Tanzania - Country Information

Film Commissions

General Information

Location: East Africa
Local Time: GMT +3
Capital City: Dodoma
Population: 34.5 million
Area: 945,000 square km, 587,223 square miles.
Language(s): Kiswahili, English, many local languages
Dialling Code: 255
Emergency: Police, Fire & Ambulance: 112
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the left. International Driving Permit recommended, must be endorsed by the Traffic Police on arrival. Temporary licence available from Police on presentation of National licence
Electricity: 220V-250V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Tanzanian Shilling (TZS 1 = 100 Cents)
Notes: TZS: 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000
Coins: TZS: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit card acceptance is limited to larger hotels & restaurants. ATM's available in larger towns. Travellers cheques may only be cashed with authorised dealers eg Banks, Bureaux de Change & designated tourist hotels

Opening Hours
Bank: 0830-1600 Mon-Fri, 0830-1300 Sat
Office: 0800-1300 & 1400-1700 Mon-Fri, 0730-1230 Sat, 0730-1530 Mon-Fri (Government Offices)
Shops: 0830-1300 & 1400-1700 Mon-Fri, 0830-1430 Sat, 0800-2000 some shopping centres/supermarkets

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Year's Day, Jan 12 Zanzibar Revolution Day, Mar 20 Birth of the Prophet, Mar 21 Good Friday, Mar 24 Easter Monday, Apr 26 Union Day, May 1 International Labour Day, Jul 7 Saba Saba (Industry's Day), Aug 8 Nane Nane (Farmer's Day), Oct 2 Eid-al-Fitr (Ramadan), Oct 14 Nyerere Day, Dec 9 Independence and Republic Day, Dec 9 Eid al-Kebir, Dec 25 Christmas Day, Dec 26 Boxing Day.

Business/Social Hints: Almost all executives speak English. It is the convention to use the right and not the left hand when shaking hands and passing or receiving anything. Smoking is generally tolerated but restricted in many public buildings and on public transport. Permission must be requested before smoking in offices. There are various conditions and limitations on photography. The minimum drinking age is 18 years

Tipping: Not officially encouraged or customary, however this does not apply in hotels & restaurants catering for tourists

Health

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas. Exempt infants under 1 year.

Recommended immunisations: Cholera*, diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria, meningitis*, polio, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Malaria exists all year throughout the country below 1,800 metres. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for 6 months from date of entry

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Tanzania
2) Nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Cyprus, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Nauru, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Zambia & Zimbabwe, however may need entry permit clearance, contact nearest embassy/consulate for details
3) Holders of a re-entry permit but contact nearest Embassy, High Commission or Consular office

Notes: Visas & Visitor's Pass are available on arrival to certain nationals, however it is strongly recommended that all visitors requiring a visa obtain their visa in advance (check details with nearest embassy/consulate prior to departure)

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey to another country by the same or first connecting aircraft on the same day

Climate

Tropical climate except in the higher mountainous areas where temperatures are modified by altitude particularly the Meru-Arusha, Usambara, Kilimanjaro, Kagera region west side of Lake Victoria & Southern Highlands areas where it usually remains cool throughout the year. The coastal and mountain regions receive the highest rainfall whilst inland rainfall is particularly unreliable. There is generally two rainy seasons. Long season: mid March to end May. Short season: Oct-Dec. With the exception of highland areas and the coastal belt, weather patterns are quite variable and seasonal rains unreliable. Coastal areas are characterised by high temperatures and high humidity

Clothing

Lightweights or tropical suits. Rainwear advised during rainy seasons. For safaris avoid clothes with very bright colours as this may irritate the animals, preferably wear clothes with brown, khaki or beige colours

Charts for Dar-es-Salaam

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 31 31 31 30 29 29 28 28 28 29 30 31 Min Temp (C) 25 25 24 23 22 20 19 19 19 21 22 24 Humidity am (%) 81 81 85 88 87 84 85 84 81 78 79 80 Humidity pm (%) 74 74 76 77 72 64 62 64 67 70 73 75 Rainfall (mm) 66 66 130 290 188 33 31 25 31 41 74 91

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Tanzania Trade Centre
80 Borough High Street
London, SE1 1LL
tel: +44 20 7407 0566
fax: +44 20 7403 2003
e-mail: director@tanzatrade.co.uk
website: www.tanzatrade.co.uk

Embassy
High Commission of Tanzania
3 Stratford Place
London, W1C 1AF
tel: +44 20 7569 1470
fax: +44 20 7495 8817
website: www.tanzania-online.gov.uk
hours: 1000-1230 (Mon-Fri) visas