts to speak English, but if you’re looking to learn a few words of Swahili before your trip, check out our list of top useful Swahil words & numbers !! Travelling in Tanzania is more than just a vacation. For many explorers of Tanzania, this is a bucket-list adventure to remember for a lifetime. For detailed Tanzania travel advice or to start planning your custom vacations in Tanzania, contact us now.

We look forward to welcoming you to Tanzania soon!