Whether it is diving in the Indian Ocean or in the rift valley lakes of Africa, Tanzania is considered an unexplored gem of East Africa. Diving in Tanzania will give you the chance to enjoy excellent diving conditions, with visibility running up to 30m / 100ft and warm tropical waters averaging 27ºC/80ºF.
Tanzania is Ideal for scenic diving, on the East Coast (Zanzibar, Mafia Island, Mnemba Atoll), you’ll spot a variety of Indian Ocean reef fish as well as larger pelagics such as whale sharks and humpback whales.
Moving inland towards Lake Tanganyika provides an exciting scuba diving destination with its crystal clear waters. This freshwater lake hosts hundreds of colorful cichlids. Combing this with an awe inspiring adventure with a safari trip in an absolute must do.
Exploring Tanzania
Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa spread over 945km². It shares its borders with Kenya and Uganda (to the north), Rwanda, Burundi and Congo (to the west) and Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia (to the south).
Swahili is the official language, although English is widely spoken throughout the country. In addition, most Tanzanians will also speak their local dialect, making them trilingual.
Unspoiled sandy beaches, lush forest, fascinating wildlife and the snow-capped Kilimanjaro, make Tanzania the perfect place for both a relaxing and an adventure holiday in East Africa.
Tanzania is an exciting destination, listed as one of the Worlds top five most stunningly beautiful countries to visit by Fox TV, Tanzania is renowned for its savannah safari, cultural tours of its 150+ ethnic groups, healthy snorkeling & scuba diving reefs, and trekking to the highest mountain, Kilimanjaro.
How to get to Tanzania?
Most travelers will likely land in Dar Es Salaam Airport, the capital city. From there, you can board an internal flight to a number of cities including Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia Island. Please note that usually airport and departure tax in Tanzania are usually included in your fare. But it is worth checking this yourself.
Depending on the company and the airport you are flying from, you may be asked to pay the airport tax in cash. Therefore, it is best to keep some US Dollars in cash when you are exiting Tanzania.
Money and ATMs
The local currency is the Tanzania Shilling. However, the US Dollar is widely accepted. In addition, you may be able to pay in a number of other international currencies such as Euros and British Pounds. Be aware however that the shop will use their own exchange rate, which more often than not is not in your favor.
Credit cards are accepted in big cities and tourist places. An extra charge is usually applied (around 5%).
Visa and Embassies in Tanzania
Nationals from nearby countries do not need a visa to visit Tanzania. Other travelers can obtain a visa on arrival (via Dar Es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar airports). It costs around USD$50 and allows you to stay up to 3 months. Finally, for some countries, the visa on arrival process is not available. This includes Morocco, Iraq, Yemen, Gabon. But please check your local embassies website for up to date information.
Rules may change without prior notice, it is recommended to apply for a visa for Tanzania beforehand.
Health in Tanzania
Although there is no vaccination legally required to travel to Tanzania, there are a number of health hazards, all easily avoided beforehand to ensure you have a great holiday.
Before traveling to Tanzania, it is recommended to get vaccinated against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP), Hepatitis A and Typhoid. It is also highly recommended to get vaccinated against Yellow Fever (required if you traveled to a country plagued by Yellow Fever a week or less before entering Tanzania). To travel to Zanzibar, you’ll be required to show proof that you do not have cholera.
For longer stays, you may also want to get a shot against Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and meningitis.
Malaria is prevalent in the country and requires generous use of DEET mosquito repellent. If not provided, make sure to request a mosquito net in your hotel room.
Tanzania Seasons
This bit of heaven in East Africa has a warm tropical climate with temperatures around 30°C/86°F all year round. Nights are generally cooler, dropping to around 20°C/68°F.
Different regions experience different weather, with the Kilimanjaro mountain region never getting really hot, while the beaches of Zanzibar get extremely wet during the rainy season (March to May).