General information on Tanzania

The following contains general information on Tanzania as well as information for the tourist. For comprehensive and up-to-date information please visit the Tanzanian Tourism Board web site. To find out more about the hotel and what we offer please select an item from the menu bar.

Tanzania: General information
Tanzania; a name synonymous with the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Zanzibar and of course - Kilimanjaro. With a population of 29 million people made up of over 100 tribes the country is as diverse in culture as it is in geography.

Tanzania covers 945 166km² making it the largest country in East Africa. Located just below the equator (between 1^oS and 11^o45'S) most of Tanzania has a tropical climate although there are large regional variations. The coastal belt as well as the areas around lake Nyasa (known as Lake Malawi outside Tanzania) are hot and humid.

Tanzania is the largest of the 3 East African countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. It was a German colony before the First World War, and was under British administration from 1918 until independence in 1961. Formerly called Tanganyika, it formed a union with Zanzibar in 1964 to become the United Republic of Tanzania.

Seasons: When to visit.
Kilimanjaro can be climbed during any month of the year, although the rain forest can become unpleasantly muddy during the rainy seasons of late March to May, and November to mid December. If visitors plan to visit game parks as well as climb the mountain, it is wise to plan a visit outside of the rainy seasons when roads within game parks can become impassable. The busiest months of the year on Kilimanjaro, when early booking is essential, are July to September, and mid December to late February.

Money: How much and what type
Most prices in Tanzania are expressed in US dollars. Although many things can be paid for with Tanzanian shillings, fees to the national parks must be paid in convertible foreign currency. It is wise to keep most of one's money in foreign currency and only buy the minimum amount of shillings.

Hazards: The travel dangers
Tanzania is a safe and peaceful country, but visitors should observe sensible safety precautions. Don't arrange trips with people who approach you in the street. Be careful on public transport not to lose baggage and valuables. Tourists are very much wealthier than the majority of Tanzanians and are attractive to pickpockets. We are able to collect visitors from Kilimanjaro airport or from the towns of Moshi or Arusha. Please contact us to arrange safe taxi rides for you.

Tips: What you should know.

Travellers cheques are widely accepted in Tanzania. Most prices are quoted in dollars, and paying in different currencies sometimes attracts a poor rate of exchange.

Don't expect to be able easily to obtain a cash advance using a credit card. Whilst it is possible in the larger towns at some banks and bureaux de change, the exchange rates used will be punitive. And payment of bills using a credit card or cheque is often not possible either.

Tipping is customary in Tanzania, if you are pleased with the service. In the hotel, we have a tip box located near the reception desk and tips left in that are distributed equally to all hotel staff, including those often not seen by guests. Having some small denomination bank notes is useful for tipping purposes.

Remember to keep a note of important numbers - your passport, travellers cheques, embassy contact number and so on. Keep these details separately from your wallet!