Visa requirements
Passport: is generally required for travel to Tanzania, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months when entering Tanzania.
Visa: Generally required. However, almost all Commonwealth countries do not require a visa for stays of up to 3 months (exceptions: visas are required for citizens of Australia, Bangladesh, Great Britain, India, Canada, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa).
Citizens of some countries can apply for a visa on entry (international airports, large border crossings, Zanzibar seaport), including: Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Great Britain, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Spain, Czech Republic and Hungary. The responsible embassies and consulates provide further information.
Validity: Entry visa (single entry): A maximum of 3 months from the date of entry.
Application: In person or by post at the honorary consulate or consular department of the embassy. Multiple visas, business vias and transit visas are issued by Immigration Headquarters, PO Box 512, Ghana Av./Ohio Str in Dar es Salaam.
Documents: Tourist Visa: an original visa application (no copy, no fax). It is important that the signature on the visa application form matches the signature in the passport – a new, biometric passport photo (no scan) – passport with a validity of at least 6 months from the planned date of arrival – for minors a declaration of consent signed by the parents – fee – travel booking confirmation for Hin – and return flight ticket – reference address in Tanzania
Business Visa: in addition, a letter from the German company about the purpose and duration of the trip and a confirmation of the assumption of costs
When entering a yellow fever area, proof of a valid yellow fever vaccination is checked.
When applying by post, an addressed envelope (registered and / or express delivery) should be included.
Here you can download the visa application form for Tanzania.
Sufficient funds: All travelers must have sufficient funds.
Cost of issuing a Visa: EUR 50.00, for express processing EUR 70.00.
Processing time: about 2 weeks, express processing 2 to 3 days.
Entry with children:
Germany: German ID card or own passport (children’s passport or electronic passport).
Austria: own passport for children.
Switzerland: own passport for children.
The same visa requirements apply to children as to their parents.
Entry with pets:
A health certificate from an officially authorized veterinarian is required for all pets.
In addition, a rabies vaccination certificate is required for dogs and cats, which confirms that cats have been vaccinated against rabies at least 1 month and a maximum of 1 year and dogs at least 6 months and a maximum of 3 years before entry. All live animals must be quarantined.
Money
National currency: 1 Tanzanian shilling is divided into 100 cents.
Currency abbreviation: TS, TZS – ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG
Banknotes with a value of 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500 TS are in circulation. Coins are available in the nominal amounts of 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 TS.
Due to inflation, cents have disappeared from payment transactions in the 1990s.
In large areas of the country, especially in the tourist areas, the US dollar is now practically considered a parallel currency.
Currency exchange: Cash – preferably US dollars or euros – can be easily exchanged in banks and exchange offices in all major cities. Exchange offices offer slightly better rates. Exchange receipts should be kept until departure, but are rarely checked. In tourist centers you can often pay with US dollars.
You should always try to get notes worth 5,000 shillings or less when exchanging, as there are often difficulties with the change when paying with 10,000 shillings.
Tanzanian shilling Exchange rate:
Currency converter at OANDA
Credit Cards: MasterCard, Eurocard and Visa are only accepted in larger hotels, lodges and tour operators. Usually a 5% – 10% fee will be added when using credit cards.
Traveler’s checks: Travelers checks in US dollars are recommended. They can be redeemed in banks and exchange offices. The original purchase receipt is required.
ATMs: Visa cards are accepted at NBC and Standard Chartered ATMs. Vending machines are located in larger cities in Tanzania.
Foreign exchange regulations: No restrictions, but there is an obligation to declare.
Bank opening times: Mon – Fri 8.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m., sometimes also until 4.00 p.m., Sat 8.30 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.
Health and Diseases
A valid vaccination against yellow fever is required for all travelers older than one year when entering a yellow fever area. This is not required for entry from Germany, but is recommended.
The Federal Foreign Office’s health service also recommends vaccination protection against tetanus, diphtheria, in particular poliomyelitis (polio) and hepatitis A, and for long-term stays over 4 weeks, additional hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid and meningococcal meningitis (quadruple vaccine).
The standard vaccinations for children according to the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute should be up to date.
malaria: The transmission takes place through the bite of blood-sucking nocturnal Anopheles mosquitoes. If left untreated, dangerous malaria tropica (over 85% of cases in Tanzania!) Is often fatal to non-immune Europeans. The disease can break out weeks to months after your stay. If fever occurs during this time, it is necessary to inform the attending doctor about staying in a malaria area. Nationwide, there is a high risk below 1800m. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended in high-risk areas. Various prescription medications (e.g. malarone, doxycycline, Lariam) are available on the German market for malaria prophylaxis. The selection and personal adjustment as well as side effects or
- wear body-covering clothing (long pants, long shirts),
- Repeatedly apply insect repellent to all free parts of the body all day (dengue fever) and in the evenings and at night (malaria!)
- to sleep under a mosquito net if necessary
HIV / AIDS is a major problem in the country and a great danger for everyone who runs the risk of infection: through heterosexual and homosexual contacts, when using drugs (dirty syringes or cannulas) and blood transfusions, there is always a high, life-threatening risk. Condom use is always recommended, especially on the occasion of acquaintances.
Diarrhea and cholera: Appropriate food and drinking water hygiene can prevent most diarrhea and especially cholera.
Some basic rules:
Only drink water of safe origin, e.g. bottled water, never tap water. In case of emergency, use filtered, disinfected or boiled water. Use drinking water for washing dishes and brushing your teeth. The following applies to food: cooking, peeling or disinfecting. Be sure to keep flies away from your food. Wash your hands with soap as often as possible, but always after using the toilet and always before preparing food and before eating. Hand disinfection, where appropriate, use disposable towels.
Sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis): An infection with the pathogen of sleeping sickness can occur in the Serengeti, which can be transmitted through large flies (Tsetse) with a painful sting, even through thinner material. Avoiding the fly bites through appropriate behavior (including caution when driving with open jeeps) and appropriate clothing is particularly advisable here.
Schistosomiasis (schistosomiasis): The risk of transmission of schistosomiasis exists when bathing in fresh water (eg Lake Victoria) throughout the country. Bathing in open fresh water should therefore always be avoided.
Poisonous animals:In all tropical countries there are a number of sometimes dangerous venomous snakes, the bite of which can cause serious physical damage including death, but snake bites are unusual and rarely occur unprovoked! Man is not on the poison snake’s menu. Many snakes are nocturnal, so if possible don’t walk around outdoors at night. Do not reach into holes or cracks in the ground, under stones or brushwood, twigs and similar confusing material. If snakes are found, a proper distance should be kept. Under no circumstances should they be touched, caught or provoked. There are also some very poisonous species of spiders and scorpions, as well as other animals with potentially strong poisonous effects (e.g. certain conspicuously colored caterpillars, centipedes, ants, etc.). These animals should also not be touched or irritated, otherwise the following also applies here: be careful where you reach, where you step and where you sit or lie down. Before using duvets and sheets, clothing, footwear, headgear, remove any toxic “sub-tenants” by carefully shaking them out.
Altitude sickness: If Kilimanjaro is climbed as part of a touristic venture, health problems are possible (acute altitude sickness – consultation with a family doctor regarding previous illnesses). For symptoms of altitude sickness see also the leaflet of the health service.
Medical supplies:There are approximately 2,000 hospitals and clinics, and some church missions have medical care stations. There are also private doctors, hospitals and health centers. However, medical care in the country cannot be compared with Europe and is often technically, apparatusally and / or hygienically problematic. European-trained English / French-speaking doctors are also often lacking. Adequate global health insurance coverage and reliable travel return insurance are strongly recommended. You should take an individual first-aid kit with you and protect it according to the temperature (cold chain). There are always bottlenecks in the supply of medicines in the country. Here, too, individual advice from a tropical doctor or travel doctor makes sense.
In addition to my general disclaimer, please note the following important note:
A guarantee for the correctness and completeness of the medical information as well as a liability for possible damage cannot be assumed. You stay responsible for your healthy.
Presentation of travel and transportation resources in the country
plane
Air Tanzania (TC) and numerous private airlines such as Coastal Aviation, Precision Air or ZanAir fly from Dar es Salaam to Arusha, Zanzibar, Mwanza, Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Pangani, Pemba and Mafia but also to the national parks. The flights are usually reliable, but you should inquire about any flight schedule changes before departure.
ship
Ferries operate on Lake Victoria (MV Victoria three times a week between Mwanza and Bukoba and MV Butiama between Mwanza and Nkoma), Lake Tanganyika (MV Liemba) and Lake Malawi (MV Songea).
Three speed boats (Sea Star, Sea Express and Sea Bus) run daily between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar (travel time 60-90 minutes). The Flying Horse catamaran ferry takes about 4 hours. The Sealink RoRo ferry is operated by Azam and operates the Dar es Salaam – Zanzibar – Pemba route twice a week.
There is also a passenger ferry between Zanzibar and Pemba.
Traditional sailing boats, dhows, connect the coastal cities of Tanzania with Zanzibar and Pemba. However, foreigners are not allowed to ride on these dhows.
train
The Tazara runs from Dar es Salaam via Mbeya to Kapiri Moshi in Zambia. Broad Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) operate on the Central Line from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma and Mwanza on Dodoma and Tabora. Train damage can lead to longer delays that take days to travel. Meals are available on the train and at train stations.
Car
A relatively good all-weather road network connects all major cities in Tanzania, many main roads are paved. Side roads are only accessible by off-road vehicles in the rainy season (April – May). Driving at night should be avoided as wild animals, cattle or goats often cross the road.
bus
Buses connect almost all places in Tanzania and are quite cheap, advance bookings are recommended for more popular routes. Mini buses (Dala Dalas) stop everywhere. In general, the driving style of buses and minibuses is very aggressive, accidents are not uncommon. Rental car: for trips outside of Dar es Salaam, vehicles without a driver are rarely rented. In addition, most are rented for off-road vehicles only for safaris. Documents: International driving license is recommended.
Traffic regulations
In Tanzania there is left-hand traffic. Top speed: 80 km / h, seatbelts, motorbikes are not allowed in national parks
city traffic
The main means of transport in the cities are minibuses (Daladalas), cheap standard fares apply. The Daladalas are often overcrowded and their driving style puts them at risk of accidents. Taxis can be found in all major cities, taximeters do not exist, the price should be negotiated in advance.
Places and places of interest in Tanzania, East Africa
The coast: In Kilwa Kisiwani in the south you can explore Arab and Portuguese ruins.
There are numerous beaches in the area around Dar es Salaam, Kunduchi, Mjimwena and Mbwa Maji are particularly well known . The fishing village Kunduchi is about 24 km north of the capital. Near this village you can see ruins of Persian mosques and tombs. The uninhabited island of Mbudya is part of a protected coral reef and is ideal for diving and snorkeling. The island of Sinda (14 km before Dar es Salaam) also offers wonderful conditions for snorkeling.
72 km north of Dar es SalaamBagamoyo. The small town near Zanzibar offers a beautiful bay with wonderful beaches. The mosque and Arabic tombs were built in the 18th and 19th centuries. 5 km south is the village of Kaole, whose mosque is said to be 800 years old. Tanzania’s second largest port city, Tanga, is an ideal starting point for excursions to the Usambara Mountains and to Moshi at the foot of Kilimanjaro.
| Wonderful Imagination of Tanzania |
Dar es Salaam: The largest city and former capital Dar es Salaam is a good starting point for a vacation in Tanzania. Kilimanjaro, the new capital Dodoma and Zanzibar are easily accessiblefrom the airport. The beaches are ideal for swimming and sunbathing. The metropolis itself has several attractions: the National Museum, the University of Dar es Salaam and the Village Museum with traditional architecture and handicrafts.
The island of Zanzibar is a 20-minute flight from Dar es Salaam (but can also be reached by ferry). The city of Zanzibar is home to some wonderful buildings – the old town Stone Town has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The houses in the old town are made of white coral blocks and are characterized by numerous balconies. The former home of the British explorer Dr. Livingstone is well worth a visit. The Anglican Cathedral was built on the foundations of the former slave market. In front of the Sultan’s Palace and the Beit-el-Ajaib(House of Miracles) dhows still glide past the harbor. In the middle of tropical vegetation and spice plantations you can discover palaces, forts and bathhouses.
The island of Mafia can be reached in about 40 minutes by flight from Dar es Salaam. Here you will find a unique underwater world.
Kilimanjaro: The highest mountain in Africa at 5895 m attracts mountaineers and tekking fans from all over the world. The ascents must be accompanied by a guide. Summit storms should be designed for about three days, warm clothing is of course to be taken. There are three rest huts at different heights, in the last one you should definitely allow yourself enough time to acclimatize.
National parks: The 11 national parks of Tanzania cover an area of 33,660 sq km. In addition, the world-famous Ngorongoro Conservation Area was established, an area in which the Masai still have the right to look after their cattle.
The famous Serengeti National Park covers an area of 14,763 sq km. In the most beautiful national park in Tanzania you can find wildebeest, gazelles, zebras, elephants, lions and countless bird species. Every year the impressive north-south migration of huge herds of animals in search of pasture takes place here, and the best time to visit is from November to May.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area: This protected area extends between Lake Natron in the northeast, Lake Enaysi in the south and Lake Manyara in the east. In the area there is also the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, which erupted in 1994. The center of the park is the 610 m deep
Ngorongoro crater, which covers 20% of the protected area with a diameter of 20 km and a total area of 311 sq km. The crater offers an incredibly diverse wildlife habitat. Among others Gazelles, elephants, rhinos, leopards, lions, giraffes and buffalos live here. Lake Magadi on the crater floor attracts numerous birds, especially flamingos.
Manyara Lake National Park: this region with savannas, swamps and the soda lake lies in the Rift Valley. The national park is known for large herds of elephants. But of course there are also many other animal species such as buffalo, baboons, rhinos, impalas, lions, giraffes, leopards, zebras, other herd animals and various types of monkeys. Manyara is also home to numerous bird species.
The Arusha National Park is located in the Ngurdoto Crater, which belongs to a now extinct about 250,000 years volcano. Here you can see buffalo, rhinos, elephants, giraffes and warthogs in the wild from special viewpoints.
Mikumi National Park: This reserve covers 1300 sq km. Here you can see lions, zebras, hippos, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, impalas, wildebeests and warthogs. The most famous is the Kikaboga Hippo Pool, the bathing place for hippos. Excursions are possible all year round, but the best times to visit are December to March.
Ruaha National Park: One of the largest elephant reserves in the world (about 118 km from Iringa) is in the southern highlands. Here you can also see numerous species of antelope. The landscape of the Ruaha Gorge is unique. The best time to visit is from July to November.
Tarangire National Park: This park is approximately 130 km from Arusha and is only 8 km away from the transit route that leads from the Cape of Good Hope to Cairo. The extreme biodiversity of this park is only surpassed by the Serengeti.
Gombe National Park: This chimpanzee sanctuary is located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika near Kigoma. About 200 chimpanzees live here. The behavior of chimpanzees has been observed and recorded here for around 30 years.
Selous Game Reserve: The huge Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania is home to one of the largest herds of elephants in the world. Lions, hippos, crocodiles and other animals are also represented in large numbers. In 1982 the reserve was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You can organize walking safaris and river trips.
Other national parks in Tanzania are Katavi, Kilimanjaro, Mahale Mountains, Rubondo and Udzungura Mountains. The Kilwa Reserve, Tanga Coral Gardens, Rufigi Delta and Latham Island Reserve have also been established.
Arusha (Tanzania)
The Arusha region with its capital of the same name is located in the north-east of Tanzania. This vibrant city has increased its population sevenfold since 1970. One of the most important industries of Arusha is the tourism. The city of Arusha is financed not only by tourism, but also by the cultivation of coffee, kapok, jute, sisal, coconut fibers and cereals. The African city is located approximately ninety kilometers southwest of the Kilimanjaro massif at an altitude of 1,400 meters. The Manis, who live on the edge of Mount Meru, are a very influential tribe of the region.
Natural beauties around Arusha
It is known worldwide that the Arusha region in Tanzania is a very popular travel destination for safari tourism. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the west of the region is visited very often. The Ngorongoro located there is actually not a crater, but rather a ground that has collapsed due to volcanic activity, also called caldera.
Since the edge of the caldera is 2,280 to 2,440 meters above sea level, it gets a bit cool in the evenings. Therefore, tourists should definitely dress warm in the evening.
If you prefer to have it warm, the accommodations around Ngorongoro are ideal. From there you often have an unforgettable view of the entire park. The is one of the most beautiful and greenest excursion destinations Location Manyora National Park. What makes this park special is the numerous bushes and trees that are rarely found in Tanzania. The salt lake, which is located in the national park, is one of the most popular breeding areas for flamingos, pelicans and many other bird species. If you are an enthusiastic mountaineer and would like to climb Kilimanjaro, you should prepare for a hiking tour of at least three days.
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
The largest city in Tanzania is Dar es Salaam. It is the seat of government as well as the Lutheran and Roman Catholic bishops. The story of Dar es Salaam is said to date back to 40-70 AD. The Sultan of Zanzibar, Sayyid Madjid, began expanding the village of Usisima in 1862 because he wanted to move his seat of government to the mainland. The name that the place first received was Bandaras-Salam (Port of Peace). The Sultan’s palace was still incomplete when he died in 1870.
Sultan Sayyid Kaalifa leased the Dar es Salaam and the entire coast of what is now Tanzania to German-East African society. The city and coast were finally sold on October 28, 1890 at the insistence of Sultan Sayyid Ali.
The first major government hospital, Ocean Road Hospital, opened in 1897. The most modern organic agricultural institute was opened in 1902-1903. The world-famous doctor Robert Koch and his colleague Zimmermann worked in the institute from 1905-1906. Tanganjika became independent in 1961, and in 1964, with the merger between Tanganjika and Zanzibar, today’s Tanzania was established with Dar es Salaam as the capital. In 1974 Dodoma was declared the capital, but the seat of government remained in Dar es Salaam.
Attractions
The Askari Monument in the middle of a colorful bloom was erected in memory of the fallen African soldiers in the years 1914-1918.
The impressive Azani Lutherian Church was built in 1898 and catches the eye of every visitor to Dar es Salaam through its brick-red tower roof. On the way to the Kivukoni Fish Market, where there is always a very lively hustle and bustle, you will pass Ocean Road, from where you have an overwhelming view of the sea.
Museums and gardens in Dar es Salaam
In the Botanical Garden, a stunning spectacle of color diversity spreads out in front of the visitor. There are red hibiscus bushes, scarlet flame trees, pink bougainvilleas, pink oleanders and purple yakaranda flowers. The gardens were created by the German Professor Stuhlmann in 1893. The National Museum, built in 1940 in Arabic style, contains many archaeological treasures, such as: B. the skull of the nutcracker. In addition to this attraction, traditional musical instruments, masks and weapons are also on display.
Zanzibar (Tanzania)
Zanzibar is an archipelago that lies off the Tanzanian east coast. Many people from Europe today mostly only name one of the many islands in this group with the name Zanzibar, although this is only the collective name of all the islands and each has its own name.
The islands themselves and many of the houses that were built on them are made of corals, which of course provides a very special effect and has its own charm.
What you should definitely visit when visiting these islands is the House Of Wonders, which was the first house on the islands that was powered by electricity and had other technical options.
Also very worth seeing is Stone Town, where there are still many houses that were previously kept from the upper class and that are particularly beautiful. Many of these houses have been restored and give an impression of the former splendor of the city.
Taarab music is very popular in Zanzibar. This musical direction has its origin on the archipelago and is characterized by its special rhythm.
If you want a break from everyday life in a tropical and exotic environment, Zanzibar is definitely the right place for you. Here you will find interesting plants and beautiful sandy beaches. At the same time you will find the opportunity to visit typical villages in this area and get a little insight into the traditional life of the people of the country.
Zanzibar has a lot to offer culturally and also as far as the landscape is concerned and can by far not only convince with beautiful weather and beach, even if these are of course very important factors for tourism.
The language Arabic have to Zanzibar not control, as it is spoken in tourist areas English and French and is often also can communicate in German in the hotel.