The Tanzanian Shilling is the currency of Tanzania. And the currency code is TZS. Notes are 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000, while coins are 50, 10, and 20, but these are virtually worthless and rarely used.

$US are widely accepted in tourist areas. Dollar notes printed before 2009 are usually not accepted.

CASH

Dollars and Euros, are accepted in higher end lodges. Otherwise you will need Tanzania Shillings for any purchases at smaller shops or give a tip. If you have not prepaid your tour, cash will be needed to pay hotels and entrances as credit cards are not widely accepted. It is thus advised to make all necessary payments in advance via your tour operator before arriving. A Visa or MasterCard is essential for accessing money from ATMs.

CREDIT CARD

Credit cards which are commonly accepted are Visa and Mastercard. However, credit cards are not widely accepted across the country. Top hotels and resorts do accept credit cards. Please check with your operator before leaving. Also it is important to advise your bank that you will be travelling so that you do not face any issues on spot. You can also use your credit card to cash retrieval at ATM machines, which are available in the city.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE

US Dollars, Euros, Pounds Sterling can be exchanged at banks or foreign exchange bureaus in the major towns and cities. Forex offices are usually quicker, less bureaucratic and open longer hours than banks, although most smaller towns do not have them. They also tend to accept a wider range of currencies than banks. Best advice would be to exchange money on arrival at the airport if needed, so that you do not waste precious holiday time looking for banks or exchange bureaus. or simply use the ATM. To reconvert Tanzanian shillings to hard currency, the easiest would be at the airports in Dar es Salaam and Kilimajaro. It is advised to keep your receipts if exchange was done in Tanzania.

ATM

ATMs are widespread in major towns, and all are open 24 hours. But they are often out of service or out of cash, so you should have back-up funds.

BANKING HOURS

Monday to Friday: 08:30 – 16:00

Saturday: 08:30 – 13:00

Sunday: Closed

Is it safe to travel to Tanzania? 

Do not let your holiday be spoilt by what you read on Tanzania. Most visits to Tanzania are trouble-free. 

However, it is a country where poverty is high and normally in such countries, crime rate follows. It is thus important to be aware of the situation, to take the necessary precautions. It must be said that most tourists who visit the country each year experience no difficulties. 

Be informed, prepare yourself and do not take unnecessary risks when visiting Tanzania. 

Some primary precautions to take and to be aware of are:

• Do not carry big bags or back packs, wear a money belt that fits under your clothes. Pickpocketing and bag snatching are the most common crimes. Armed muggings do also occur in Nairobi and on the coast.
• Don't carry a lot of camera equipment - especially in major cities.
• Always keep an ID with you or a copy of your passport (although nowadays police request the original documents)
• Don't walk on your own at night in major cities, always take a taxi. 
• Do not walk on empty beaches at night.
• Keep your valuables locked safely away. When you’re walking around cities and towns, leave all your valuables locked - that includes jewellery, watches, cameras, bumbags, daypacks and money. Most hotels provide a safe or secure place for valuables, although you should also be cautious of the security at some budget places.
• Don't carry too much cash with you.
• Beware of thieves posing as police officers.
• Snatch & run happen in crowds. If you suddenly feel there are too many people around you, or think you are being followed, go into a shop and ask for help.
• Do not read a guidebook or look at maps on the street – it attracts unwanted attention.
• Do not take food or drinks if you are being offered, it could be a scam.  
• Always keep an eye on travel advisories issued by foreign governments. 

Remaining vigilant and aware of your surroundings in all cities throughout Tanzania, this will help prevent unwanted attention and potentially dangerous situations.

Terrorism

• Remember it is often the cities which are targets for any type of attacks. While you are on a safari in the wild, this has little impact on your safety.
• However, terrorism is unfortunately, something you have to consider when visiting Tanzania. It is best to be informed about the official travel advisories of your country before travelling to Tanzania. 
• The country has been victim of some attacks endorsed to terrorism in the last years. And the country has since then tightened its security control. There are airport-style baggage scanners and metal detectors at entrance of shopping malls and big hotels as a strengthened security measure. 

Water

While on holidays, be safe drink only bottled water. Do not drink tap water. Never drink from streams, rivers and lakes. 

Just as general information, only 50 percent of Tanzania’s population of 53 million have access to an improved source of safe water, and only 34 percent of Tanzania’s population has access to improved sanitation. Under these circumstances people, particularly women and girls, spend a significant amount of time traveling some distance to collect water.

Electricity

The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Tanzania uses square 3 pin plugs (British origin) or triangular 3 round pins (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and some African countries). You can bring your adapter, however most lodges will rent them out to you. 

Just as general information, only about 20% of Tanzania is on the electrical grid. Most establishments have back up generators. Some of the remote safari lodges and tented camps which are not on the national grid, rely solely on generators. Therefore, light time is precious and they will advise when generators are switched on – usually for a few hours in the evening and the early morning.

Internet & Communications

Internet cafes in all major towns, and wi-fi hotspots are widespread, except in rural areas. 

Almost all midrange and top-end hotels have wireless access points; some are free, but others charge a modest fee. 

As reported by the Lonely Planet, the best way to connect is either with your smartphone or by purchasing a wi-fi hotspot from one of the mobile providers (about Tsh70,000, including 10GB of initial credit). For topping up, various packages are available, averaging about Tsh35,000 for 10GB, valid for one month. Top-up credit vouchers are sold at roadside shops countrywide.

Is it safe to travel to Tanzania? 

Do not let your holiday be spoilt by what you read on Tanzania. Most visits to Tanzania are trouble-free. 

However, it is a country where poverty is high and normally in such countries, crime rate follows. It is thus important to be aware of the situation, to take the necessary precautions. It must be said that most tourists who visit the country each year experience no difficulties. 

Be informed, prepare yourself and do not take unnecessary risks when visiting Tanzania. 

Some primary precautions to take and to be aware of are:

• Do not carry big bags or back packs, wear a money belt that fits under your clothes. Pickpocketing and bag snatching are the most common crimes. Armed muggings do also occur in Nairobi and on the coast.
• Don't carry a lot of camera equipment - especially in major cities.
• Always keep an ID with you or a copy of your passport (although nowadays police request the original documents)
• Don't walk on your own at night in major cities, always take a taxi. 
• Do not walk on empty beaches at night.
• Keep your valuables locked safely away. When you’re walking around cities and towns, leave all your valuables locked - that includes jewellery, watches, cameras, bumbags, daypacks and money. Most hotels provide a safe or secure place for valuables, although you should also be cautious of the security at some budget places.
• Don't carry too much cash with you.
• Beware of thieves posing as police officers.
• Snatch & run happen in crowds. If you suddenly feel there are too many people around you, or think you are being followed, go into a shop and ask for help.
• Do not read a guidebook or look at maps on the street – it attracts unwanted attention.
• Do not take food or drinks if you are being offered, it could be a scam.  
• Always keep an eye on travel advisories issued by foreign governments. 

Remaining vigilant and aware of your surroundings in all cities throughout Tanzania, this will help prevent unwanted attention and potentially dangerous situations.

Terrorism

Remember it is often the cities which are targets for any type of attacks. While you are on a safari in the wild, this has little impact on your safety.

However, terrorism is unfortunately, something you have to consider when visiting Tanzania. It is best to be informed about the official travel advisories of your country before travelling to Tanzania. 

The country has been victim of some attacks endorsed to terrorism in the last years. And the country has since then tightened its security control. There are airport-style baggage scanners and metal detectors at entrance of shopping malls and big hotels as a strengthened security measure. 

It is advised to always take a travel insurance whenever you go on holidays. Ideally travel insurances should cover:

• Medical expenses and hospital benefit.
• Personal accident and liability.
• Cancelling and cutting short your holiday.
• Abandoning your trip.
• Delayed departure.
• Accommodation cover.
• Scheduled airline failure.
• Loss of baggage
• Loss of personal belongings

Some tips when buying your insurance :

• With the medical coverage, check there’s a 24-hour medical emergency number.
• Most insurances exclude so-called dangerous sports unless an extra premium is paid: in Tanzania such sports could mean scuba-diving, windsurfing and climbing, hiking.
• When securing baggage cover, make sure that the limit per article, will cover your most valuable possessions, like a camera or phone or tablet.
• If you need to make a claim, you should keep receipts for medicines and medical treatment.
• In the event you have anything stolen, you must obtain an official statement from the police.

BEFORE YOU GO

• Check the airline baggage restrictions (most charter flights to luxury lodges have strict limits, usually around 15kg)
• Arrange for appropriate travel insurance 
• Visit your doctor for vaccinations and anti-malaria tablets, at least 3-4 weeks before your departure.
• Inform your debit-/credit-card company that you are travelling

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

• Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months past your arrival date.
• Return ticket, hotel and tour reservations are important documents to have handy on arrival for immigration.
• Have your International Vaccination Card (or Yellow fever vaccination certificate) ready, it might be requested depending on the countries you have visited before.
• Vouchers: Keep your tour voucher or safari voucher or transfer voucher in an easily accessible place, as you will have to submit them to your welcome ground agent on arrival.
• Insurance documents Finance Take some cash with you. You can exchange money on arrival at the airport, and this might be the most practical. You do not want to waste time during your holidays to go look for ATMs or foreign exchange bureaus.

WHAT TO WEAR

• Loose-fitting, light casual wear is recommended.
• Neutral-coloured safari clothing.
• Wind and waterproof jacket.
• Some warm clothes.
• Good, strong hiking/walking boots.

TRAVEL AIDS

• A destination travel guide.
• A pen – this is important to have as you might be required to fill in forms upon arrival.
• Toiletries: Sun glasses, Sun cream, beach hat and insect repellent
• Charger, transformer, Electrical adaptor
• Binoculars
• Torch (flashlight)
• First aid kit

Visitors to Tanzania must obtain a visa unless they come from a visa exempt country or countries whose citizens can apply for a visa on arrival or online visa.

Online visa for Tanzania

• Visa application is done online for visit to Tanzania (Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar).
• Fill in the form online and make payment.
• You will then be notified by email whether your application has been accepted or rejected.
• You can even track your application status through the online system.
• All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months (according to the Tanzanian immigration department).

ENGLISH TO SWAHILI

Hello: Jambo

No problem: Hakuna Matata!

Good morning: Habari ya asubuhi

Good evening: Habari ya jioni

Good night: Usiku mwema

How are you? : habari yako

All good? : Sawa / Sawasawa

Thank you : Asante

Thank you for a great day : Asante kwa siku nzuri

What time is it?: Ni saa ngapi

How much is it?: Shillingi ngapi

Can I have a beer please?: Je, ninaweza kuwa na bia tafadhali

You are welcome: Karibu Don’t worry: Usijali