TANZANIA & ZANZIBAR

TIME ZONE
GMT : +3 hours

LANGUAGE(S)
Swahili and English are the two official languages of Tanzania. Many local residents also speak French & Italian.

CLIMATE
All-year round the weather remains pleasant and comfortable. Between June - October, temperatures range from 10°C in the northern highlands to 23°C on the coast. On the plains and the lower-altitude game reserves, the temperatures from June to October are warm and mild. On the coast, these months are some of the most pleasant to visit, with balmy, sunny weather much of the day and cooling ocean breezes at night. From December to March, the days are hot and sunny. Temperatures range from the mid-twenties to the low thirties. Tanzania’s equatorial climate brings two seasons of rain each year: the masika, that fall from mid-March to the end of May, and the mvuli, that come intermittently throughout November and parts of December, and sometimes stretch into early January.

VISA/ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Valid passports for at least 6 months are required by all foreign nationals to enter Tanzania (Zanzibar). Citizens of the Commonwealth do require a visa to enter Tanzania and can be purchased on arrival. They can be purchased before travel or on arrival, £38 per single-entry (prices are for application at high commission in London). US visas: US$50 (single or double-entry, six months). Business visa fees: £38 single entry valid for 2 months; Multiple entry 6 months £80 and 12 months £100 (multiple entry permits holder a maximum of two months' stay in Tanzania per visit). We do recommend that you obtain your visa before travel. All air arrivals must be in possession of a valid return ticket and must be able to prove that they have sufficient funds to cover their stay in the country. Effective from 01 July 2015 Zanzibar has introduced an Infrastructure Tax & Levy which will affect all visitors to Zanzibar. Infrastructure Levy: US$ 1 per person per night to be paid direct by guest at their hotel in Zanzibar. Infrastructure Tax: TZS 2000 (approx. US$ 1) per person to be paid direct by the passenger on departure at the airports/seaports in Zanzibar to any destination within the United Republic of Tanzania (domestic - e.g. to Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Selous etc.).

HEALTH RISKS / IMMUNIZATION
It is advisable to take precautions when visiting Tanzania. Ensure you visit your doctor or pharmacist to get a prescription for the anti malarial drugs that best suit your health and condition. Make sure that all exposed areas are well covered in insect repellent. You should sleep under mosquito nets. YELLOW FEVER – UPDATED INFORMATION AND REGULATIONS - from the Tanzanian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare:

1. All guests/visitors arriving from Non Endemic Yellow Fever zone(s) will not be required to show a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate on their arrival to Tanzania.
2. All guests/visitors en route to Tanzania, who have passed through an Endemic Yellow Fever zone(s) e.g. Kenya, BUT did not leave that country's airport, will be treated as above (1).
3. All guests/visitors en route to Tanzania, who have passed through an Endemic Yellow Fever zone(s) and have left the airport of that endemic country, will be required to show yellow fever certificates on their arrival in Tanzania. Otherwise they will require a vaccination at the entry point of arrival in Tanzania (vaccination fee US $ 50).
4. All guests from (e.g. residents) Endemic Yellow Fever zone(s) will be treated as those in (3) above.
5. All guests/visitors travelling from the Tanzania mainland to Zanzibar will not be required to show their yellow fever vaccination certificate as Zanzibar is inside the United Republic of Tanzania".
   Notes: The same regulations apply to those flying directly to Zanzibar; if you are unable to have the Yellow Fever vaccination you can obtain a 'waiver certificate / certificate of exemption'; if asked on arrival please clearly state your point of departure (e.g. UK, London, Manchester etc.) and keep your e-ticket receipts available for inspection.
   Other vaccinations that might be considered before you travel include typhoid, hepatitis A and B, meningitis, and tetanus. For more information, contact your doctor. Food and water: It’s best to drink bottled water when travelling through Tanzania. Stay clear of ice, raw vegetables, and salads when eating at street restaurants.