The country of Tanzania boasts of more land devoted to natural parks and game reserves than any other wildlife destination in the world. Tanzania’s wildlife collection truly is breathtaking. The Ngorongoro Crater, for example, is a collapsed volcano that is filled with zebras, wildebeest, lions, hippopotamus and other animals. For details on Tanzania’s national parks, visit http://www.tanzaniaparks.com/, the official national parks website.
Touring
Tours in Tanzania should be arranged in advanced through reputable agencies as there have been an increased number of assaults related to people posing as tour guides. The Tanzanian tourist board’s website is http://tanzaniatouristboard.com/ and it contains a list of licensed safari and tour operators.
Travelers to the island of Zanzibar, especially women, are encouraged to dress modestly as this is a predominantly traditional Muslim area.
Money Issues
Credit Cards are not widely accepted in Tanzania, and there are concerns about credit card fraud in some places that do take them. It is advised to only use credit cards at reputable hotels and then cash for other transactions. Travelers’ checks can be difficult to utilize and may require users to show their original purchase receipt. If you are exchanging U.S. notes for national currency, make sure that the notes are newer bills in good condition. Many banks and exchange offices will not take U.S. currency printed earlier than 2001.
Photography
Photography of military installations is not allowed in Tanzania. In addition, travelers have been detained and cameras confiscated for taking pictures of hospitals, schools, bridges and airports.
Health Issues
Medical facilities are limited and medicine is often in short supply, even in the major city of Dar es Salaam. Serious medical or dental issues are often better handled in Nairobi or South Africa, which have better facilities.
Cholera is prevalent in different parts of Tanzania and malaria is endemic. Visitors should talk to their doctors in advance of travel and carry malaria suppressants with them. Malaria affects all of Tanzania with an altitude under 5,906 feet. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, chloroquine is not an effective antimalarial drug in Tanzania and should not be taken to prevent malaria there.
The CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination for all travelers to Tanzania. Typhoid vaccination is also recommended, especially if you will be staying in a small city or in rural areas. Adults who have not had the polio booster should also consider getting this as well. The CDC advises against swimming in fresh water unless it is a well chlorinated swimming pool. It also encourages travelers to protect themselves from insect bites.
The CDC website for Tanzania is http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/tanzania.aspx.
Getting There
Ministry Travel offers special rates to Tanzania on KLM, Kenya Airways and British Airways. For a no-obligation quote, visit http://www.ministrytravel.com/contact/quote-request.shtml.