Location & Geography

Tanzania covers 937,062 square kilometers making it the largest country in Eastern Africa. Just south of the equator, it borders Kenya and Uganda to the north; the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi in the west; and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique in the south, and is therefore a splendid center from which to explore eastern, central and southern Africa. Through the interior runs the Great Rift Valley, that vast fault-line down the spine of Africa that in Tanzania has created many fascinating topographical features such as the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Tanganyika. The central plateau (1,200 meters above sea level) is a huge expanse of savannah and sparse woodland. To the north, the 5890-meter Mount Kilimanjaro rises making it the highest mountain in Africa. While the interior is largely arid, the 800-kilometer coastline is lush and palm-fringed, as are the Islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia.

Language

The official languages of Tanzania are English and the indigenous Kiswahili. Kiswahili evolved along the coastal region of the country. The language comes from the Bantu group and has several words in common to Arabic.  Besides Kiswahili, people also speak other languages like Bantu and some that have Khoisan or Nilo-Hamitic origin.

Kiswahili and Swahili

You probably know Kiswahili as Swahili - they're both used to describe the same language of the people of Tanzania.  If you'd like to be accurate though, Swahili is actually the name for the people of the region while Kiswahili is the language that they speak.

Useful Phrases

Jambo - Good day
Jambo - Hello
Ulale salama - Goodnight
Hujambo? - How do you do?
Sijambo - It is well with me
Hali ngani? - How are you?
Njema - I am well
Habari ngani? - What is your news?
Habari njema - Good news
Kwa heri - Goodbye
Jina lako nani? - What is your name?
Jina langu ni (name) - My name is (name)

Social Conventions

Handshakes - It is convention across the country, in both towns and villages, to greet people as well as part ways with a friendly handshake. Do take care to use only your right hand. The use of the left hand is to be avoided for any social interaction - whether it's a handshake or passing someone something at the table or in an interaction or even to receive something from someone.

Say jambo! - Tanzanians greet each other with a ‘Jambo,' an all-purpose greeting for an individual and it's also the reply you give if someone says ‘Jambo' to you. If you want to greet a group of people then say ‘Hamjambo'. Speaking a little Kiswahili can open up the doors of communication and you'll soon have the locals warming up to you if you use their favourite greeting.

Other norms - As far as hospitality goes, be yourself and follow universal norms of politeness and manners; there aren't any special local ones. You would do well to dress smartly though, as appearances do matter here. A well tailored suit worn with a tie, or a safari suit will do well for men while women can wear a smart dress.

Smoking - If you see an ashtray it means smoking is allowed; if you don't see one, don't ask for one. Smoking is strictly banned on public transport and in cinema houses.

Visas/Passports

Most visitors entering Tanzania will require a visa. Visitors can obtain a visa on arrival at either Dar-es-Salaam or Zanzibar airports for US$50, which is payable in cash. All visitors also require some proof of sufficient funds, as well as evidence of their return or onward journey. Passports must have validity of at least six months from the date of entry. Those arriving from an infected country must hold a yellow fever vaccination certificate.

Currency / Money

The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling. 1 shilling is 100 cents and the local currency comes in units of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10000. Coins valued at 5 cents, 10 cents, 50 cents and coins of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 shillings are also widely used. Current exchange rates can be found at OANDA.com.

You can change your foreign currency at authorized money changers, the bureaux de change as well as banks. Retain a copy of the receipt after you change your money and keep this until you leave Tanzania.

Credit/Debit cards and ATMs
Bigger hotels accept all major credit cards, with some ATMs offering a cash withdrawal facility on cards issued by Mastercard or Visa.

Traveller's cheques
You can encash your traveller's cheques at bureaux de change or authorized money changers. Try and bring your cheques as USD or Pounds Sterling so that you don't have to fork out extra on the exchange rate charge.

Currency Restrictions
Tanzanian currency cannot be exported or imported by law. You can, however, bring in as much foreign currency as you like, but remember to declare it on entry. Failure to correctly declare the foreign currency you are bringing in may get you in trouble when you leave - you'll only be allowed to take out an amount less or equal to as much as you declared when you entered the country.

Bank Operating Hours

8.30am-12.30pm (although some banks stay open until 4pm) from Monday to Friday. Banks close only at 1pm on Saturdays and stay closed all of Sunday.

Climate / Weather

Follow the link to our Tanzania weather page for some useful information about the climate and weather in Tanzania, the best time to travel Tanzania and recommended seasonal clothing. We have also provided a six-day Dar Es Salaam weather forecast to help you plan the upcoming weeks activities.

Communities

Telephone
Tanzania's country code is +255. If you need to make an international phone call you can use a public phone booth in a post office and other locations around the cities and towns. In smaller towns and villages, making an international call requires an operator to connect you.

Mobile telephone
International mobile phones do work here under collaborative agreements to offer roaming services. However, you will find coverage rather limited, with access restricted to bigger towns and cities.

Internet
Most cities and larger towns in Tanzania have internet cafes where you can check your mail and access the internet.

Post
Post takes about a week to get to mainland Europe by air. If you are in a hurry, you'd be better off using a courier service; it may cost you more but will have your package or letter delivered in under a day.

Electricity

Electricity in Tanzania is 230 Volts, 50 Hertz. The country uses two types of pins, with either two parellel flat pins and a ground pin, or else three round pins in a triangle.

Embassy Location

To view a list of Tanzanian embassies around the world, as well as foreign embassies in Tanzania, go to EmbassyWorld.com.

General Information

Capital: Dodoma. Population: 1.7 million (2002).
Size: 945,087 square km (364,900 square miles).
Country Population: 38.4 million (2005 UN estimate).
Population Density: 40.6 per square km.
Time Zone: GMT +3

To view the current time in Dodoma, go to TimeAndDate.com.

Public Holidays

Follow the link to view a current list of public holidays in Tanzania.

Religion

The major religions in Tanzania are Christianity and Islam. Roughly 40-45% of the population are Christian, with another 35-40% Muslim. The remainder practice traditional beliefs, centred on animism and ancestor worship.

People

For travellers who believe that it is the people who make a place, Tanzania is a goldmine. With 120 ethnic tribal groups, diversity is synonymous with the country. The people of Tanzania have embraced their differences. The chance to experience life in this multicultural society and to visit traditional tribal settlements has become a wonderful detour for tourists here on safari getaways. Of all the tribes, the group that remains enduringly popular with overseas visitors is the Masaai tribe. Living to the north of the country, Masaai village life focuses around cattle rearing in the fertile grassy lands where they live.

The Swahili people are an eclectic mix of Bantu, Arab and Indian and have developed their occupations around the trade along the spice route of the Indian Ocean. A primarily Islamic area, the coastal belt and the Spice Islands (Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba) have some intriguing palaces made of coral and mosques dating back centuries. The Dhow or old fashioned sailing boat was the lifeline of this region. Fishing villages get their income from the fresh catch from the sea, as well from the spice trade and coconut exports.