Tanzania is a unique, fabulously beautiful country on the east coast of the Indian Ocean, home to the best representatives of African fauna, as well as many national parks and reserves, savannas stretching to the horizon and the snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro.
8 reasons to visit Tanzania:
1) Conquer Kilimanjaro - the highest mountain in Africa.
2) Visit the Selous National Park - the largest in Africa.
3) At Lake Manyara, watch the lions living in the trees.
4) Meet the African Big Six - lion, elephant, rhino, cheetah, leopard and buffalo.
5) Visit the sixth largest crater in the world.
6) Go diving on the island of Zanzibar.
7) Visit the world's only Tanzanite deposit.
8) Take a safari in the Serengeti Park with the largest concentration of animals in the world.
Tours to Tanzania are a unique opportunity to see nature in its original form, exactly as our ancestors saw it. After all, no other country in the world can boast of such a large number of reserves and national parks, which occupy more than one fourth of the country's territory. Caring for nature has been instilled in the local population from early childhood.
Magnificent golden beaches, safaris and the incomparable feeling of unity with the world's brightest nature, the unforgettable beauty of the underwater world and the opportunity to conquer Kilimanjaro - the highest mountain in Africa - a vacation in Tanzania will surprise even the most demanding travelers. The unique color and great attractiveness for guests are given to the country by huge cones of ancient volcanoes, beautiful landscapes of the Central Plateau and the Great Rift zone.
The best way to get to know the country is combined tours to Tanzania, combining vacation on the picturesque coastline, excursion program and safari in one of the many national parks.
Excursion tours to Tanzania allow you to see interesting excursions of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia, relax on white beaches and get acquainted with the original culture of the local population. An immense component of the trip is a safari in Tanzania, which is a kind of "specialty" of the tour. Moreover, you can choose both a traditional jeep safari in Tanzania and a hot air balloon safari. And catching a crocodile with live bait you will never forget.
Capital: Dodoma.
Language: Swahili, English.
Geography: the largest of the East African countries. The Rift Valley, which lies north to east of Africa across central Tanzania, is another landscape that adds to the country's scenic image. The Rift Valley runs south of Tanzania and hides in Lake Nyasa, another line cuts outside Lake Nyasa towards Mozambique, and the last line to the northwest near Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and western Uganda. The valley is bordered by unique lakes which include Lakes Rukua, Tanganyiku, Niyasa, Kitangiri, Euasi and Manyara.
Climate: tropical, hot and humid on the coast, dry on the mainland. The temperature throughout the year is from +20 to +32 ° C, but on the coast it does not drop below +25 ° C. Warmest in February and March. The rainy season (October-November is the "short rains" season, March-May is the "long rains" season) in different parts of the country feel differently. The dry season lasts 5-7 months. The best time to visit the north of the country is July-October and December-March, the south is June-October, and the west is December-March and May-October. On the islands of Zanzibar and Mafia, it is best to relax in July-October and December-March.
Currency: Tanzanian Shilling (TZS), 1 TZS = 100 cents, 1 USD ~ 1502 TZS. Currency can be changed in almost all banks at approximately the same rate, except for small bills (20 USD and less), which are usually accepted at a lower rate. Credit cards are accepted only in large hotels and in very few shops, and it is almost impossible to get cash with them. Traveler's checks can be cashed at registered dealers or exchange offices (it is better to take checks in USD to the country). Banks are open from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday and from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday.
Customs: allowed duty-free import of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, one liter of alcoholic beverages, food and household items (within personal needs). The export of jewelry made of gold and silver, stamps, coins, food is allowed - within the "limits of personal needs." The jewelry must be accompanied by receipts from the store. The import of small arms (without special permission), drugs and pornography is prohibited. Import and export of national currency is prohibited, and all foreign currency must be declared. It is also prohibited to export ivory, rhino horn, skins of wild animals, gold, diamonds and some spices, for example, cloves - without documents confirming the legality of their acquisition.
Transport: from ground transport, buses are the most convenient, and some companies, for example, Scandinavian, are more than comfortable: driving in an air-conditioned cabin packed with amenities, passing by the local population moving on donkeys or in jam-packed matatu minibuses, the tourist feels really white human. But far from big cities, there is a simpler transport, and in the heart of the blood-curdling trip to the "matata" is inevitable if there is no car with a personal driver.
Shops, shopping: shops are open daily from 9:00 to 19:00. In large cities, most shops are open until 22:00. From Tanzania, we recommend bringing products made of black (ebony) wood, leather, malachite, soapstone and beads, as well as masks, figurines, figurines, batik, drums, braids, coffee. Unique Tanzanian green tourmalines, sapphires, garnets, rubies, emeralds and diamonds are mined in the country, as well as a rare mineral tanzanite ("blue diamond"), which is found only here - in the volcanic deposits of Mount Kilimanjaro. Some of this wealth can be bought in the country, but unfortunately most of the local high-quality gemstones are freely traded only in the markets of neighboring Kenya.
Cuisine, restaurants: Tanzanian cuisine has been greatly influenced by the legacy of the colonial regime: soups, steaks, fried chicken, boiled vegetables and puddings. There are plenty of small African restaurants in the country where you can try local cuisine without risking your health. Their menu is based on dishes based on bananas (savory, taste-like potatoes) and goat meat. We also recommend trying local beer and local papaya vodka - "cognagi".
Safety: the locals are smiling, friendly and helpful. You should not move away from the main streets of cities in order to avoid the risk of being robbed. Also, do not carry large sums of money with you and wear expensive gold jewelry. At night, you should avoid uninhabited unfamiliar places. While walking, it is better to take a photocopy of your passport with you, and leave the passport itself, money and air ticket for storage in a hotel safe. It is recommended that you get vaccinated against yellow fever before the trip, and start taking antimalarial drugs about a week before departure. You cannot drink tap water in the country - only from bottles, having previously checked whether they were well sealed. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth, and making ice must be boiled or otherwise decontaminated. Pasteurized milk and dairy products are safe to consume, and meat and fish can only be eaten well-done or cooked.