Kenya and Tanzania Tours

Into Tanzania from Kenya: Namanga 
From Tanzania into Malawi: Kasumulu

Money

The monetary unit in Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling. For up-to-date exchange rates with your own currency visit www.oanda.com or www.xe.com.

In general, Visa is the only credit card that will work everywhere in Africa. Master Card, AMEX and Cirrus will work in some countries but not in others.

We recommend that you bring cash in US dollars only. When changing money, it is a good idea if at all possible, to get small denomination notes and coins in the local currency as often there is a lack of change when you are making purchases and no-one in Africa ever seems to have change.

If you are joining the tour in Dar es Salaam, on arrival at Tanzania International Airport we suggest that you withdraw some Tanzanian shillings at the ATM or change some money at the bank if you only have US dollars or travellers cheques. Change enough money to see you through the first few days of your trip – particularly if it is a weekend.

Please note that it is not possible to withdraw US dollars from ATMs in Africa, only local currency.

Shopping

Haggling is expected in Tanzania and hunting for bargains can be a real highlight.Your best buys are soap stone and hard wooden carvings as well as batiks (wall hangings), sarongs, hats, and of course tee shirts.

Zanzibar has many bazaars throughout the maze of narrow streets in Stone Town and here you can bargain for chess sets, statues, masks, batiks, paintings etc although many are brought over from the mainland. True Zanzibar souvenirs are the intricate jewel boxes, incense and burners and of course spices which are often sold in attractive packs.

Tipping

Tipping in Tanzania and on Zanzibar especially, is fast becoming expected in restaurants. However in most cases, it is just a matter of rounding the bill up and you should never pay more than a dollar or two for the tip if the service was good.

Local guides in Tanzania do appreciate a tip.

Local transport

Taxis are recommended for all journeys within a city. In Tanzania, taxi meters are not normally in evidence, so you will find yourself engaging in a bit of haggling with the driver to agree upon the fare. This can be fun, but it is a good idea to find out in advance, from your tour leader or the hotel receptionist, approximately how much the fare should be. You will almost certainly have to accept that you will pay more than the locals do.

Security

Overall, crime is not a great problem in Tanzania, but parts of Dar es Salaam do have a reputation for muggings and pick pockets. This does not mean that you should be afraid to leave your hotel, but it does mean that in certain areas of the city and around the city beaches, you need to exercise caution or avoid them altogether and try to avoid travelling alone after dark. Don’t walk around lonely back streets, especially on your own, don’t wear expensive looking jewellery or watch and don’t carry a wallet in your back pocket. Don’t carry your camera openly; always have it in a small day pack which is firmly attached to your body, preferably in the front in crowded places. Always wear a money belt or leave your valuables locked up where possible.

Photography

Caution should be taken when taking photos in and around the city. Locals should always be asked prior to taking a photo and it is not uncommon for them to ask for a small donation. Never take photos of police, military personal or buildings. The same goes for any government buildings, banks, post offices or the railway station.

Local food and drink

Most meals are included when camping and lunch is usually included on travelling days in the truck. When staying in hotels or hostels, all meals are at your own expense.

Your tour leader will be able to recommend restaurants.

Tanzanian dishes are very similar to those you will find in Kenya. Mainly beef and chicken stews and Nama Choma away from the coast, with seafood on the coast. One delicious difference is that they do tend to serve really good coconut rice with a curry.

On Zanzibar, the night seafood market in Stone Town is not to be missed. Freshly caught and cooked seafood of all varieties, washed down with freshly squeezed sugar cane juice. “Zanzibar Pizza” is a local speciality. Finely chopped tomato and onion (chilli optional), mixed with beef mince and egg, wrapped up a wafer thin dough parcel and fried - not like a pizza you would know at home, but well worth trying.

In Dar es Salaam, you can find western style take-aways but if you feel like a splurge, then throw on some clean clothes and head for one of the larger hotels who all do a buffet style lunch. Also the ice cream parlour near the Zanzibar ferry port is an icon that has been there longer than anyone can remember and a “must do” if you like ice-cream.

If you are a strict vegetarian you may experience a distinct lack of variety in the food available, especially in small towns. You might find that you are eating a lot of omelettes and other egg dishes. Our tour leaders will do their best to provide interesting vegetarian alternatives when arranging group meals in the campsite, but your patience and understanding is requested.

All drinks such as water, soft or alcoholic drinks are at your own expense at all times.

(All glass bottles taken away from shops in Tanzania will have a deposit added on which varies.)

You should be wary of drinking the local tap water. Bottled water, carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices are widely available and are generally safe to drink. Please note however that fruit juices are sometimes made with un-boiled tap water and could upset your stomach.

There are various brands of beers found only in Tanzania including Kilimanjaro, Castle, Safari, Serengeti and Ndovo.

Most of the campsites / hostels that we use have bars or serve alcoholic drinks. If there is not a bar in the campsite / hostel then there is sure to be one within walking distance. Beware imported spirit prices as they are very expensive so always ask for the local equivalent spirit if you want to remain within your budget!

Time Difference

GMT/UTC +3. For other time differences please visit www.timeanddate.com

Voltage

240 volts. Sockets are three-pin British style