We know you have questions, and thankfully we have a lot of answers! Find helpful Tanzania travel information here. For more specific travel information, look in Safari FAQs, Kilimanjaro FAQs, and Zanzibar FAQs.
Health and insurance questions
We strongly urge you to purchase international health and emergency insurance if your current health insurance does not cover overseas travel. Minimally you must have health insurance to cover for emergency evacuations. Misele Safaris does not provide insurance services and will not be liable for your health and emergence health. Please contact your health insurance provider as they will be able to provide you more details of your current plan.
Currently Yellow Fever vaccine is required for entry into Tanzania. There are other vaccines that you should have for your own health safety. It is imperative that you read the health information provided by the Center for Disease Control (link below).
Please check the CDC website for health recommendations, as this information is updated regularly. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/tanzania.htm
Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended for all travelers to malaria endemic areas, including Tanzania and Zanzibar. The most effective malaria prophylaxis with least amount of side effects are Malarone and Doxycycline. We do not recommend Larium (melfloquine) as this has given previous travelers negative side effects. Information on malaria prophylaxis: http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/drugs.html
Your physician knows you best, and may recommend certain medications for precautionary purposes while traveling.
Ask your physician about Ciproflaxin or other antibiotics for gastrointestinal health, anti-diahrreal medication, regular pain reliever/fever reducer, anti-inflammatory / anti-histamine (for skin irritation, allergies).
We are familiar with qualified high-quality hospitals and physicians in Arusha, Karatu, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar. If you are in need of medical attention during the trip, we can recommend medical care available in our area. If you have any health concerns and would like to know more about the environment in Tanzania, please feel free to contact us with your questions.
- Anti-malarial medicines – doses (from doctor)
- Cipro (GI, general antibiotic) – 1 dose (from doctor)
- Diamox (altitude) – doses (from doctor)
- headache medicine (Ibuprofen) – as needed
- Imodium (diarrhea medicine) – as needed
- Pepto or Antacid (Rolaids) rolls (stomach acid medicine) – as needed
- Flu/sinus medicine – as needed
- Neosporin (cuts) – as needed
- Band-Aids – as needed
- moleskin for blisters -at least 3 sheets
- And whatever medicine that people need personally. Some people have allergies, bring claritin. Any sort of skin relief, sore muscle relief, etc.
Passport and visa entry questions
You can obtain your visitor visa to Tanzania upon arrival at any major Tanzanian airport customs. The cost is 100 USD per person for American passport holders, 50 USD for UK, Canada, and most European Union country passport holders. Please check your government travel website for exact and updated prices. Tanzania customs authority will require that you pay in USD and in cash.
If you are entering from another country, please check your government travel website for the latest information.
You can also see here on the Tanzania Immigration website for visa requirements.
Please check in advance to make sure that you have a valid passport and your passport expiration date is at least a minimum of 1 month after the end of your travel date.
Allow a minimum of one full blank page in your passport for entry and exit stamps. Without a full blank page you may be refused entry.
Money and tipping questions
The primary form of currency in Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). Many restaurants and other formal venues take US Dollars (USD) and Tanzanian Shillings (TZS).
Currency exchange bureaus are available in any Tanzanian city. If you are bringing USD, please bring bills that are from the year 2003 or newer.
ATMs are widely available in Arusha city where you can withdraw Tanzanian Shillings. Please notify your card provider before departure of your travel plans to prevent your bank from freezing your accounts. Also check with your bank for foreign ATM fees.
ATMs in Zanzibar are located at Stonetown. Other locations do not have dependable ATM service. Please be sure take cash from Stonetown before traveling to other parts of the Zanzibar island.
Tips to your guides, drivers, and porters are a way to show you appreciate their hard work to make your journey enjoyable. Misele Safaris is proud to have some of the best people in the business doing what they love.
Please see the tipping rates in Safari FAQs and Kilimanjaro FAQs.
Weather
Arusha and the safari route is approximately 1400 meters / 5000 feet above sea level. Temperatures are warm and sunny in the daytime, reaching 75-85 Fahrenheit / 24-30 Celsius. Evenings and nights cool quickly to 50-60 Fahrenheit / 10-15 Celsius. During May – August are the coolest months, with nighttime temperatures dropping to 40-50 / 5-10 Celsius.
Zanzibar is a tropical island only 6 degrees south of the equator. Be prepared for warm weather year round with especially hot months during December and January. Daytime ranges from 25-33 Celsius. Evenings remain comfortable and warm at 20-25 Celsius.
Rainy season is from March to May, and November to December.