About Tanzania Brief History The United Republic of Tanzania lies on the Indian Ocean bordered by Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. The capital city and also a major port, Dar es Salaam is the natural starting point for trips in Tanzania. It is near Mount Kilimanjaro, Dodoma and the nearby island of Zanzibar. Many beautiful beaches are within easy reach of Dar es Salaam, such as those at Kunduchi, Mjimwena and Mbwa Maji. Kunduchi, 24km (15 miles) north of the city, is a fishing village with nearby ruins of Persian tombs and mosques. The beautiful island of Zanzibar is only 20 minutes' flight from Dar es Salaam. Mount Kilimanjaro, at 5895m (19,341ft), Africa's highest mountain is a major attraction for mountaineers. Tanzania's national parks extend over some 33,660 sq km (13,000 sq miles). The Serengeti National Park is a plain-dwellers' stronghold of 14,763 sq km (5678 sq miles), claimed to be the finest in Africa. Here are 35 species of plain-dwelling animals, including wildebeest and zebra, and also an extensive selection of birdlife. The Selous Game Reserve is larger than Switzerland and covers one-sixth of Tanzania's land surface. The Basic Facts Full Name United Republic of Tanzania (formerly United Republic of Tanganyika And Zanzibar) Capital Dar es Salaam Independence Dec 9, 1961 Time GMT + 3 hours Population 31,270,820 (estimated July 1999) Area 945,090 (886,040 km2 land including Zanzibar, Mafia and Pemba Islands; 59,050 km2 water) Currency Tanzania shilling (Tsh or TZS) President President Benjamin William Mkapa (since Nov 23, 1995) Public Holidays New Year's Day Jan 1 Human Rights Day Mar 21 Good Friday varies Family Day varies Constitution Day Apr 27 Workers' Day May 1 Youth Day June 16 Women's Day Aug 9 Heritage Day Sept 24 Day of Reconciliation Dec 16 Christmas Day Dec 25 Day of Goodwill Dec 26 Culture & Language Tanzania's culture is a result of African, Arab, European and Indian influences. The African people of Tanzania represent about 120 tribal groups. The largest group are of Bantu origin including Dukuma, Nyamwezi, Makonde, Haya and Chagga. The Maasai are of Nilotic origin, as are the Arusha and the Samburu. Tanzania is one of the least urbanised countries in Sub- Saharan Africa, but traditional African ideals are being deliberately adapted to modern life. The Tanzanians are friendly people, to foreigners and amongst themselves. Politeness, respect and modesty are highly valued. It is recommended that you learn some Swahili greetings (see "Language"). Handshakes are very important and you may continue holding hands during conversation. Note that the right hand is usually used for eating, while the left is traditionally used for toilet duties. Immodest attire, public affection and open anger are disrespectful to the Tanzanian people. In Zanzibar, it is important for women to dress modestly out of respect for Muslim cultural beliefs. Men should not wear shorts on the main island, and women should wear dresses that cover their shoulders and knees. This does not apply on Mnemba Island. The official language is Swahili (Kiswahili), which is generally spoken, and various local languages abound. Kiswahili is the language the primary schools teach in. English is the second official language and the country's commercial language as well as the main teaching language for all the scientific subjects in secondary schools and higher education institutions. Arabic is widely spoken in the coastal areas, particularly in Zanzibar. A Few Phrases English KiSwahili Greeting (to locals) Habari gani Greeting (to foreigner) Jambo, shikamuu Thank you (reply to greeting) Marahaba Thank you Asante Goodbye Kwaheri / Tutaonana You are welcome, come in Karibu Before you go Visa & Passport You will need a passport to travel to Tanzania. It must be valid for six months after your estimated date of entry into Africa and it should have at least one empty page for each country you will visit. A visa is an official authorization to visit a country. The visa is entered as a stamp in your passport. US residents are required to obtain a visa to enter Tanzania. You can purchase your visa on arrival at the border or airport for or at the embassy of Tanzania in Washington DC. Single entry tourist visas are $50. To obtain your visa in the US before your trip, please send the following to the Tanzanian Embassy. Your valid passport (with appropriate blank pages) Two 2"x2" passport photographs A completed and signed visa form A money order for the visa fee A postage paid trackable return envelope Important: Remember to sign both your passport and visa forms! For processing procedures and more information, go to Tanzania Embassy. Note: Before you leave home, we suggest you make photocopies of the information pages in your passport and carry them separately from your passport. We also recommend bringing at least two extra 2"x2" passport photographs. This will facilitate the replacement of your passport and visa(s) in the event your passport is lost or stolen. Immunizations & Health Current WHO Report for Tanzania You will find Africa a hospitable and healthy place to visit. However, we do strongly recommend that you consult your physician regarding medications and immunizations that are recommended or mandatory. The World Health Organization compiles a listing of required and recommended immunizations for international travelers. Your health insurance provider may cover some of the costs associated with these immunizations. All vaccinations should be officially recorded and stamped in a yellow international immunization card. This card should be carried with your passport. Routine Immunizations are: tetanus-diphtheria, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, influenza and pneumococcal. Many of these are groups together and some are oral. Additional immunizations to discuss with your doctor are yellow fever, hepatitus A, typhoid, cholera, polio and meningitis. For your safety, we request all passengers take a course of malaria prophylactics. There are several different possibilities on the market. Please discuss with your doctor which one is best for you. An International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever is required for visitors to Tanzania. Please remember, not all immunizations can be taken or obtained on the same day or on the day of departure. Some immunizations must be administered serially over a period of time and some cannot be given together. See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to allow time for vaccines to take effect. *Health concerns throughout the world change regularly. For the latest requirements and recommendations consult your doctor and/or go to the above link for the latest WHO report on Zambia. It is important that you alert us to any allergies, dietary restrictions and existing medical conditions. Packing Africa is very casual. Plan to wear neutral colors because bright colors and white can startle some animals. Remember, there is a lot of dust - khaki seems to be a good solution. The following is a general outline of items to pack: Documentation Passport 2 passport photos Health Certificates Airline Tickets Travelers Checks Spending Money Money belt Proof of insurance Xerox copy of passport, travelers checks General Clothes 1 bag/backpack - max 30 lbs 2 pair shorts 1 small day bag 2 pair lightweight pants Travel pillow 3 lightweight shirt Travel alarm clock 1 longsleeved lightweight shirt Luggage lock 1 sweater/fleece Travel umbrella 1 warm windproof jacket Swim Suit Field Gear Undergarments & Socks Camera/film/batteries 1 pair all weather sandals Video camera/tapes/batteries 1 pair lightweight walking shoes Binoculars (Extremely Important) 1 pair evening shoes for lodges and cities African Field Guild Men: one nice collared shirt Journal & Pens Women: dress or skirt and blouse Book Map - Michelin #955 is best Water Bottle Flashlight & Batteries Sunglasses Wide-brimmed hat, baseball cap and/or bandanas Toiletries First Aid Kit General - toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, razor, shampoo, etc. The basics: bandages, antibiotic ointment, anti-diarrea tablets, antacid tablets, pain reliever, waterproof tape, antiseptic, tweezers, scissors, etc. Sunblock Allergy pills Insect repellent (containing DEET - 20% is optimal) Prescription drugs w/original label Lotion/sun protective lip balm Malaria Tablets Small bottle of Woolite or washing detergent for undergarments Contact lenses/solution/glasses Hairdryer (requires a converter 220-240 volt AC 50 Hz Laundry services in Africa are very good and available at nearly all of our safari camps, lodges and hotels. This means that you can travel light and still enjoy clean fresh clothing throughout your journey. Money & Tipping Today's Exchange Rate The unit of currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TSh). Notes are issued as TSh10,000; 5000; 1000; 500; 200 and 100. Coins are TSh100; 50; 20; 10, 5 and 1. The exchange rate is in your favor. Generally you will find that fine cuisine, wine and entertainment cost a fraction of the tariff charged by equivalent establishments elsewhere in the world. We suggest bringing a combination of Traveler's Checks (mainly as a security measure) and US dollars. Have your traveler's checks issues in small denomination ($20s and $50s) as you will receive the entire amount in the foreign currency you exchange for. Getting US dollars in Africa is expensive but having some throughout the trip is necessary. The remainder of your spending money is a combination of credit card purchases and obtaining local currency at ATM machines. The amount of extra money you need to bring will depend on how many optional activities interest you and your shopping habits. $300 cash should be plenty - with at least $50 in small bills for bartering and tipping. Personal expenditure, meals in major cities, insurance, drinks other than specified, gratuities, airport taxes and visa fees are excluded. We suggest that you allow US$25-35 per day to cover the cost of personal expenses and souvenirs (within reason). There are a number of optional activities available and recommended in Zanzibar and hot air ballooning in the Serengeti. Note: We strongly recommend keeping your passport, all money, vouchers and international air tickets in a money belt or pouch. Guide to Tipping on Safari Although tipping is a safari tradition, it is never compulsory and should only be done if you have received good service. The staff very much appreciates receiving gratuity from you and it is one way of assuring them they are doing a good job. You can tip in US dollars or local currency. Guests often want to know what is appropriate, so we have prepared a brief guideline to assist you. Professional Guides and Driver Guides We recommend, if you are happy with the service, about US$5-10 per person, per day for the guide and about US$3 per person, per day for the driver as a suggested tip. Lodges and Camps Here we recommend $3-5USD per client, per day, to be divided among the staff. Most lodges have a staff tip box located at reception or a central location. Tips left here will be divided among the porters and waiters and other lodge staff. If you are particularly satisfied with assistance received from someone, a personal tip is also acceptable. Voltage & Photography Bring the photo equipment you are used to working with. A trip like this is not the best place for trying out a new camera. If you spend all of your time learning how to use a piece of equipment, you may not learn how to shoot good images. Bring the instruction manual. Keep in mind that too much equipment can be a hindrance, while leaving behind a piece that could be useful is also a mistake. We suggest bringing an 8" x 5" beanbag to use as a tripod to hold your camera steady when shooting from the vehicle. Bring a combination of lenses that range from 25mm to 300mm. We suggest an average of 2-3 rolls of film per day of game viewing. Most of your game viewing is in the early morning and mid to late afternoons. For protection from airport X-ray machines, pack all film in lead-lined shield bags. Film and batteries are not available in the African bush. You will find them in the major cities, but they are very expensive. Digital photography is here. Digital photographers will have to plan for how to save images while in the field. Multiple storage disks are less cumbersome than bringing a laptop to download images to. Whichever film type you select, the slower ASA films (50-100) generally produce higher quality photos. I would bring a slow film and a faster one (400) for low-light situations. Note: Always ask before photographing the native people. Do not take pictures of military installations, police stations, airports, soldiers, police or border posts - you may have your film confiscated. Please consult with lodge managers about charging your equipment. Many properties are run on generators that are only turned on at certain times of the day, usually in the early evening and turned off in the late evening at bedtime. Electricity in Africa is generally at 220 volts AC, therefore, for most 110 appliances you will need both an adapter for the proper plug configuration and a converter for the correct current. Both round and rectangular three pronged plug sockets are in use. Outlets tend to be unreliable. The Africa factor Expect the unexpected. Despite our efforts to have every safari run perfectly, things are going to happen that are simply out of our control. We will do what we can to minimize these situations however, things will still occur albeit a canceled flight beyond our control, rogue warthogs wandering in our camp, flat tires, floods, all or none may occur.