Discover Tanzania
Discover Tanzania: Tanzania is a country which is located in East Africa and is popular for its various destinations which are visited by tourists from different parts of the year annually. Apart from its beautiful white sand beaches, hospitable local with unique cultures and various attractions like Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania is also a famous wildlife viewing destination for numerous activities from adventure to just relaxing in the comfortable lodges in and outside the national parks after a safari.
Tanzania has many natural wonders with a diversity of flora and fauna and beautiful scenery.
Capital City of Tanzania
The capital city of Tanzania is Dodoma which is located in the central part of Tanzania.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements in Tanzania include a passport or travel document which is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry into the country. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic which has affected many countries all over the world, there are standard operating procedures in place to be followed by travelers as well as locations where COVID 19 testing can be carried out.
Another requirement for entry into Tanzania is a resident permit or a pass and an entry visa which is valid (where applicable) which is to be provided at an entry point into the country.
The different visas in Tanzania include single entry visas (50 USD), multiple entry visas (100 USD), Gratis visas, Transit visas (30 USD) and Business visas (250 USD). The visas is issued to visitors intending to enter Tanzania for different purposes such as tourism, leisure, business, health treatment and other activities which are recognized by the laws of Tanzania.
To be allowed entry into Tanzania, the holder of the visa is expected to fulfill immigration entry requirements. The different visa requirements for entry into Tanzania include a valid passport, a full filled visa application and declaration form, visa fee, 2 passport sized photographs (for single entry visas).
There is also an option of applying for the visa online through the official website of Tanzania immigration at www.immigration.go.tz and for this form of visa application; applicants should ensure that they fill in the different fields correctly.
Payment for visas for Tanzania can be done by visa card/ master card and also by direct transfer though the bank which is followed by a notification which is sent to the applicant showing the payment has been received.
There are also some countries which are exempted from applying for visas and are not required to pay for visa to enter Tanzania for example Kenya and Uganda among others.
Currency
In Tanzania, the currency is referred to as Tanzanian shillings and includes notes in the denominations of 2000 shillings, 1000 shillings, 10000 shillings and 5000 shillings. The coins of Tanzania shillings range from 50, 100, 200, 500 shillings.
Time zone
Tanzania is in the time zone GMT +3.
Airports
Air travel in Tanzania takes place in different airports (which are about 29) such as Arusha airport, Kilimanjaro international airport, Julius Nyerere international airport, Bukoba airport, Dodoma airport, Songwe airport, Mwanza airport, Tabora airport, Mafia airport, Iringa airport, Kilwa Masoko airport among others.
These airports in Tanzania offer both domestic flights and international flights for entry and exit in the country. For tourists visiting the northern part of Tanzania, Kilimanjaro international airport and Arusha airport are used while for safaris to the southern parks of Tanzania, tourists and other visitors can use Julius Nyerere international airport.
Wildlife
Tanzania is famous for its memorable safaris and wildlife viewing experiences across the different national parks in the country. The northern part of Tanzania is popular among tourists interested in wildlife adventures and exploring savannah plains in search of various wildlife species in destinations such as Serengeti national park.
With over 16 national parks and other wildlife viewing destinations like the conservation area and about 17 different game reserves, Tanzania is a paradise for safaris and many other adventures.
The big 5 are among the wildlife species which can be spotted during safaris in national parks around Tanzania such as Serengeti national park and in the Ngorongoro conservation area. The big 5 include elephants, buffalos, rhinos, lions and leopards and are the hardest wildlife species to hunt on foot.
Airlines
The different airlines which operate in the different destinations of Tanzania include Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Regional Air, Zanair, Coastal aviation, Auric air, Air excel, Safari Air link.
Art and crafts and galleries
During safaris around Tanzania, the unique art and craft of the different cultures in the country is also an amazing experience. These arts and crafts products include beaded jewelry, sculptures, and paintings among others.
Woodcarvings can also be got as souvenirs during a safari around Tanzania. Other souvenirs include bags, shirts, hats and other handmade products. This initiative among others is supports the local communities in a way that selling the art and craft work acts as a source of income.
Climate
The climate of Tanzania is the equatorial type of climate which is characterized by cold and hot seasons which varies according to regions and this is influenced by factors such as altitude. Tanzania has 4 climatic zones which include;
- The coastal area and hinterland which experience tropical climate and high humidity
- The central plateau which experiences seasonal temperature variations and is hot and dry
- Highland areas
- Lake regions
The northern parts of Tanzania experience 2 rainy seasons in November to March and in March to May and the southern part of Tanzania experiences 1 rainy season from November to March. The dry season is from June to October.
Tanzania food
Tanzania food is another way to experience the cultures of Tanzania from the different cuisines which are prepared and served in the restaurants and lodges around the country. These cuisines are very flavorful and vary from the coast to the mainland area.
This food can also be enjoyed during community walks or interactions with the local communities around Tanzania where visitors can learn how to prepare the traditional foods and other delicacies.
Fresh ingredients are used to prepare these traditional meals using the local spices. Tanzanian foods include street food such as chipsi mayai, mshikaki, nyama choma as well as variety of fruits.
Sea food is also part of the Tanzanian dishes as well as Ugali which is eaten using fingers and is served in different restaurants around the country.
Breakfast is served with coffee or tea and can also consist of millet or sorghum porridge or “uji”.
Hotels
There are various accommodation facilities which provide comfort and good quality services for guests as they visit Tanzania and these range from luxury or upmarket accommodations, midrange accommodations and budget or basic accommodation.
Islands and beaches
Tanzania is also known for its beautiful islands and coastal towns which have various cultures and beautiful historical buildings.
These islands include Zanzibar which is popular for safaris and leisure and its white sand beaches. Other islands include Pemba island, Mafia island, Mnemba island, Changuu island, Chumbe island, Rubondo island, Mbudya island, Kilwa kisiwani, Bongoyo island among others.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is an attraction which is found in the northern part of Tanzania. This mountain is the world’s tallest free standing mountain and the tallest mountain in Africa at 5895 meters.
Many tourists visit Mount Kilimanjaro to engage in activities such as hiking which takes place along different routes such as the Marangu route, Machame route, Lemosho route, Rongai route, and Umbwe route.
Tourism in Tanzania
Tourism has contributed largely to Tanzania as a country and contributes part of the country’s GDP. Different people visit Tanzania’s national parks and game reserves for wildlife viewing experiences and to engage in other activities such as hiking and many others.
National parks around Tanzania include Serengeti national park, Lake Manyara national park, Tarangire national park, Ngorongoro conservation area, Selous national park, Mikumi national park, Ruaha national park, Gombe national park, Arusha national park, Mahale national park among others.
Tribes around Tanzania
Tanzania has many different tribes and these include the Maasai, Hadzabe, Datoga, Sonjo and many others. All these tribes have unique cultures and traditions which can be encountered during community visits.
Regions of Tanzania
The different regions of Tanzania include Tanga, Morogoro, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Tabora, Kigoma, Shinyanga, Kagera, Mwanza, Mara, Dodoma, Singida, Iringa, Mbeya, Rukwa, Lindi, Mtwara and Ruvuma.
Visit Tanzania and discover its beautiful attractions as you enjoy a safari and other leisure activities.
