Karibuni Tanzania - Welcome to Tanzania
Tanganyika was formerly a German Colony, then after the first world war, a British protectorate. Tanganyika became independent in 1961, and merged with Zanzibar in 1964 to form Tanzania. Julius Nyerere was the country's first president and guided the country through many struggles until his death in 1999. He has left a legacy of peaceful coexistence between Tanzania's many tribes, and the country is a beacon of political stability in a rather turbulent region.
For this reason Tanzania offers a safe and exciting environment for holidays, and has an infinite variety of landscapes from high mountains and endless plains teeming with wildlife, to a beautiful coast line and ocean.
The population of 30 million is also varied - bantu people throughout the interior of the country; nilotic people such as the Maasai in the centre and north; and the Swahili people of the coast - of arab, african and asian origin. One factor that is universally acknowledged is that visitors are assured of a warm welcome, and many people are drawn back to Tanzanian again and again by the friendship they have experienced as much as the landscape.
There is a variety of cultures reflecting the diverse nature of the people; the main religions are Islam and Christianity of many denominations. The official language is Swahili, and English is widely spoken. Simply Tanzania urges our clients to respect the local culture in terms of dress code and behaviour. Particularly on the coast dress should be modest, avoiding exposing large areas of flesh. Swimwear and shorts is fine for the beach, but not in towns or villages. Drunken and riotous behaviour is obviously not appropriate.
Although the country is peaceful, Tanzania is a poor country and life can be a struggle. There is high unemployment, much subsistance agriculture in the rural areas and many people lack decent housing, access to clean water, sanitation and electricity. Debt is a major problem for Tanzania as the country has borrowed over the years to finance infra - structure development. Tanzania is one of the first countries to benefit from the debt relief programme, but there is still a long way to go. In addition terms of trade are weighted against countries such as Tanzania, and primary agricultural products are at the whim of market prices - a fall in the price paid to a producer - eg coffee - is rarely reflected in the price the consumer pays in the shops in the West.
Simply Tanzania enables visitors to visit local communities, to experience their way of life and see something of the development process at grass roots level. Whilst the Government sets the frame work and infrastructure for development, it is at the local level where the daily struggle for survival takes place. Our tours enable the visitor to see this at first hand; a memory they take back with them possibly leading to involvement in development issues at home.
We recognize however that visitors want to experience the natural highlights of Tanzania and as this web site reveals you can be a responsible tourist and visit these attractions - Serengeti and Ngorongoro; Mount Kilimanjaro; Zanzibar; as well as the lesser known delights of the Swahili Coast; the Selous Game Reserve; Ruaha National park; and the highlands of Iringa and Mbeya.
For this reason Tanzania offers a safe and exciting environment for holidays, and has an infinite variety of landscapes from high mountains and endless plains teeming with wildlife, to a beautiful coast line and ocean.
The population of 30 million is also varied - bantu people throughout the interior of the country; nilotic people such as the Maasai in the centre and north; and the Swahili people of the coast - of arab, african and asian origin. One factor that is universally acknowledged is that visitors are assured of a warm welcome, and many people are drawn back to Tanzanian again and again by the friendship they have experienced as much as the landscape.
There is a variety of cultures reflecting the diverse nature of the people; the main religions are Islam and Christianity of many denominations. The official language is Swahili, and English is widely spoken. Simply Tanzania urges our clients to respect the local culture in terms of dress code and behaviour. Particularly on the coast dress should be modest, avoiding exposing large areas of flesh. Swimwear and shorts is fine for the beach, but not in towns or villages. Drunken and riotous behaviour is obviously not appropriate.
Although the country is peaceful, Tanzania is a poor country and life can be a struggle. There is high unemployment, much subsistance agriculture in the rural areas and many people lack decent housing, access to clean water, sanitation and electricity. Debt is a major problem for Tanzania as the country has borrowed over the years to finance infra - structure development. Tanzania is one of the first countries to benefit from the debt relief programme, but there is still a long way to go. In addition terms of trade are weighted against countries such as Tanzania, and primary agricultural products are at the whim of market prices - a fall in the price paid to a producer - eg coffee - is rarely reflected in the price the consumer pays in the shops in the West.
Simply Tanzania enables visitors to visit local communities, to experience their way of life and see something of the development process at grass roots level. Whilst the Government sets the frame work and infrastructure for development, it is at the local level where the daily struggle for survival takes place. Our tours enable the visitor to see this at first hand; a memory they take back with them possibly leading to involvement in development issues at home.
We recognize however that visitors want to experience the natural highlights of Tanzania and as this web site reveals you can be a responsible tourist and visit these attractions - Serengeti and Ngorongoro; Mount Kilimanjaro; Zanzibar; as well as the lesser known delights of the Swahili Coast; the Selous Game Reserve; Ruaha National park; and the highlands of Iringa and Mbeya.
A visa is required for most visitors;
For UK this is £38 obtainable in advance or at the port of entry.
Please obtain advice from your own doctor or health travel clinic before travel.
Yellow fever vaccinations are not now required. You must take anti-malaria prophylactics at least 1 week before departure and 2 weeks after returning home. Anti tetanus and anti typhoid booster jabs are advisable.
Bring insect repellent - roll on is good - and "sting relief" from Boots - good if bitten.Sun cream of a high factor. Small first aid kit - plasters, pain killers, medi-swabs, needles for injections.
Mosquito net are not required, unless you are going to remote areas, as they are normally provided by the hotels and lodges. Advice will be given for those tours where a net should be brought.
Bring insect repellent - roll on is good - and "sting relief" from Boots - good if bitten.Sun cream of a high factor. Small first aid kit - plasters, pain killers, medi-swabs, needles for injections.
Mosquito net are not required, unless you are going to remote areas, as they are normally provided by the hotels and lodges. Advice will be given for those tours where a net should be brought.
Currency: Tanzania Shillings
2000Tsh to the £Sterling
1000 to the $US
Credit cards are only accepted in a few places - usually up-market hotels.
Money machines only available in Dar es Salaam - and then only a few outlets.
Sterling or Dollars are best to bring; Travellers cheques ok but can only changed in large towns. Banks insist on the original receipt for Travellers Cheques, so bring it, but keep it separately from the cheques.
1000 to the $US
Credit cards are only accepted in a few places - usually up-market hotels.
Money machines only available in Dar es Salaam - and then only a few outlets.
Sterling or Dollars are best to bring; Travellers cheques ok but can only changed in large towns. Banks insist on the original receipt for Travellers Cheques, so bring it, but keep it separately from the cheques.
Time Difference
2 hours ahead of British Summer Time
3 hours ahead of GMT.
3 hours ahead of GMT.
Hygiene
Bottled water is now freely available in the shops; but make sure the seals are intact.
Suggest you wash fruit with the bottled water; avoid ice cubes except in tourist hotels/bars.
On safari it is good to carry wet wipes especially where tiolets don't have running water.
Suggest you wash fruit with the bottled water; avoid ice cubes except in tourist hotels/bars.
On safari it is good to carry wet wipes especially where tiolets don't have running water.
Tanzania has a wide variety of micro-climates between the lowland and coastal areas and the mountains.
The hot season is mainly from November to April; cool season June- August.
Main rains March to early June; short rains on the coast November/December.
Coastal and lowland areas temperatures vary from 25ºC to 33ºC; mountainous areas vary widely - frost can be experienced over 2000 metres in June/July; pleasant temperatures of 25/28ºC in December/January.
Main rains March to early June; short rains on the coast November/December.
Coastal and lowland areas temperatures vary from 25ºC to 33ºC; mountainous areas vary widely - frost can be experienced over 2000 metres in June/July; pleasant temperatures of 25/28ºC in December/January.