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“He who wanders around by day a lot, learns a lot.” – Kiswahili proverb
No wonder this is one of the most famous Tanzanian native Kiswahili proverb. Tanzania is a country of contrasts, where you can find both the tallest point of Africa (Mount Kilimanjaro) and the lowest point of Africa (Lake Tanganyika). The name Tanzania appeared from bringing together the names “Tanganyika” (Swahili for “sail in the wilderness”) and Zanzibar (zenji means local black people and barr is the Arabic word for coast or shore).
Name: Tanzania (United Republic of Tanzania)
Capital: Dodoma
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
Main towns: Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha, Mbeya, Morogoro, Tanga, Kahama, Tabora, Zanzibar City
Currency: Tanzanian Shilling – TZS
Timezone: UTC +3
Tipping: Wages are generally low in Tanzania, so tipping for good service is always appreciated. At hotels it is important to check at the front desk and inquire about the guidelines for tipping staff members.
You should tip porters/bellboys $1 – $2 USD for each bag they carry.Housekeeping should also receive a small tip for each day; about $2 – $4 USD is reasonable.
At restaurants especially in major cities, it is customary to tip 5%, if a service charge is not included.
Tipping is an important part of the safari and trekking experiences in Tanzania. As such you should tip the drivers, guides, porters and cooks on your tour.
Many tour operators have tipping guidelines, so it is best to find out the tipping policy before your trip. In general, you should expect to tip about $10 USD to $15 USD per group per day for the driver and/or guide. For the cook, it is suggested you tip about $8 USD to $10 USD.
Voltage: Network parameters: 230 V / 50 Hz; D, G socket is used, you need adapters.
Over 100 different languages are spoken in Tanzania, making it the most linguistically diverse country in East Africa. Swahili is the national language, but Tanzania does not have a “de jure” language (official language). Tanzania is famous for its immaculate, relaxing Zanzibar beaches and thrilling savannahs. The Big Five wild gang is exploring the wilderness every day, as wilderness is their home. Nonetheless, your heart skips a beat at their mere sight. Fortunately, after such an experience, you can relax in Zanzibar, while indulging in its dreamy landscapes, warm Indian Ocean waters and smooth sandy beaches. Here’s why you should visit this mesmerizing African country:
Just south of the equator, Tanzania is huge and its sheer size means that the climate varies considerably within it. However, generally the main rainy season, or the ‘long rains‘, lasts during about March, April and May. Afternoon tropical downpours are the norm – which are heavier and more predictable beside the coast and on the islands. The humidity is high and daily temperatures reach the low-mid 30°s. The long dry season lasts throughout June, July, August, September and October is when rainfall is unusual, even on the islands.
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 less reliable.If it has rained during the short rains, then it normally dries up for a few months, January and February, which is Tanzania‘s ‘short dry season‘, before starting to rain again in earnest in March.Many travellers visit Tanzania to see the Serengeti‘s great wildebeest migration. Linked to the rainfall, this stunning migration of thousands of wildebeest – accompanied by zebra, gazelle, eland and impala – takes place throughout the year, and follows a fairly predictable pattern, as the wildebeest are constantly seeking fresh grazing and water.
Having said that, the wildebeest migration happens all year – the migration can be found during any given month; you just need to know where to look! The question should really be about the ‘best places‘ to see them during a given time of the year – and when visiting them is most enjoyable.
Your heart will skip a beat at the sight of millions of wild beasts crossing this ecosystem. From January to as long as September, millions of wildebeests, zebras, birds and many others cross the park in a clockwise move. The carnivore members of the Big Five gang are there too. This is nature’s show. If you want to see this breath-taking sight at its peak, you should visit Tanzania in February – March. As much as 400,000 gnu wildebeests are born then.
This is the place on Earth with the biggest density of felines. It was included in the UNESCO world heritage in 1979. Here you can see lions, cheetahs and leopards, some of the resting shamelessly at the shadow of your safari car. Daring, isn’t it? Millions of years ago, Ngoro Ngoro was the biggest mountain on Earth. It is considered to be the Garden of Eden by the local people.
White sandy beaches, blues skies, warm waters and polite, smiling people: is this Heaven on Earth? Zanzibar can be easily mistaken for Heaven. Here you can indulge yourself in the facilities of resorts build both in the classic African architecture and in the most European, luxurious style. Zanzibar has 25 beaches that you can explore. Whether you do snorkelling in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean, or you enjoy a massage in a luxury resort, we state the same: Zanzibar is a destination you shouldn’t miss while visiting Tanzania!
Situated in NE Tanzania, Kilimanjaro (the White Mountain) is an ideal setup for trekking session. At the sight of Uhuru Peak which is 5,895 metres tall, you might feel overwhelmed, but using only a trekking stick, warm clothes and some determination, any person can conquer it. Scary at first, you will get to know that Kilimanjaro is a kind, wise African giant.
Fuelled by River Ewaso Ng’iro and the local hot mineral springs, Natron Lake is a hot lake where temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius. Thousands of flamingo birds call this place “home”, transforming it into the biggest flamingo community in East Africa. Although the lake’s waters are very salty, an algae called spirulina grows here and is eaten by this majestic pink birds.