National Parks - Link to National Parks: Tanzania

Accommodation Options - Link to Tanzania: Places to Stay

Climate

The weather in Tanzania is tropical on the coast, on the island and in the Selous. It is temperate in the other parks. Temperatures on Mount Kilimanjaro and Meru drop to below freezing. In broad terms the pattern is as follows:

Mid December-March - hot and dry
Late March-late May - hot and wet (referred to as the "long rains")
June-late October - warm and dry
Late October-mid December - warm and wet (referred to as the "short rains")

Broadly speaking the times to avoid are the rainy seasons. The heavy rains fall in April, and May, and the light rains fall in November.

The Migration is best viewed in the Serengeti in May-July and Jan to March. Tarangire is at its best during its dry season from July to September. Southern Tanzania is best visited between July and early October.

Health Issues

Malaria: Malaria does occur in Tanzania and it is essential that guests consult their doctor prior to travel and it is always a good idea to carry insect repellent on you at all times.

Cholera: This is now a REQUIREMENT for all vistors to Tanzania.

Yellow Fever: This is no longer an ESSENTIAL requirement for Tanzania but is RECOMMENDED. Visitors should ensure that they have the inoculation at least 10 days prior to departing for Tanzania and ensure that they carry the certificate with them as the authorities more often than not request it upon entry into the country. Should a guest not be carrying their certificate they could be subjected to a request by officials for a bribe in order to gain entry into the country. PLEASE NOTE: Zanzibar authorities will NOT permit anyone entry onto the island without a valid Yellow Fever certificate.

Entry Requirements

Prior to departing for Tanzania, it is essential that you check with the Tanzanian embassy or consulate what the visa requirements are for entry. It is advisable that should a visa be required it is purchased prior to departure for Tanzania in order to avoid any delays on arrival in Tanzania. It is possible to purchase a visa on arrival, but it could mean standing in a queue for a long time after an international flight. Only US dollar cash is accepted when purchasing a visa on arrival in the country.

Communications

Reliable services for telephone and postage exist in the main towns throughout the country.

Electricity

Voltage in Tanzania is 240 volts AC, 50Hz. The plugs are the same as the square 3-pin plugs used in Britain. Adaptors are not all that easy to find and if one is located it will be outrageously expensive. It is therefore recommended that guests bring adaptors with them.

During the dry seasons and periods of drought, the mainline electricity supply is rationed and hotels have to rely on generator power (particularly affects those hotels in the main towns and cities). Generally speaking, the larger hotels maintain a 24-hour power supply no matter what the mainline supply status is but guests should check with reception on check-in as to what the status is with regard to the hours that power is available.

Many safari lodges rely solely on generator power anyway and the power supply hours vary from property to property.

Concerns

Water: It is not advisable to drink the tap water. Although sometimes not cheap, bottled water is readily available for purchase in the majority of hotels and some roadside curio stores. It is recommended that guests carry bottled water with them throughout their trip, as it can get very hot and dusty while on safari.

Photographing of people (the attractive and distinctive Maasai people are obvious favourites for visitors), can be a sensitive issue and usually requires permission and payment. It is inadvisable to randomly try and take photographs of people along the roadside as many people now use it as an income and can get fairly upset and unpleasant if a deal isn't negotiated.

Other Considerations

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