Tanzania

PASSPORTS

Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your return to Australia and have at least two blank pages for every entry and country you intend to visit on your journey. If your passport does not meet these requirements you must obtain a new one. The Australian Passport Office website is www.passports.gov.au.

It is a wise precaution to carry a photocopy of your passport separately and leave a copy at home. This will aid authorities in processing a new passport should yours get stolen or lost.

If you have dual citizenship and more than one passport, we strongly recommend that you use only one of these during your travels, as in some countries it is considered illegal to have two or more passports. Be sure to use the same passport on entry and exit from a country, and never surrender your passport.

If your passport name is different to your commonly used name, advise us of this and ensure your airline reservations match those of your passport name.

VISAS

Australian and New Zealand passport holders require a Tourist Visa to enter Tanzania

SINGLE ENTRY VISA

A single entry visa costs US$50 and is valid for 90 days. These can be obtained on arrival or online prior to departure.

All visa applications must be made on the official e-visas website. We can provide detailed instructions for this process if required – just ask. The official support email address is visatanzania@immigration.go.tz

We highly recommend that you apply for your visa online prior to travel, rather than on arrival, to avoid extended delays at the airport. The online visa can take up to 2-3 weeks to be issued so please apply for your e-Visa as early as possible to ensure you receive it in time.

Note: that ’East Africa Tourist Visas’ are not valid for travel in Tanzania. These allow tourists to travel between Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda only.

CLIMATE

Tanzania tends to have a temperate to tropical climate all year round but due to its sheer size the climate varies considerably within it. However, generally the main rainy season, or the ‘long rains’, come in March, April and May.   Afternoon tropical downpours are the norm which are heavier and more predictable on the coast and islands. The humidity is high and daily temperatures are in the low-mid 30s.

The long dry season lasts throughout June, July, August, September and October, when rainfall is unusual. Temperatures vary hugely with altitude and location, but it’s usually a fine, clear sky and sunny weather – it’s a great time to visit Tanzania. During November and December there’s another rainy season: the ‘short rains’. These are much lighter than the main rains and far less reliable. It then normally dries up for

LUGGAGE

Charter flight companies and some safari operators impose strict luggage restrictions.

The maximum luggage weight specific to your journey is 15 kgs including camera equipment and hand luggage for travel through Tanzania.  Your bags must be soft-shelled and malleable and not exceed the maximum dimensions of 62cm x 30cm x 25cm.

If your luggage does not meet the criteria the charter companies will either leave your luggage behind, charge you for an extra seat onboard the aircraft (if one is available) or charter your bags separately at your cost. The charter planes have restricted space onboard, and, above all, the regulations are in place for your safety.  

And if you are wondering how to pack everything in and keep it under 15kgs read our blog – How to pack for a safari and keep it under 15kg

For further information on luggage and packing please refer to our AFRICA pre-departure information.

VACCINATIONS

It may be necessary to take medical precaution prior to, and whilst travelling. As we are not qualified to offer advice, we recommend you contact your GP or the Travel Doctor-TMVC who have the most up‐to-date information available. Requirements are highly personal depending on your health profile and the activities in your itinerary. Some vaccinations must be given well in advance of travel, so we suggest seeking medical advice as soon as you start to plan your trip. Be sure to ask what vaccinations or medications may be required to enter Tanzania and to re-enter Australia.

You can also refer to SmartTraveller for a guide as to what may be required, however you should always seek professional medical advice before travelling.

For further information on health and vaccinations please refer to our AFRICA pre-departure information.

INSURANCE & AMREF FLYING DOCTORS

You should ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance before you leave for any destination. When travelling in Tanzania with The Classic Safari Company you will additionally have AMREF cover.

WHAT IS AMREF FLYING DOCTORS COVER FOR?

Amref Health Africa  (formerly the African  Medical and Research  Foundation) is the  largest  African health development non‐governmental international organisation based in Africa and is the leading African‐based aero‐medical and health assistance provider. AMREF is offers a 24hr emergency contact centre, the best in‐flight care and equipment, the fastest response times and are considered the most reliable.  As  many  of safari  camps  and  lodges  in  East  Africa  are  located in  extremely remote  areas  it  is imperative  that,  in  the  unfortunate case of a medical emergency, you are able to reach a well-equipped hospital fast, with expert care en route. And that is where AMREF steps in.

Whilst most good travel insurance policies will include medical evacuation cover,  inevitably  emergencies  arise  out  of  hours , and there are often delays whilst (mandatory) authority is sought from your chosen international medical insurer. This can mean the difference between life and death. As a result most, if not all, safari operators will not accept clients on any of their itineraries, or in their camps or lodges, who are not covered for medical evacuation by a flying doctor membership, regardless of whether your travel insurance policy also covers this. The cost for AMREF cover is therefore automatically included in the cost of your itinerary designed and booked by The Classic Safari Company.

CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE

Tanzania’s currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) which is divided into 100 cents. Australian dollars cannot be exchanged for Tanzanian Shillings so travel with US dollars that may then be exchanged at banks, bureau de change and at some hotels.

It’s best to take a mixture of money – credit card, debit card or travel cash card, plus cash just in case.  Small denominations of USD are advisable – especially for tipping.  If all else fails, have someone you can depend on who will make an emergency transfer of funds. USD is widely accepted and often preferred to TZS so we recommend travelling with plenty of USD.

ATM machines are available in most cities & towns, are NOT widely available beyond that so do rely on these as your sole source of funds.  Please be vigilant if you do withdraw cash.

Major international credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted.  AMEX is not so popular and in some instances is not accepted at all. Please note that you need to take your physical credit card, and you need to know your PIN number, as not all places will allow you to ‘tap’.  In some cases you may also be asked to sign.

It is recommended that you DO NOT change money on the black market as you are more likely to receive a lower rate of exchange or fake notes.

TELL YOUR BANK

We highly recommend you advise your bank of your destinations and travel dates. This should prevent any of your transactions being deemed as ‘out of the ordinary’ (and possibly stopped) due to their unexpected location.

POWER

There are basically two main voltage systems used around the world: 110 Volt ‐ USA, Canada, Spain & Japan 220 Volt ‐ the rest of the world. In simple terms, the power supply available at the socket is roughly twice as powerful in 240V countries as in 110V countries.

The voltage in Tanzania is 220 Volts, therefore if you wish to use any electronic devices from Canada, the US or Japan you’ll need a voltage converter AND a plug adapter. Australia operates a 220V currency and therefore you only require an adapter for Australian appliances.

The adaptor you will need for Tanzania is a TYPE G or, alternatively you may prefer to invest in an International Travel Adaptor that provides you with more than one option.

Many adaptors also have a USB port so you can plug your smart phone, or I‐product directly into the adaptor.

For the latest & most up to date information about voltage and what adaptors to travel with refer to: www.korjo.com