Nduara Loliondo - Tanzania info

TANZANIA FACTS

Capital city and administrative capital: Dodoma
Commercial capital: Dar es Salaam
Official Languages: Kiswahili and English
Time: GMT + 3
Currency: Tanzanian Shilling (Tsh or TZS). Credit cards (Access, Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Eurocard and Diners) are accepted in certain larger hotels and restaurants. Traveller’s cheques in US Dollars are recommended, although Euros are also generally accepted.
Please note: Where credit cards are accepted, the payments will normally be recorded in US$ regardless of the card’s default currency.
Banking: Banks and forex bureaux are available at airports and in all major towns. Banking hours are from Monday – Friday 0830 – 1430, Saturdays 0830 – 1330. In major towns some branches will be open until 1600. Please note all banks are closed on Sundays.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

A valid passport; a valid visa for those not exempted (US$ 50 per person per single entry visa. Valid for 3 months). If necessary, single entry visas only can be purchased upon arrival at the immigration desk. Please have the correct money in US Dollar cash and do be prepared for queues.

CLIMATE

Tanzania’s climate is predominantly tropical. For the whole country, the hottest months are from October to February. The long rains are from mid-March to late May, and the short rains from November to January. The coolest months are June to August when the nights and early mornings can be cold. In high-altitude areas such as Kilimanjaro, temperatures can fall below freezing. Coastal areas are hot and humid with an average daytime temperature of 30c. Sea breezes make the climate very pleasant from June to September.

HEALTH

An International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever is required to enter Zanzibar. As requirements and regulations are subject to change at short notice, visitors are advised to contact their nearest Tanzanian Embassy of their travel health advisor well in advance of their intended date of departure. Visitors from countries infected with Cholera and Yellow Fever must produce international certificates of vaccination. Malaria protection is essential. Please consult your doctor for advice on prophylactics. Nomad Tanzania camps do not have medical facilities and our staff are not medically trained. Therefore clients should bring their own necessary medications with them.

INSURANCE

Comprehensive travel insurance is essential, including medical cover. We also recommend trip cancellation cover. Nomad Tanzania does not insure for medical evacuation, but will organise membership with the Flying Doctor service and this is booked in advance of your trip.

AIRPORT TAX

Domestic tax on scheduled flights is US$ 6 per person from all Government airstrips. International departure tax: Tanzania is US$30 per person. Kenya is US$ 20 per person.

VOLTAGE

220 volts/AC50Hz. Facilities are available in camps for the charging of video and digital cameras. Sockets are UK style, 3 pin square plugs. Lighting in our camps (Greystoke Mahale, Chada Katavi, Sand Rivers Selous) is from solar power, with generator back up.

TIPPING

Tipping is not expected, but is enthusiastically received. A guideline, and dependent on how happy you are, we suggest approximately US$ 10 per person pernight at each camp. This goes into a main pot and is divided between all the staff. It is quite normal to tip your guide separately using the same guidelines.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ensure you bring enough camera film with you for your entire stay – and them some more. Film is not always available, and specialist films are very hard to get in Tanzania. Please be careful when photographing public buildings, airports, bridges, the national flag and people in uniform. If you do not get permission then do not take a picture. If in doubt, don’t photograph it! Please make sure permission has been sought before photographing local people, and their villages. They
may charge for pictures to be taken. Please check with your guide. Pleae note no flash photography is allowed when viewing the chimps at Greystoke Mahale. High-speed film is recommended for those using print film.

COMMUNICATION

International Direct Dial is available. The country code for Tanzania is +255. The outgoing international code is 00 for the United States, and 000 for all other countries. Several cellular phone networks operate in Tanzania, and roaming lines work in most major cities, and towns. Costs for telephone calls are generally high, so make sure you check the rate before making the call.
There are satellite telephones available for client use at Sand Rivers Selous, Greystoke Mahale and Chada Katavi. Usage charged at current rates.

INTERNATIONAL / DOMESTIC AIRPORTS

Dar es Salaam International Airport is located 15kms southwest of the city, and takes approximately 25 minutes by car. Airport facilities include a duty-free shop, car hire, post office, banking and bureau de change, and a bar and restaurant. Kilimanjaro International Airport is located 40 kms from Arusha and takes approximately 1 hour to reach by car. Facilities include curio shops, a post office, and a bar. Zanzibar International Airport is located 7kms from the centre of Stone Town, and takes approximately 15 minutes to reach by car. Facilities include a cafeteria and bureau de change. Arusha Domestic Airport is located on the outskirts of Arusha town. Facilities include a curio shop, and a snack bar.

WHAT TO BRING

Shorts, lightweight trousers, short & long sleeved shirts in neutral, bush colours. Sweater or fleece during the colder months / a swim suit or sarong / comfortable lightweight walking shoes or boots / sun hat and sun glasses / high factor sun lotion / camera plus plenty of memory cards, or film if applicable. Camera shops here are limited in what they can supply, so best to have everything you need, and more, with you.

Please note there is a luggage allowance of 15kgs on all shared charter flights to and from our
camps. There can be no exceptions to this rule, unless extra seats are booked in advance.

DRESS CODE

The island of Zanzibar, and the beach resorts on the mainland are predominantly Muslim, so recognition of traditional courtesies is important. Unsuitable clothing such as swimwear or brief shorts, are not acceptable in town and villages away from the main tourist resorts.