Vaccinations you I needed in Tanzania.
We advice you seek medical advice before travelling to Tanzania and ensure that you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guide Polio, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid and Tetanus are strongly recommended. Meningitis and Rabies are also recommended.
Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required if arriving from countries infected with yellow fever or if you were in transit through infected areas (unless you remained on board or at the airport). This is particularly relevant if travelling from neighboring African countries. If visiting Zanzibar from mainland Tanzania, a yellow fever certificate must be produced to gain entry.
You are required you to show proof of either COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test conducted no more than 72 hours before departure
Will I need anti-malaria tablets?
There is a risk of malaria in Tanzania so it is very important to check with your doctor before you go, to see whether malarial medication is required for the areas you are visiting. Generally, it is good practice to avoid mosquito bites by wearing long sleeved, light coloured clothes and wearing a mosquito repellent that contains at least 50% DEET. For more information on the malaria risk in Tanzania visit the NHS Fit to Travel page or the CDC Traveler’s Health page.
Plastic bags are banned.
In 2019 saw the banning of plastic bags in Tanzania. All visitors arriving at Tanzanian airport could face heavy fines for using plastic bags in any way, shape or form. These include shopping bags, garbage bags and “zip-lock” plastic bags used for transporting liquids and cosmetics.
We recommend that you avoid packing any plastic bags in your suitcase or carry-on luggage before travelling to Tanzania. If you do purchase any items at your departure airport, be sure to take them out of their plastic bags. Double-check your hand luggage before disembarking and leave any plastic bags on the plane.
Is drink tap water safe?
The tap water in Tanzania is not considered safe to drink. You should drink bottled mineral water, which is readily available from shops, hotels and restaurants. Make sure you purchase this from reputable outlets and that the seal on the bottle is not broken.
What’s the local food like?
The most common staples found in Tanzanian cuisine are rice and ugali, a thick, they can be served alongside beef, fish stew or boiled beans and green vegetable. Also common foods like Chapatis, Cassava, green banana and potato chip, nyama choma which is grilled chicken, beef or goat meat.
In the morning most people like taking tea accompanied by variety of snacks available like chapati, mandazi, samosas and vitumbua. For others who don’t like wheat flour snacks, they take boiled cassava, sweat potatoes with tea or boiled meat or chicken for hot soup.
After a days work, people go to local bars and have dinner, common food is grilled beef, fish, chicken along side ugali, green banana and or potatoes chips, relating the night away with local beer to end the day with friends. Such as Safari, Kilimanjaro or Serengeti Lager.
Is it safe to travel in Tanzania?
A lot of visitors visit Tanzania as part of a safari tour are very safe for families, children, solo women as they will be away from crowded cities and under the protection of their guide and lodge at all times. However, those who visit Tanzania independently might have a slightly different experience from local men trying to be a local guide for a small cash payment. Some are genuine but others will want to take advantage of your valuable belongings. Nevertheless, you will want to avoid this by dressing conservatively, wearing sunglasses to avoid eye contact and not carrying variable belongings around alone. You should also try to limit your night time travel as much as possible.
What is the duty free allowance for Tanzania?
Visitors over 17 years are permitted to bring the following into Tanzania:
• 250g of cigarettes, cigars and tobacco (combined weight)
• 1 liter of spirits or wine
• 500ml of perfume and eau de toilette, of which no more than a quarter may be perfume
Unlicensed firearms and ammunition are banned from being imported into Tanzania.
What is the currency in Tanzania?
The official currency in Tanzania is the Tanzania Shilling. Check Bank Of Tanzania for the latest exchange rates.
Euro, British Pounds, US Dollars, South African Rand and other major currencies can be exchanged locally or in advance of departure. Additionally, exchange facilities are available at various bureau de changes and banks in major towns have ATMs. It’s advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities.
Traveller’s Cheques are not recommended as they’re often difficult to exchange and incur high fees.
What sort of plugs do I need for Tanzania and what is the voltage?
Standard voltage is 230 – 240 volts. Primary sockets generally require the 3 square-pin variety, similar to the United Kingdom sockets. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor. You will need a voltage converter and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances.
What time zone is Tanzania on?
Tanzania is 3 hours ahead of GMT and does not observe daylight savings.