Adventure World

Tanzania

Tanzania is a kaleidoscope of landscapes and diversity with a balmy climate, offering a rich tapestry of culture and fantastic game viewing. Mount Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar all conjure up exotic images of this country.

Top Highlights

Mt Kilimanjaro: The not yet extinct Mt Kilimanjaro rises from the plains, the highest peak on the continent at 5895m. Mt Kilimanjaro can be trekked at any time of the year, but expect rain during April, May and November. A five day trek along the Marangu route is recommended, so travellers can acclimatise. Marangu is the most commonly used base for treks (1hr from Moshi, the gateway to Mt Kilimanjaro). The town has an alpine atmosphere and the park entry gate is only 5kms away.

Zanzibar “Spice Island”: Is a mixture of quaint shops, bazaars, mosques, courtyards, squares, palaces, cathedrals, colonial mansions and beaches. Wander around the Old Stone Town with its narrow alleyways, old mansions and squares.

Visit Beit-el-Ajaib (House of Wonders), formerly the sultan’s palace and one of Zanzibar’s largest structures. Next door is the Beit-al-Sahel (Palace Museum). Zanzibar also boasts the first Anglican cathedral built in East Africa. Travel from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar via hydrofoil, catamaran or ferry.

Serengeti National Park: The National Park has a large animal population and they are easy to spot in the flat grassland, especially in the dry season.

The park covers 14,763 sq km and on the seemingly endless and almost treeless plains of the Serengeti are literally millions of hoofed animals. Expect to see wildebeest, gazelle, zebra and antelope in large concentrations. Also watch out for lions, cheetahs and giraffe. A unique way to experience the Serengeti is by hot air balloon.

Ngorongoro Crater: The park encompasses the crater and sides of a huge extinct volcano, said to be the world’s largest caldera is 20km wide and packed with wildlife. A trip to the bottom of the crater is a must, especially with the opportunity to see lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, wildebeest, gazelle, zebra, reedbuck and flamingos wading in the shallows of Lake Magadi (the soda lake on the crater floor).

More Highlights

• Mt Meru
• Selous Game Reserve
• Arusha National Park
• Dar es Salaam

Fact Sheet

• Country Dialling Code: + 255
• When to Go: Tanzania can be a year round destination with excellent game viewing. Peak season is generally January to March when the weather is hot and dry and animals congregate at waterholes. April to June and October to December are less popular due to the rain and floods however this does not usually hinder game viewing or getting about.
• Capital: Dodoma (official); Dar es Salaam (seat of government).
• Official Languages: Swahili (official), English (official), and numerous local languages.
• Currency: Tanzanian shilling (TSh).
• ATMs: Barclay Bank has a large network of ATMs covering mains towns. Most accept Visa only and are located in main towns. But be aware machines do eat cards, if you enter details too slowly.
• Credit Cards: Visa and MasterCard widely accepted in major hotels, shops and restaurants. But be aware that the old swipe machine is still used, so watch out for fraudulent use of your credit card. Some top-end hotels accept Visa and most charge a 6% to 10% commission fee.
• Internet: Many towns have Email bureaus, but connection speeds fluctuate.
• Tipping: Restaurants 10% of bill. Regardless of where you go on a camping or lodge safari, the driver / guide and the cook(s) will expect a tip at the end of the journey. The amount of the tip is at your discretion.
• Bargaining: Expected in tourist areas only.
• Electricity: 230V, 50 cycles, AC, but surges up to 310V and goes as low as 150V. Power sockets are not consistent, so a range of adaptors is recommended.
• Park Fees: Dependent on trip, some are prepaid, and some paid locally and are generally part of local payment.
• Geography: Tanzania is 943,000 sq kms and is a mixture of plains, lakes and mountains with a narrow coastal belt. Most of the country is highland plateau, some desert or semi-desert and the rest savannah and scattered bush. Offshore are the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia.
• Gateway Cities: Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).