Requirements to get into the country:
Visa
Visas
are compulsory for all visitors, and cost from $50. Visas are obtainable at the
airport when you arrive, but rather have one before you land, as officials tend
to “not have change”. Visas are obtainable from the Tanzanian Embassy. Please
contact us should you want the Embassy address in your area. You will need 2
passport photos and 2 completed forms. Should you not have the time to organize
a visa, please contact us and we will gladly assist you for a small fee.
Yellow Fever inoculation certificate
The
inoculation is obtainable from your nearest travel clinic or from your local
physician. Staple it into the front of your passport if you are afraid of
losing it. Most African countries require this certificate, so don’t ever be
without it when traveling in Africa.
Malaria Tablets
Zanzibar
is situated in a malaria zone, so it is recommended that you consult your
physician on the prescription right for you. Pregnant women are not allowed to
take Malaria prevention drugs, and are cautioned before entering any malaria
area. To set your mind at rest, we stayed in Zanzibar for 2 years, and
fortunately never contracted malaria. This is not to say you won’t get
it.. JUST BE CAREFUL.
Insect/ Mosquito repellent
Mosquitoes,
like little vampires, favor night conditions. Be sure to take a repellent, and
cover all exposed areas of your body (e.g. neck and arms). We recommend that
you wear trousers at night and long sleeved shirts should you be outdoors. If
the heat is too much and you wear a short sleeved shirt, make sure you smear/
spray your arms with repellent. At night before you go to bed, make sure your
mosquito net is either touching the ground, or is tucked in, and your exposed
areas (especially your ankles) are protected with repellent.
Anti-histamine
cream
For
those irritating bites
Currency
Traveler’s
cheques and cash are accepted at hotels and Bureau de Changes. US$ are the
preferred currency. If you plan on taking cash, make sure you take large bills
(e.g. $50 or $100) as these for some unknown reason always get a better rate.
Don’t go running to the first Bureau you see at the airport, as these, along
with the hotels and resorts, normally have the worst exchange rate. If you are
planning on taking a taxi into town, rather pay the fare in US$ and go to a
bureau in town. There are many all over town. Try to negotiate a better rate,
you never know.
Try
to pay for as much as possible in the local currency (Tanzanian Shillings),
always bearing in mind the exchange rate. If the locals see you have foreign
currency, they will try to relieve you of it. ALWAYS haggle or bargain and try
to pretend you know what you are doing. Remember to keep some of your home
currency for your return, just in case. You will also have to pay a departure
tax of $30 when you leave.
Embassies
There
are a few consulates on the island, but all embassies are situated in Dar Es
Salaam.
Medical
Make
sure you consult your physician before coming to Tanzania if you have any
health problems. Medical facilities in the country are very restricted, so best
to make sure. The flying Doctor service is available. Please contact us if you
require any more info on this.
Travel insurance
It
is imperative that you have travel insurance. Even though they do not check any
certificates when you enter the airports, for your own peace of mind, make sure
that you are adequately covered.
What to pack
Light
sandals or rubber flip-flops. Some places require you to remove your shoes
before entering. Good walking shoes if you plan on doing a lot of sight seeing.
Raincoat
or umbrella if you are traveling in the rainy season. Monsoon rains are heavy.
Flashlight,
for those irritating power cuts. Many hotels do have generator backup systems
though.
Clothes
– these should be light as it is very hot and humid. A jersey or windbreaker is
recommended for those winter nights (just in case). Women are “frowned upon”
for wearing revealing clothes. Mini-skirts are a definite no. Try to wear
shorts (no not hot pants) or a long skirt, and try to keep the shoulders
covered.
Communications
There
are many Internet cafes in major towns and at some of the hotels and resorts,
so in a non-emergency, this is the best form of communication. Charges range
from Tsh1,000 to Tsh5,000 (about $1 to $5) for an hour’s connection. The local
telephone company TTCL is inadequate, so if you need to phone internationally,
best you ask at the Internet café. They usually have facilities, or they will
be able to direct you to someone who has. Be careful, it may be expensive.
Electricity
This
is the same as the UK and in South Africa, being 220/230 V. Do not leave
appliances plugged in all day, as there are many power fluctuations which might
destroy them. US Citizens will have to get an adapter and a transformer for
Zanzibar power. If your plug does not match, then enquire at a local shop, they
should be able to assist.
Driving
If
you are planning on renting a car or motorbike, make sure you have a VALID
international driver’s license. You will be stopped in one of the many
roadblocks, and often police are just looking for a bribe. Bribery has become a
culture amongst the police, so make sure you have the correct documentation, to
avoid having to pay a bribe.
If
you plan on driving in Stone Town, make sure you know the roads, as there are
many one way streets and the drivers are reckless. If a police car approaches
with a siren hailing, you have to pull over to the side of the road and stop,
no matter which way it is going. Once it has passed, you may pull out and
continue.
Crime
As
with all cities, Zanzibar is not free of crime. Unfortunately it has been on
the increase, so make sure you do not take valuables on holiday with you. If
you do take expensive jewelry, make sure it is either locked up when you go
out, or hidden from sight.
Be
careful not to walk the streets at night alone, this invites trouble. If you
are confronted, do not resist, and try to report the matter to the police as
soon as possible. The police are sometimes rude and arrogant, but an attempt
will be made to recover your property.