Tailor-made Tanzania Holidays

Time difference: GMT +3

Flight time: London + 11-12hours

Currency: Tanzania shilling (TSh)

Language: Swahili

Electricity: 230v

Telephone code: +255

Tipping: Is expected when you’re on safari or a guided trek in Tanzania. Most tour operators will give you clear guidelines on how to tip but generally, you’ll pay around $10 per group per day for your driver and guide, plus around $5-10 for the rest of your team. Otherwise, hotels will usually have a tip box and when it comes to taxis and restaurants, feel free to simply round up the bill.

Etiquette:  Tanzania is a conservative country, so dress modestly unless you’re staying in a beach resort, covering your shoulders and knees. This is particularly important in coastal areas and on Zanzibar, where the population is predominately Muslim. Public displays of affection are also frowned upon and you should ask permission before photographing locals. You’ll normally be greeted warmly with a handshake, although be sure to offer your right hand as the left is seen as reserved for unclean tasks – the same goes for eating.

Religions: Roughly a third of the population in Tanzania identifies as Christian, another third Muslim and the rest practise a mixture of animist and folk religions. While Christianity was imported by colonial missionaries in the 16^th century, Islam dates back even further to medieval times when Arabic traders established trading stations along the coast and in Zanzibar. You’ll probably notice families dressed in their finest for Friday Muslim prayers and church on Sunday.

Use of plastic: The law bans the use, manufacture, and importation of all single-use plastic bags. Travellers arriving in Tanzania with duty-free plastic bags will be required to leave them at the airport. The government however confirms that reusable zip lock bags are permitted. Plastic bottled water may be provided in vehicles although to stay hydrated on the go, we recommend travelling with a personal, reusable bottle which you can refill at airports, hotels and lodges.

Visas: You can look up the latest advice on https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tanzania. Please be aware that this information can change at short notice.

Vaccinations: Health risks vary depending on the destination so it’s essential to check the specific vaccination and hygiene requirements for Tanzania on the NHS Fit for Travel website.

You’ll experience supreme wildlife spotting all year-round in Tanzania. For guaranteed viewings though, the dry season between June and October draws animals to watering holes and rivers for prime viewing. The Serengeti sees different stages of the famous Great Migration throughout the year but is most visible between June and July when animals make the daring crossing over the Mara River. Visit in January and February and you’ll see thousands of baby wildebeest in the Serengeti.

The green, wetter season between November and May brings lusher landscape and less-crowded safaris but it’s best to avoid the heaviest rain in April and May, which can disrupt roads. Planning to climb Kilimanjaro? Expect year-round icy temperatures. The most popular months for climbing are September and October when there’s less chance of rain and cloud. Along the coast and on the Zanzibar archipelago, migratory whale sharks appear between November and March, while green turtles hatch between April and September.

Tanzania is a huge country that can be overwhelming to navigate. Buses are cheap but the poorly maintained roads make journeys long and bumpy. In towns and cities, you’ll spot dallas dallas buses used by locals, which leave when full and tend to be crowded. Domestic flights are the most convenient way to get around and airlines such as Air Tanzania, Tropical Air and Safari Airlink fly from Dar es Salaam, the country’s key international hub. If you’re staying at high-end safari lodges and tented camps, many will have their own aircraft and airstrips.

Safaris are conducted in shared or private 4x4s, which come with a driver-guide and often a spotter from the Kuria or Maasai community. Many of Tanzania’s northern circuit attractions like the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro are connected by buses or private car journeys, while the more remote southern areas like Nyerere and Ruaha require air links. Visiting Zanzibar? Fly down or take the two-hour AZAM Marine Ferry that leaves a couple of times a week. Scenic trips in Arabian dhow sail boats are common on the coast and islands.

Local Tanzanian cuisine revolves around ugali, a maize porridge found throughout Africa. It’ll be served with grilled nyama choma (roast meat) or hearty stews. Duckling Dar es Salaam is considered a delicacy, flavoured with peppers, onions and tomatoes. You’ll also see chipsi mayai on most menus which is the Swahili version of egg and chips and usually presented as an omelette on top of fries. To finish off a meal, there’s plenty of tropical fruit or the donut-like treat vitumbua. Wash everything down with milky chai, Rooibos or, if you’re brave enough, fiery Konyagi gin.

There’s a strong Asian culinary influence along Tanzania’s coast and in Zanzibar, where dishes are infused with spices like cardamom, cinnamon and clove. Creamy coconut-based curries rule alongside grilled seafood and the Zanzibar pizza, a pocket of fried dough filled with onion, vegetables and meat or even Nutella dessert options. Inland, safari lodges and tented camps serve up lavish international spreads complete with bush breakfasts, game drive picnics and evening sundowners.

Tanzania is a mecca for crafts such as beaded jewellery hand-made by the Maasai and Samburu people. The skilled Makonde tribe create incredible carvings from highly-polished wood, which you can find in local markets. Other common souvenirs include Serengeti landscapes and African drums. Trawl for treasures at Dar es Salaams Mwenge Carvers’ Market and Arusha Central Market or haggle in markets throughout Tanzania. It’s customary to bargain for goods, start at half the quoted price and work up from there.

One of the country’s most unique souveniers is its beautiful Tanzanite, found in the northern hills near Kilimanjaro. This precious, blue-toned stone is the perfect centrepiece for one-off jewelry pieces. If you’re looking for fabrics, you’ll find cotton kikoys worn as skirts or trousers and coloured with natural dyes, as well as bright batik fabrics. Visiting Zanzibar? You’ll probably want to pick up some of its famous spices. The markets here are bursting with bags of fragrant cinnamon, clove, ginger and nutmeg, to name just a few.

Tanzania’s blend of Christian, Muslim and indigenous religions results in a calendar full of vibrant festivals. These include Easter, Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, which may disrupt travel. Unification Day is one of the most important events, marking the April 26^th 1964 reunification of mainland Kenya, formerly Tanganyika, and the Zanzibar islands. This is celebrated across the country with parades and performances. Around the time of the Great Migration in July, the Serengeti Cultural Festival features traditional art and culture displays.

Zanzibar hosts its own range of colourful events too, from Stone Town’s Swahili festival with its traditional music and processions to the Mwaka Kogwa festival. Held over four days in July/August, this holiday is famed for its banana stalk fight, where locals battle to resolve the past year’s conflicts by hitting each other with the stalks. This is followed by musical performances, elaborate banquets and a huge bonfire.