Tanzania

Almost a quarter of Tanzania, East Africa’s largest country, is made up of protected national parks and reserves. It’s also home to Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, attracting thousands of visitors each year who climb its lofty heights to test their courage and endurance.

Safaris into Tanzania’s northern wildlife parks begin in Arusha. First stop is Lake Manyara National Park, renowned for the astounding spectacle of its tree-climbing lions and the estimated million pink flamingoes which give the strange, shallow soda lake a vast, magnificent pink blush. The bird species count there has topped 400.

Tanzania is renowned for its magnificent wildlife, lakes, mountains and breathtaking scenery, none more spectacular than the extinct sunken volcano, the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO protected World Heritage Site where viewing all the ‘Big Five’ on a single day is a distinct possibility. This area is not only home to a marvelous variety of wildlife, where sightings of black rhino and large lion prides are quite likely but they share this protected region with the legendary Masai tribe.

Serengeti is undoubtable the world’s most famous national park and its here where the great, awe-inspiring annual wildebeest migration between the Serengeti and Masai Mara (in Kenya) occurs during August and September. Its one of the most spectacular sights in all Africa. In the south is the lesser known but equally impressive Selous Game Reserve which boasts one of the largest populations of Wild Dog in Africa.

The little ‘Spice Island’ of Zanzibar off the Tanzanian mainland, is a scuba diving and snorkeling paradise. It’s the idyllic beach holiday yet filled with historical intrigue in the picturesque little alleys of Stone Town.

Location

Tanzania is mountainous in the northeast, where Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, is situated. To the north and west are the Great Lakes of Lake Victoria (Africa's largest lake) and Lake Tanganyika (Africa's deepest lake, known for its unique species of fish). Central Tanzania comprises a large plateau, with plains and arable land. The eastern shore is hot and humid, with the island of Zanzibar lying just offshore.

The southern land borders are with Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia. To the east lies the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda while to the north are Kenya and Uganda.

Highlights

- See the remarkable tree-climbing lions at Lake Manyara
- Drive down into the basin of the Ngorongoro Crater that teems with wildlife
- Witness the annual wildebeest migration on the plains of the Serengeti
- Stay in Zanzibar, the ‘Spice Island’ for an unforgettable beach break

Currency

The unit of currency in Tanzania shilling (Tsh). Prices can be high in Tanzania, but credit cards are frequently not accepted, even at many upmarket hotels. Where they are accepted, it’s often only with steep commissions, which means that you will need to rely here more heavily on cash, ATMs and (in major centres) travellers cheques.

The best currency to bring is US dollars in a mixture of large and small denominations, plus some travellers cheques as an emergency standby and a Visa card for withdrawing money from ATMs. Euros are also easily changed.

Visas

All British passport holders require a visa to travel to Tanzania and you should obtain one prior to travelling from your nearest Tanzanian diplomatic mission.

It is possible to obtain a tourist visa for a single entry at the main ports of entry to Tanzania but this is subject to the fulfillment of all immigration requirements. If you will require a multiple entry visa you will need to arrange this through a Tanzanian diplomatic mission before your arrival in Tanzania. Otherwise you will have to buy a single entry visa each time you enter the country.

Full details and requirements can be discussed when you make your travel enquiry. Please remember, travelers are solely responsible for ensuring they have all the correct travel documents in place for their trip.

Power

Tanzanian power points are 230 volts running on a frequency of 50Hz. The types of plugs you can use vary between the UK 3 rectangle pin layout and the 2 round pin as found throughout Europe.