• Arusha, Tanzania
  • +255-714 094 921/689 332 181
  • info@maasaiwanderlust.co.tz
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About Tanzania

With Africa's highest mountain, the gateway to the great game parks of the north, and the cultural delights of Arusha, this little district packs a big punch. Due west of Arusha City, a few hour's drive and you are standing at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, for all the world like a giant Christmas pudding, its rounded top, iced with streaming glaciers, peering out from a festive dish of clouds. From Arusha head west to Tarangire national park, where lions loll in the shade of the trees and giant fleshy baobabs stand like sentinels above the rolling red dust. South-west of Tarangire lies Lake Manyara natioanl park; one the prettiest, most interesting and game-rich parks in the country famed with tree-climbing lions. Further west you reach Ngorongoro Crater, the largest unbroken caldera in the world. As you descend onto the crater floor, an exceptional display of nature and wildlife in a unique setting, unfolds. A few hour's drive to the west Ngorongoro Crater and you reach the broad Serengeti plains, home to the great migration of some 2 million wildebeest, zebra and antelope. Perhaps, instead, you choose a short plane ride across to Zanzibar, the offshore coral paradise with its gleaming, fluoride-brushed beaches, turquoise seas and fragrant clove forests, its ancient cities and full-billed fishing dhows, blowsy in the afternoon breeze.

Location

With an area of 939,701 sq. km, Tanzania lies on the East African Coast between latitudes 1˚00´ and 11˚45´ south of the Equator and between longitudes 29˚40´ and 40˚35´ east embracing the Islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia. It is, thus almost the size of France, Belgium and Germany combined or slightly over two times the size of Sweden (450,000 sq. km).

Climate

Tanzania has a tropical type of climate. Although so near the Equator, the effect of its tropical situation is greatly mitigated over the greater part of it by the cooling influence of altitude. In the highlands the temperature varies from 15˚C to 30˚C along the coast. December to March is the hottest months, while June to August is the coolest. Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and the coastal plains are hot but pleasant. The evenings are mostly cool, especially from May to October when the climate is superb. Intermittent rains are experienced from December to May. However; in many parts of the country short rains occur in November and December and long rains from March to May.

Exchange Rate

Tanzanians has a liberal foreign exchange policy. Numerous banks and bureau de change in towns with different exchange rates for currency notes of various denominations. American dollars are accepted for cash payments. Credit cards are generally not accepted except in some lodges, hotels, large shops and establishments. It is not generally possible to obtain cash on a credit card in Tanzania, so it is recommended that visitors carry sufficient funds in form of traveler’s cheques.

Language

Though Tanzania has more than 120 tribes different tribes, the official language is Swahili which widely spoken in additional to local languages. English is the most popular and used officially in higher institutions of learning and as communication medium with the outside world and virtually everyone the average tourist is likely to meet in their Safari trip will be fluent in English.

Electronics

Tanzania power supply uses the UK/European standard voltage of 220 /224 Ac 50 three pronged plug. We recommend bringing an adopter or voltage converter as well as plugging converter if you from a country that doesn’t use the UK plug.

Time

Tanzanian time is three (3) hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +3 hours).